Ever wondered what it’s like to be a park warden in Jasper National Park? Well from August 27 to 29 locals will have the chance to hear stories from several wardens during the sixth annual Wildlife Festival. 

This year’s festival theme will be the endangered Woodland Caribou, and a series of exhibits will highlight the plight of the once plentiful Rocky Mountain mammal. 

The caribou celebrations will begin Friday with Caribou Got The Blues at the Legion. Slide guitarist Ellen McIlwaine is pairing with Jasper National Park biologists for a night filled with caribou speakers, film footage and blues music. The event is being held in partnership with Parks Canada and the Jasper Folk and Blues Society at 6:15 p.m.

“We’re really looking forward to combining these two,” said Janet Breau, one of the festival’s co-ordinators with Parks Canada.

Throughout the weekend there will be guided walks and a variety of speakers and celebrations. Early bird registration for the walks will be held Friday at the information centre from noon until 9 p.m. Regular registration will begin in the same location on Saturday morning. Some guided walks being offered are free, and those with a cost will be up to 50 per cent off. 

On Saturday, meet with retired and former park wardens as they share their stories from the job at Tales With Ale, at the Whistle Stop Pub. The evening will be hosted by wildlife comedian Brian Stollery. Attendees will enjoy his wildlife-based comedy – particularly a sketch he does involving the common bear safety manual, said Darlene Skehill, public outreach education officer for Parks Canada. The wardens bring with them over 100 years of combined history on the job. 

“They’ll have plenty of wildlife stories to tell,” Breau said. “Locals don’t get a chance to experience that very often.”

Skehill said the festival is an opportunity for locals to see the importance of wildlife issues, particularly the disappearance of the Woodland Caribou. The events will hopefully appeal to a wide demographic of people in Jasper, from adults to kids. “We try to have something for everyone,” Skehill said.

The festival is part of Parks’ Behind the Scenery program that tries to bring locals and visitors behind the scenes to see issues facing the Jasper National Park. 

The Chaba Theatre will be showing matinees of Disney’s Oceans on Saturday and Sunday at 3:30 p.m.

Other family friendly events include the Wildlife Fair at the info centre lawn from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The fair will have species of all types on display, from mean ones to friendly furry critters. Fish, bighorn sheep, bears, cougars, moose and more will be at the info centre with park wardens on hand to answer any questions kids – and adults – may have. Other events at the info centre lawn will be taking place all day including a teepee-raising and crafts. Food will be provided by the Carnivore Grill, which will be raising money for the MS Society.

A complete schedule of events arrived in Jasper mailboxes on August 23. Skehill said if you did not receive one, they can also be picked up at the info centre.