Living in Fernie is a dream come true

Ryan Radchenko left Vancouver after graduation because he wanted to live closer to Fernie Alpine Resort to make films about it

Ryan Radchenko relaxes after climbing to the Thunder Meadows cabin located between Fernie Alpine Resort and Island Lake Lodge. — Photo courtesy Ryan Radchenko

What do you do in your downtime? 

Well, when I manage to force myself to have downtime, I ski without bringing a camera, I spend time with friends, I read, and in the summer I play disc golf quite a bit. When you are in business for yourself, downtime always seems like time you could be working on something.  

If someone were visiting you from out of town, where would you take them to give them a taste of the place? 

This all depends on the visitor's skill set and the season, of course. If they have the skills and know-how to travel in the backcountry, then I will take them to the top of a mountain. I will even take visitors who don't have the skills but are keen to learn. If the visitor is more into just chilling out, I would take them to the hot springs in the winter and to one of our many beautiful lakes that surround Fernie in the summer. 

What do you like about doing business in your community? 

Every time I do a job in Fernie, I meet new people—which is great because then you run into them all the time. This tight-knit community is great for word-of-mouth advertising, and although there isn't a whole lot of work here for someone in my business, the community seems to take care of me.

Why did you choose to start your business here? 

I started a business in Fernie because I work to live, I don't live to work.

For more information about Radchenko's films, you can read the article about the Power of Powder exhibition.