The article was written by the Globe’s Tom Maloney and starts with this quote:

“A decade ago, an acquaintance described Fernie as the next Telluride.  It seemed a brazen prediction at the time; not so much today.”

Fernie has an, “economy (that) has diversified from mining to tourism and recreation, driven by the skiing and spiced now by an emerging entertainment and shopping scene.”

The article continues, “Aside from Albertans, the resort attracts skiers and riders from Britian and the American Midwest, and visionaries – led by eightysomething Heiko Socher (former owner of the resort)….Get this, though, Socher has proposed a development, Heaven’s Gate, to transport skiers from a downtown gondola to Coal Ridge south of town, as you might experience in Italy or France.”

Statistics Canada has just released the December employment figures for Canada. And it's good news for the Kootenays.

The unemployment rate has dropped from 8.7 per cent in December of 2010 to its current level of 6.8 per cent in December of 2011—1.9 per cent improvement.

This means that there are 75,400 people employed in the Kootenays in December, 2011 versus the 66,000 in December, 2010. This is an improvement of 12.5 per cent year-over-year.

Looking for good employees? Why not sign up for the College of the Rockies Career Expo on March 8th and meet the best and brightness of young minds—the students of the College of the Rockies. 

Call Kootenay Business 250-426-7253 for details.

At the first luncheon meeting of 2012 the Cranbrook and District Chamber of Commerce introduced their new lineup of chamber directors who make up the new board. The chamber is fresh off their annual strategy retreat weekend and is ready to incorporate a slate of new ideas for 2012.

The new chamber president is Lana Kirk, she succeeds outgoing president Sean Campbell. The Cranbrook chamber is coming off a very successful year as they were named B.C.'s Chamber of the Year in 2011 by the BC Chamber of Commerce.

Also recognized at this luncheon was Cranbrook's citizen of the year, Chris Ayling.

901 Fernie is a $30-million restoration of a 1908 schoolhouse, located in Fernie's historic downtown. Parastone transformed the iconic building into condominium residences and vacation rentals complete with a spa and wellness centre inside.

The spa space for Spa 901 was designed by spa consultant, Karen Vonkeman and 901 Fernie architects, the LeBlond Partnership, who collaborated on the Solace Spa at the Fairmont Banff Springs. The spa and wellness center is owned and operated by Shelly MacGregor, president of Apex Massage Therapy, who operate two wellness facilities and SpaGoes, a mobile spa in Calgary.

With $2 million in restorations and construction, highlights of Spa 901 include: Fernie's only infrared saunas, five treatment rooms, a couples fireplace treatment room, co-ed and women-only fireplace relaxation lounges, outdoor hot pool, and men's and women's change rooms. Spa 901 will combine unique and traditional therapies and treatments including therapeutic massage in a variety of styles, esthetician services and bath soak treatments.

“The restoration of this incredible landmark building is amazing and so well planned,” says Shelly MacGregor, president, Apex Massage Therapy. “We were excited at the opportunity to create a truly unique spa and wellness centre in this iconic building and beautiful space.”

With richly appointed reception and dressing areas and beautifully outfitted treatment rooms, every detail of the 6,600-square-foot spa says luxury and tradition. The same commitment to quality and design that went into restoration of the 901 Fernie has gone into creating Spa 901.

“Apex Massage Therapy's track record and professional approach made them a great choice for 901 Spa,” says Simon Howse, general manager for Parastone, “A spa and wellness facility like this in a mountain resort town like Fernie benefits the local community and helps attract tourists. Spa 901 is the only true destination spa in the Kootenays.”

Spa 901 will be open to the public in February and access is through the main schoolhouse doors on 2nd Avenue, in Fernie, B.C. Fernie Central Reservations is now taking bookings for Fernie 901's vacation rentals and spa treatments.

901 Fernie is a $30 million transformation of a 1908 school and grounds. It is a collection of 44, one-, two- and three- bedroom suites and penthouses with beautiful surrounding mountain scenery. Many original features have been carefully restored to their former glory by a leading Canadian architectural practice and the apartments and spa have kept many of their unique qualities.

On Saturday, February 4, 2012 from 12 noon to 4 p.m., everyone is invited to 4Cats Nelson’s grand opening! Please come check out our beautiful studio, learn about our artist of the month sessions, workshops, camps and birthday parties. Come experience everything we do at 4Cats Nelson – drawing, painting, silk screening, splatter painting, sculpture, the clay wheel and paper mache. It is going to be so much fun.

4Cats Arts Studio - Nelson
250-354-2287
nelson@4cats.com
www.4cats.com/nelson