Bears Den
5339 Fernie Ski Hill Rd Fernie BC V0B 1M0 · Restaurant - Food Service
Details
- Google rating
- 3.7 / 5 (6)
- Phone
- +1 800-258-7669
- Website
- Visit website →
Opening hours
- Friday10 a.m.–3 p.m.
- Monday10 a.m.–3 p.m.
- Saturday10 a.m.–3 p.m.
- Sunday10 a.m.–3 p.m.
- Thursday10 a.m.–3 p.m.
- Tuesday10 a.m.–3 p.m.
- Wednesday10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Contact details, hours and reviews from Google Maps
Inspection summary
Bears Den has been inspected 7 times by Interior Health Authority since March 7, 2013. The most recent inspection, on March 14, 2025, recorded 3 infractions.
3 of 7 inspections on record found no infractions at all. No inspections are on record from the past 12 months. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Protecting food from contamination, Handwashing and staff hygiene and Food temperature control.
Recent inspections have recorded more infractions than earlier ones, so it is worth reading the latest reports closely.
What these findings mean
Health authorities word their violations differently, so we group them by what they mean for food safety. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.
Protecting food from contaminationHigher risk
This covers how food is stored, prepared and displayed: raw meat kept away from ready-to-eat food, food covered and stored off the floor, and nothing dripping or splashing into it. Cross-contamination from raw to cooked food is a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.
Recorded once on March 14, 2025. For example:
5 Are the premises and equipment properly maintained and operated in a sanitary manner (i.e. ongoing maintenance)?
Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk
Hands are the main way germs like norovirus move from people to food. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing hands when required, hair restraints, and sick employees being kept away from food. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.
Recorded once on March 14, 2025. For example:
7 Are there handwashing stations available and properly supplied?
Food temperature controlHigher risk
Bacteria multiply fastest between about 4 °C and 60 °C (40 °F to 140 °F). Inspectors check that cold food stays cold, hot food stays hot, cooked food is cooled quickly, and that staff have accurate thermometers. Temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning, so these are treated as critical findings.
Recorded once on March 7, 2013. For example:
1 - Are potentially hazardous foods stored so food is maintained below 4°C?
Food safety training and certificationLower risk
Most jurisdictions require a certified food handler or manager on site, and some require allergen or food-worker training. These findings mean the paperwork or the trained person was missing at the time. They do not by themselves mean food was handled unsafely.
Recorded once on February 15, 2018. For example:
6 - Does the operator and appropriate employees hold a valid FOODSAFE certificate?
Equipment and utensilsLower risk
Equipment has to be built from cleanable materials, kept in good repair and stored properly. These findings are mostly about upkeep, like a cracked shelf, a worn gasket or utensils stored the wrong way. They are generally lower risk but show how well the kitchen is maintained.
Recorded once on February 23, 2017. For example:
4 - Are the premises, equipment and utensils designed and maintained to ensure safe and sanitary food handling?
About this data
These results come from Interior Health Authority, which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.
7 inspections
- Monitoring
3 infractions
- F2.1 Does the facility have proper monitoring supplies?
- Observation(s): Facility uses QUAT sanitizer in spray bottle which is filled at the Griz Lodge. No sanitizer test strips were available on site at the time of inspection.
- F2.1A Sanitizer test strips must be available for each chemical sanitizer used at the premises.
- F2.5 Are the premises and equipment properly maintained and operated in a sanitary manner (i.e. ongoing maintenance)?
- Observation(s): Facility uses spray bottles for surface sanitizer but is using reusable cloths to wipe surfaces. Reusable cloths may harbor potential pathogens if left damp.
- F2.5C Wiping cloths must be maintained and stored in a sanitary manner.
- F2.7 Are there handwashing stations available and properly supplied?
- Observation(s): Water is being transported to the facility in an insulated water container with a spigot from the Griz Lodge at the bottom of the mountain. It is collected in a shallow plastic basin and discarded at the end of the day. The Griz Lodge is connected to the Fernie Alpine Resort Water system (an approved IH large water system). The water was warm during the inspection, but cold water was not available on demand, nor was the water pressurized.
- F2.7A Handwashing station must be supplied with hot and cold running water.
- F2.7C Handwashing station must be supplied with single-service product for drying hands.
- F2.1 Does the facility have proper monitoring supplies?
- Monitoring
0 infractions
- Monitoring
1 infraction
- F3.6 - Does the operator and appropriate employees hold a valid FOODSAFE certificate?
- Observation(s): 2 staff members at facility at time of inspection did not have FoodSafe level 1, however could call to other employees on ski hill if questions arise. Plan for more employees to obtain FoodSafe is in place. Recent FoodSafe courses were cancelled in the area which staff were enrolled in.
- F3.6B - In the absence of the operator, at least one employee present in the establishment must have valid FOODSAFE certificate or equivalent training.
- F3.6 - Does the operator and appropriate employees hold a valid FOODSAFE certificate?
- Monitoring
1 infraction
- F3.4 - Are the premises, equipment and utensils designed and maintained to ensure safe and sanitary food handling?
- Observation(s): Two of the three light bulbs on the premise was in disrepair at the time of inspection. Food preparation area did not have proper lighting above the area and was noticeably dark.
- F3.4 - Are the premises, equipment and utensils designed and maintained to ensure safe and sanitary food handling?
- Monitoring
0 infractions
- Monitoring
0 infractions
- Monitoring
1 infraction
- 12.1 - Are potentially hazardous foods stored so food is maintained below 4°C?
- Observation(s): Cut pineapple was observed at 20 C, sauerkraut at 10 C and jalepeno peppers at 10 C. All three products stated that they must be refrigerated after opening indicating they must be stored or displayed at or below 4 C.
- 3 or more Observations, High Severity of Consequences : Potentially hazardous foods must be stored or displayed at a temperature of 4°C or colder.
- 12.1 - Are potentially hazardous foods stored so food is maintained below 4°C?
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Reviews
Reviews provided by Google Maps- George Zembery
Disgusting hot dog. Sausage completely dried out. When I asked what's the problem with that, the answer was: "that's the way it is..." Save your money for better meals-deals in the village :)
- Andrew White
Great spot on the mountain to grab a cup of coffee and sit by the fire.
- Phoebe Strain
- George Zembery
Disgusting hot dog. Sausage completely dried out. When I asked what's the problem with that, the answer was: "that's the way it is..." …
- Andrew White
Great spot on the mountain to grab a cup of coffee and sit by the fire.
- Phoebe Strain