What about option C?

At the town hall meeting about the school, (was it a year ago, already?), GYPSD had an option for the new school to be built along the Geikie side of their leasehold. The town people attending the meeting suggested another site, along the other side of the GYPSD leasehold - ie in the vicinity of the walk way. Either of these two sites would be on the GYPSD leasehold, and therefore would not require any rezoning.  Kids would not have to be bused and the dog park is left alone. Why are these options not being considered?

Sheila Couture,
Jasper, AB

Take care of dogs and children

This is in response to, “School should sit on dog park.” After reading both articles, I was thinking about this article, are dogs more important than children? I don’t think that was the inference of the article, “ Dog park must be saved.”  I recently became a dog owner over the last year.  I don’t have children but love them, taught them and believe in their potential and am mesmerized by their wonder and innocence. I started thinking that we; dogs, cats, birds, elk, humans, are all mammals. We are higher up on the food chain but we are all a part of this world, sharing and growing. Just as we become more conscious of the environment and the impact we have on it. Why not conceive of the impact we have on a smaller scale; each other. Just as we search for human contact, friendship bonds, mates in life, so do animals. Elk travel in herds, wolves in packs, geese in flocks. We, mammals, strive for this, and have this instinctual need to be with others. This is why I believe it is so important for the dogs to have a space of their own, where they can be supervised, relationships nurtured and needs can be met. What I inferred from the article was, why couldn’t we have a place for both in Jasper? Jasper is a place for nature to be natural. If the dog park is used as the school site please assign another plot of land, which will be appropriate for the dog park. Children are more important than dogs but why can’t importance be placed on both. Both seen as significant, innocent and mesmerizing. If the dog park is taken away before a replacement is set, we may lose it for years, or never get it back.   

Rachele Peever,
Jasper, AB

Sidewalks or skating rinks?

To the Municipality of Jasper,

Recently, I was enjoying a morning walk with a friend and my dogs when I came upon a huge patch of ice that covers one of our town’s sidewalks. No sooner had I told my elderly friend to watch his step did I find myself lying on my back in a tremendous amount of pain.

Normally I’m not one to complain, nor do I generally get involved in community issues. However, I am sick and tired of all the rules that have been instilled by the Municipality of Jasper, who cannot even conform to their own regulations. Why is it that people can be handed fines for an extension cord laying on the sidewalk, or fined for wearing the wrong color of jacket in the wrong season? But the town need not clear the municipal sidewalks of shear ice, which is in excess of 2.5” thick? How am I supposed to want to follow rules or have any respect for a town that has no respect for the people that live in it? Am I to follow these guidelines which have been set out for me by the ones who supposedly know how to run things, while the responsibilities they have can just fall by the wayside with no kind of consequence?

What if that had been a mother with a ten-month-old baby walking alone? What if it had been my five-year-old daughter who fell and hit her head? What if it was the Mayor? Would consequences happen then? Doubtfully, the town seems to be above its own law. The sidewalk I am referring to runs past Aspen Gardens on Bon Homme Street. Is this public sidewalk to be maintained by the Municipality, or is this sidewalk the responsibility of Urban Life Management? Either way something needs to be done and done now.

On another note, initially the gigantic piles of snow dumped by the Municipality out front of Aspen Gardens were a good idea, I’m sure the kids really appreciated the gesture. However the snow piles have since turned into a cesspool of garbage, glass and pieces of shredded lumber. So whose responsibility is this to clean now?

I’m not sure if it’s the piece of bone missing from my elbow or the lump on my head that bothers me so much, or the fact that I am just plainly tired of the municipality slacking off. The ice problem needs to be taken care of, as I am sure the sidewalk in front of my house is not the only one in the town that is icy. But wouldn’t it make sense to deal with the ice now instead of waiting for it to snow again and be even worse? I mean the weather has been nice for how long? Where are the workers? I am sure that this letter will upset a few people who work for the town and I mean no disrespect, but seriously this town really needs to follow its own rules and get in the game.

Kris Beeby,
Jasper, AB

A dog’s lament

I appreciate that dogs can be a problem; unleashed ones more so.  And, yes, I like to chase things, though mostly, I stand and watch as the bigger animals frighten me.  My mom is working hard to teach me to come no matter what, and I’m pretty good; I like being bribed to do things and I like the praise.  My owners are very good at taking me out twice a day, and I’m a big dog, so I need that exercise. I admit I’m a bit aloof with other dogs, but that is a breed characteristic; that’s just me.  So, I don’t tend to chase other dogs or play with them. But, walking around and around the small fenced dog park is too boring day-in and day-out for me.  The dog park is too small for big dogs.  I can’t run (or don’t run) there. My favourite spots to run are open areas, where we go because my mom doesn’t much like to run into wildlife either.  In those places, we can see what’s around and I can run and run. If wild animals are already there, we go elsewhere.  And so, I’m a better, happier dog for my runs and off-leash exercise.  Please don’t fence me in, or at least in such a small area where I’ll cease to enjoy my outings.  

Little Miss Figgs,
(Jillian Stafford), Jasper, AB