Fifty. 50. Think about that number for a moment. Why is fifty so significant? Because that’s the number (give or take a few) of Jasperites who decided that the facility review recommendations put forward by the Municipality were worth commenting on. 

Town councillors and administrators are impressed by that number. They feel happy that so many people gave their laundry list of improvements and developments the time of day.

Given the season, one might expect that this newspaper shares that warm and fuzzy sentiment. On the contrary.

If more people had taken a moment or two to scrutinize the recommendations being made by the facility review committee, they would be able to see the considerable scope of the proposed alterations. Here was a wonderful pre-Christmas present for the local population — the opportunity to comment on crucial processes at a fairly early stage. Save for a select few, the town ignored it.

Granted, there are certain recommendations that would never excite the blood of even the most fervent community activist. For instance, the committee supports renovating the log cabin in Centennial Park to include outside entrances for washrooms.

On the other hand, there are many other suggestions that are worth some serious thought and comment. 

The Facility review committee supports making the Old Fire Hall available for a cultural/conference facility. The committee also proposes extensive redevelopment of the Activity Centre and perhaps most significantly, advocates the construction of a new building intended to provide space for town administration and governance. 

Jasper’s reaction?

A collective shrug.

This is not simply a hypothetical exercise. Millions of dollars are involved — up to an estimated $6.3 million in the case of a new town hall, for example. Having surveyed the comments that were made, council is preparing to officially receive the recommendations just after New Year’s. 

Of course, it isn’t as if every aspect of this master plan is now a fait d’accompli. As each situation evolves, the opportunity for public input will be provided. The municipality is very good at making sure that people have a chance to be heard. 

The fact remains, however, that as the process advances, the range of possibilities begins to narrow. Let’s see how much difference the words of the Patricia Street Condo Association will make when a decision is made where to lay the water main next summer. Once options are costed out and survey markers hit the ground, any victories won by concerned citizens are usually quite small.

The town has a busy agenda and councillors want to move ahead, but not without consultation. They will go forward on facility review with the opinions of about one per cent of Jasperites.

What do people think of converting the Old Fire Hall in the manner suggested? Where is the appropriate place for a town hall in Jasper? The town doesn’t really know the answers to these questions, and that is strictly due to the apathetic lack of engagement on the part of many in this community.

This isn’t always the way. When GYRD officials turned up for a public meeting to discuss the possibility of public and francophone students sharing the high school building permanently, you couldn’t find a spare section of the wall in the library, let alone a seat.

Perhaps there is something abstract and sterile about the facility review recommendations, something that convinced people who might have had something to say to keep quiet and wait for another chance. When that chance comes, if it comes, circumstances could be substantially different.