One thing I can say for Fernie is that it has a very youthful vibrant essence that radiant’s from the ski hill to the dance clubs to the hockey games and over to the 7Eleven parking lot.Young people are on every corner and they are driving here every weekend and filling the parking lots with their sporty Volkswagen Jettas or their dilapidated rust buckets. We are a huge piece of the Fernie labour force, we open businesses, we spend money, we rent and buy houses(which makes all those investors portfolios look beefy), we buy ski passes, pay taxes, we promote Fernie around the world and all we are asking for is a little R.E.S.P.E.C.T, a little respect baby.
Fernie has managed to attract a colorful array of demographics; Albertan families, 20 and 30 something adventure seeking couples, travelers from around the world and older folks looking for more comfort then adventure. But even though we may not be flashing around big money on spa treatments and luscious condo living, does that make us less of importance? Are our needs not a valid as the family man? How fucking dare you put bigger salary earners before us. Fuck that we play our part too.
What is refreshing to me is the vitality and lust for life that exists in the youth culture. 19-35 year olds are a key part to any growing city. Even though Fernie is experiencing growing pains (snickers), it’s too late, the young people have come and we are staying.
The Fernie Community Centre, if you haven’t heard, held a concert on Thursday February 5th. 9pm-2am. Standard concert/dance event hours. The artist was a little guy known as “A.Skillz”. He is a very well accomplished DJ and producer from the UK. On his North American tour, Fernie managed to snatch him for a special evening. A Skillz may be not as familiar as Nickelback or The Tragically Hip, however this extremely talented guy played Glastonbury last year and usually plays to crowds of the thousands. Imagine how excited the international youth scene was, as well as the short term young travelers, let alone our local youth scene was at this opportunity to see him live in Fernie. 400 tickets sold at $20. Is that not as big or bigger then Taste of Fernie? Does it deserve the same respect? (The bar was giving all its profit to a cause).
Can you remember the last time a real concert came to Fernie, I mean a community centre concert. Tickets, beer gardens, smiles, no violence and people just wanting to dance. How innocent and how good is that right?
Well, shocking turn of events….noise complaints.
Jesus Christ! All we want is to do something good and make people happy. And you can’t deal with some noise till 2am, even if it was that bad??? Come ON!!!
Who are you!??!!! Who the hell are you to phone the cops and make a compliant against a peaceful concert happening? Even if 60 people called and complained, how does that measure up to the 400 people that wanted the music on. The organizers did everything right and went through all the hoops to have this concert. The city and the police knew of it and approved it. And now you think you can call in and have something shut down, only to have 400 people spill into the streets totally pissed off. You think this is a good idea and you have the balls to tell me you think this is the right? This is only your town?
You know what all you noise complainers? Take a deep breath and shut up. Deal with it. Firstly, Id like you to think back to your youth. You worked hard and you partied hard, right? Mmmm Hmmm.
What is interesting, from my research, speaking candidly with some old timers, Fernie has always known how to party. Music, dancing and drinking is nothing new and it certainly isn’t going to go away. Back in the day I am told, The Royal, The Northern and the Old Elevator served as some mighty hot spots, much alcohol was consumed and many babies were conceived.
If you keep being assholes about it, you are only going to create a nasty communication line between yourselves and the youth…the youth that have followed all the laws and jumped through all the hoops to have a little bite of fun in their community centre. Have you seen "Footloose??" I spoke with Mary Giuliano about noise complaints, she is a city councilor for Fernie and a wise lady in her sixties, she laughed and basically said to me “When I hear music, all I know is that young people are in town and that’s a good sign for a lot or reasons”.
How often does a concert happen in Fernie? Really.
Thank God Griz Days is the snoozefest it is because heaven forbid you have the attitude that the residents of Kimberly do with JulyFest or Elkford residents do for Wildcat days. Oh god, imagine it, the whole town happy to have people dancing, drinking and spending money, Everyone happy to celebrate and have visitors bask in the community spirit. No, that’s just crazy talk.
Yes I am fully immersed in the youth culture of Fernie, but my position on this comes from a logical stance. When you have vibrant young people interested in making Fernie their home, or deciding to stay here after growing up here, then you have struck GOLD!
We want to live here, work here, pay taxes, support local business, make babies, volunteer, and we want to DANCE!
Schoolyard out.
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