Local Store

 

We Are Local!

Imagine local food, year-round in the heart of downtown Fernie. An inspiring place where you can learn about your local farmers and food producers. A spot to stock up on delicious seasonal produce, while also strengthening the local food system. It’s like an indoor farmers’ market, twelve months a year. That’s Local!

 

Why Local?

Fernie imports almost 100% of the food sold in its grocery stores. Our famous mountains and cold climate conditions mean we only have 90 frost-free days to grow food. Fernie is also isolated, with a single road in and out, so weather events like floods or avalanches can cause delays. This means our community is more vulnerable to food instability. The demand for local food is growing, but many small producers struggle to find a reliable way to sell their products. 

Wildsight Elk Valley works to increase local food access. Wildsight opened Local in December 2020, and helps to strengthen our food system by supporting small farmers and food producers all year round.

 

Local aims to:

  • Increase year-round access to local food for Elk Valley residents and visitors
  • Provide a low-barrier entry for local producers
  • Cultivate a thriving, knowledgeable local food culture within the Elk Valley

Local provides a way for farmers and local food producers to sell their products and for customers to access local food. Local offers:

  • Storefront – Retail location in downtown Fernie selling local food
  • Online Market – Online store and payment system

Local is a social enterprise of Wildsight Elk Valley Branch, a not-for-profit based in Fernie, BC. Wildsight works to protect wildlife, water and wild places in the Elk Valley region of British Columbia.

 

Where is Local?

  • Our retail location is at 632 2nd Ave 
  • Check out the online store by clicking the “click to shop online” at the top of the page
  • Join the Fresh Picks Club to support Local and gain special access

 

How can I get the latest Local updates?

 

2020 Local Start-Up – Dawn Deydey, Graham Preston, Robyn Peel, Casey Brennan
2021 Local 1st Anniversary – Dawn Deydey, Casey Brennan, Graham Preston, Sarah Jane McDonald, Jennifer Lennon, Mary Cosman, Robyn Peel
2022 – A wide variety of local food available, two years in.

Learn more about Local


Position: Retail Coordinator – Local Store Deadline to apply: Aug 20th, 2024 Compensation: $18-21/hour depending on experience Scope: Part-time.Read More 
Position: Retail Coordinators – Local Store Deadline to apply: January 22nd, 2024 Compensation: $18-21/hour Scope: Part-time.Read More 
Position: Branch Administrator - Wildsight Elk Valley Branch Deadline to apply: December 5th, 2023 Compensation: $20-22/hour Scope: Part-time – 8 hours/week Target Start…Read More 
Read more news

Join The Team

Want to protect wildlife, clean water and wild spaces? Volunteer with us! Wildsight volunteers are a very special group of people who give generously of their time to stuff envelopes, attend rallies, help run events, put up posters, keep tabs on forestry practices in their communities and participate in citizen science initiatives.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Branch Information

Contact

632 2nd Ave
PO Box 537,
Fernie, BC V0B 1M0
Phone: 250.423.3322
elkvalley@wildsight.ca