By Erin Knutson

The City of Fernie supported Wild Wapiti Playschool’s request to temporarily move its play space to city property during a June 10 council meeting at the Seniors Centre.

Following a comprehensive Committee of the Whole presentation by Wapiti Board Chair Allie Ferguson and Marcelle Poulain, Mayor Nic Milligan and the council, after careful deliberation, sided in favour of the organization’s request to create a new short-term outdoor play space on courthouse grounds.

“Until now, our primary outdoor space has been the Fernie Family Garden, adjacent to where we are located on the upper floor of the Fernie Family Centre. However, we have recently been informed by the Holy Catholic Parish Council, who own the property, that we will no longer be permitted to use the space and must remove all of our outdoor equipment within the next month as the three lots on which the Fernie Family Garden is situated are about to be listed for sale. This sudden change puts immense pressure on our program, as daily outdoor play is a cornerstone of our curriculum,” said Ferguson in her presentation.

Ferguson and Poulain discussed the instrumental role their facility has played in addressing the childcare gap in the Elk Valley since its inception in 2023.

“We now provide full-time care for 28 children. We have eight qualified Early Childhood Educators (ECE) contributing to stability in a sector that often faces staffing shortages,” said Ferguson.

The high-quality living and educational model that Wild Wapiti inhabits also provides the first $10-a-day childcare space for families in the region as of May 2025.

Wapiti has invested a substantial amount of time and resources in creating a nature-based play area, enhancing the Fernie Family Garden for children, families, and the public to enjoy, according to Ferguson.

“These improvements were made in alignment with the original goals of the garden – offering a welcoming space where families could connect with nature and each other,” she said.

Ferguson assured the city that it would take the same level of care and consideration with the Courthouse grounds as a significant historical site within British Columbia.

The proximity of the Courthouse was a key factor in its selection as a primary outdoor playspace for the school.

Council, while supportive of the initiative, raised valid concerns about the potential long-term implications of a short-term solution. They also discussed the need to coordinate time slots with defendants who would be accessing the site.

Ferguson and her team were emphatic about creating and honouring a secure contract, celebrating the aesthetic of the building as a heritage site, respecting it as a public space, and refraining from using the space when the court was in session.

Councillors and staff were in favour of the initiative with the stipulation of formal guidelines and a solid agreement for an interim period of three years while emphasizing the importance of an outdoor play space that supports much-needed childcare in Fernie.

“Thank you. I love it – it’s a good use of public space – when I look out the window, it brings me joy to see kids playing – I agree with Councillor McIsaac we need a clear outline of what we’re agreeing to and a plan to move forward,” said Milligan.

Lead image: Children play on the grounds of the Fernie Courthouse/Government House. e-KNOW file photo

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