The Municipality of Jasper has set aside $35,000 in its 2009 budget for the development of a new website that will contain an array of information primarily for residents, but also tourists planning a vacation to Jasper.

After putting the project to tender, which resulted in more than 40 companies coming forward, the municipality has chosen Blubrown Communications, a Calgary company that will have the website up and running by the end of June.

Jasper’s online presence can be quickly found by a Google search for Jasper, Alberta. That search returns nearly 400, 000 results all featuring Jasper in one way or another.

Although the municipality’s website features prominently in the top five results of a Google search, a Jasper resident recently criticized the site after he was unable to find a bylaw he had being accused of breaking.

Janet Cooper, the municipality’s communications specialist, charged with updating and maintaining the website, said that this was one feature that was a focus for the new website.

“One of the big things that we want is a very functional search feature, so anything you’re looking for on the site you can just type in the search box... especially things that are more obscure to find like policy and bylaw,” she said, adding that the new site will keep up with the latest technology by having drop down menus and forms online for people to fill out rather than using paper forms for things such as renting out rooms at the Activity Centre.

The new website will have four main sections, said Cooper, and it will be simplified to help people quickly find what they’re looking for.

The sections will be town services, for everything a resident may need; a town hall section, for all things council related; a section on living here, including all recreation, environmental and social aspects of Jasper life; and a visiting section for the person who’s planning a vacation, which will have a range of connections for tourism and economic development.

Describing the aesthetic look of the new website as “gorgeous”, Cooper said it will not just be easier to navigate but will also reflect the natural environment through photos of the town.

The municipality has also invested in Cooper’s skills and has sent her for training at NAIT and Grant MacEwan so that she can continue to update the website once Blubrown has it up and running.