FERNIE, BC, October 20, 2026 - Tourism Fernie is pleased to announce that it has an accepted offer to purchase approximately 32 acres of land at 1800 Railway Avenue from Trico Homes. The agreement represents an important step toward advancing an opportunity to develop a new community recreation complex alongside a future multi-family housing development.
The proposed complex would aim to meet Fernie’s growing recreational needs and opportunities that could also accommodate tournaments, competitions, conferences, cultural activities and community events. The vision is to provide dependable, accessible facilities where residents can play, stay active and come together, while building on Fernie’s potential as a destination for sports tourism.
“Planning now for a new recreation complex gives our community an opportunity to help shape a facility that responds to local needs and future opportunities,” said Jikke Gyorki, Executive Officer, Tourism Fernie. “It is equally important that we understand the capital investment required, the ongoing operating costs and the options for funding, ownership and management before making major decisions.”
The accepted offer provides a framework for further planning and assessment. The purchase remains subject to due diligence and feasibility review, rezoning and financing conditions.
The City of Fernie’s earlier facility planning, almost 10 years ago, identified the arena, curling club and Community Centre as nearing the end of their usable lives. In June 2024, the Community Centre closed unexpectedly after assessments identified mould and structural concerns. That closure showed how an ageing building can disrupt activities and economic sustainability the community depends on, while also showing how the community can come together to address an immediate challenge with the creation of the Elk Valley Field House Society and the soon to break ground EVR Summit Centre.
The proposed site offers an opportunity to consider a coordinated approach to recreation, community programming, and housing. Under the agreement, Trico Homes would have the option to retain approximately eight acres of the 32-acre property for multifamily housing development. This would allow Trico to pursue its original objective of developing multifamily housing in Fernie, with the added benefit of proximity to the proposed recreation complex.
“Trico has always believed that our business should make life better – for individuals, for families, and for entire communities,” said Michael Brown, President & CEO, Trico Homes. “Through our agreement with Tourism Fernie, we're strengthening that commitment by partnering in a way that creates shared value, supports community growth, and delivers meaningful impact for the Fernie Community.”
The opportunity builds on Tourism Fernie’s recently completed Sport Facility & Tourism Research Study, which explored how recreation infrastructure could improve community access and support sport and event tourism. The initial study included limited stakeholder consultation. During the contract period, Tourism Fernie intends to engage residents, recreation, event and sports organizations, housing interests, and local businesses to understand their priorities, answer questions, and gather informed feedback. Given these grounds are also home to important community events, the future of those events need to be part of the engagement and planning.
This engagement will help assess whether the proposed complex can meet the needs of multiple audiences and deliver lasting value to the community. No construction or opening date has been established.
Project information and details on how to participate in the engagement process will be made available through a project web page soon. Community members and interested parties can also email RecPlex@tourismfernie.com.