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Fernie mourns loss of local legend
One of Fernie’s most enduring and impactful citizens died last week.
Heiko Socher, the man who developed and managed Snow Valley Ski Resort (now Fernie Alpine Resort) into a world-class facility, unleashed ‘The Griz’ and who carved many hiking trails around the city, taught many residents to ski and so much more passed away Oct. 7 at the age of 86.
His passing has left the community he loved in mourning and grateful for his contributions.
“It’s always sad when someone passes away but with the passing of Heiko Socher, not only has his family lost a loved one important to them all of Fernie and area has lost someone special,” stated City of Fernie Mayor Mary Giuliano.
“Heiko is a legend. He is responsible for so much in so many ways. Ski hill, trails, Griz emblem. Heiko and his wife Linda had a vision and they made it happen and along the way they took Fernie along for the ride. This community wouldn’t be the same had not these two made it home. Now the man who physically never stopped working on trails or even mentally imagining new projects to benefit Fernie has gone to a better place where he is no doubt telling God as he told me a year ago, “I wish I had more time here because there is so much more I want to do.”
“Heiko was an ambitious, intelligent, visionary; he will be greatly missed. But he is our legend and so he will live forever in our hearts and minds in the present and in the future.
Linda, Elke, Ralph and families, our sincere condolences on your loss. Know thoughts and prayers are being sent to you today,” Giuliano said.
The hosts of Facebook page Fernie Forum stated Oct. 8: “With great sadness Heiko Socher has passed away. RIP Heiko: your vision, passion and boundless energy will be greatly missed. Our sincerest regards to Linda, Elke, Ralph and families.”
Born in Berlin, Germany in 1930, Heiko came to Fernie in 1966 and initially worked as a forester. In 1967 he started the ski school and quickly realized the potential with the ski hill.
“He soon acquired 30% of the (ski hill) company’s shares, then became general manager. Utilizing his forestry knowledge, he made money selling trees cut from the ski hill using bulldozers and backhoes,” reported S. Threndyle in an article in SnowsportsCulture.com.
“While Socher designed the log cabin base lodge, his wife, Linda, ran the ski school and ski shop. More trails were cut and lifts added. Socher ploughed the profits back into the mountain as the skiing public began to demand better grooming, faster lifts and a more refined experience. Many of his plans for greater expansion have been realized since Fernie’s sale to Resorts of the Canadian Rockies in 1997,” Threndyle wrote.
Socher possessed a knack for marketing, too, which helped set Fernie into the discussion when it comes to the top ski resorts in North America.
He turned The Griz into a brilliant marketing tool, attracting skiers from around the world to a Canadian Rockies winter paradise with some of the finest conditions on the planet and a cool little city, to boot.
Retiring in the 1990s, Socher got to work on helping his home town, adding even more tourism and recreation infrastructure with tireless volunteer efforts.
He built legendary trails around the town and at Island Lake Lodge and was always available for advice and sharing knowledge of heritage and other matters.
In 2012, Socher received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal.
Heiko is survived by his wife Linda and their children, Ralf and Elke (husband Bruce) and grandchildren Jex and Kida.
A celebration of his life is planned for the beginning of December.
Here’s an excellent piece on Heiko.
Inset images from Fernie Skiing Heritage
Lead image: Heiko Socher during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal celebration in Fernie in 2012. Ian Cobb/e-KNOW photo
– Ian Cobb/e-KNOW
