David Wilks, Member of Parliament for Kootenay-Columbia, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, today announced $30,300 in federal funding for the Fernie & District Historical Society, under the Harper Government’s Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund (CIIF).

“Our government is committed to creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity in our communities,” said Wilks. “By improving facilities such as this, we are helping to boost economic activity and maintain a high quality of life for Canadians.”

The funding will help restore the Fernie Museum and Information Centre’s historic building exterior. The project will improve the safety and longevity of this important tourist destination.

“Fernie’s suite of heritage buildings are seen by our citizens, businesses, local government, and visitors to our community as an asset,” said Laura Nelson, President, Fernie & District Historical Society. “The funds provided by Western Economic Diversification’s Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund (CIIF) will complete the restoration of our building’s exterior and will respect and protect Fernie’s heritage for the benefit of existing and future generations.”

City Mayor Mary Giuliano hailed the funding as “a really good piece of news for Fernie.”

CIIF supports, on a cost-shared basis, repairs and improvements to existing community infrastructure accessible to the public. Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is delivering the Fund in Western Canada with an allocation of $46.2 million over two years.

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