Fernie

Fernie sits deep in the Elk Valley, ringed by the jagged peaks of the Lizard Range, a coal mining town rebuilt in brick after a 1908 fire and reborn as one of Canada's most celebrated ski destinations.

Fernie Alpine Resort's legendary snowfall and steep alpine bowls have made it a bucket list destination for skiers and riders, while the Elk River and surrounding backcountry draw fly fishers and mountain bikers through the summer months.

Downtown's brick heritage buildings, rebuilt after the fire that levelled the original wooden townsite, now house breweries, restaurants and shops that give Fernie a lively, walkable core rare for a town its size. The annual Griz Days festival celebrates the town's mountain folklore each winter.

Coal mining in the Elk Valley still underpins much of the regional economy, alongside a fast growing tourism sector, and housing here commands a premium for a Kootenay town given its resort reputation, though it remains well below Whistler or the Coast.