Jasper’s streets are getting a bit of a facelift, as of Jan. 31, 2011 at midnight, to help streamline emergency operations in town. 

Verne Balding, director of corporate and legislative services, said several street names are being renamed to not only help emergency services, but help people navigate the town easier. 

“Ambulance dispatch is projected to become a regional activity,” Balding said. 

That means 911 dispatch could move to a regional centre rather than have calls answered locally. Changing the street names will allow dispatch to easily send out fire, ambulance or police services to addresses. 

The street name changes include Cabin Creek Drive, which will become an extension of Bonhomme Street; Patricia Circle and Patricia Crescent will become Patricia Street; Pyramid Avenue and Cedar Avenue will change to Pyramid Lake Road and the lower section of Pyramid Lake Road will change to Bonhomme Street. 

House numbers will change in the following areas: Patricia Street, Industrial Crescent, Patricia Circle, Geikie Street, Connaught Drive, Ash Avenue, Poplar Street, Lodgepole Street and Cabin Creek Drive (which will become Bonhomme Street). For a complete listing of the changes, visit the Municipality of Jasper’s website. 

Balding said anything that can help clarify addresses is a positive step towards improving safety in Jasper. 

“That’s the primary goal,” he said. 

Changing some house numbers will help clarify the random numbers at areas like the Snapes Hill trailer park, where numbers are not consecutive. Once the changes are done, house numbers in Jasper will grow from smaller to larger from one end of town to the other.

To help usher in the change, the Town has sent out letters announcing the change and Deputy Fire Chief Ron Stanko has hit the streets to knock on each individual door. Signs have gone up all over town, and so far Balding doesn’t recall any negative responses. 

“I think people are pretty accepting,” he said. 

Stanko began talking to residents before the change was put through town council in July. 

“When council passed the bylaw in the summer it didn’t come as a surprise,” Balding said. “I think everyone who was affected knew it was coming.”

Companies that make maps are being contacted as well, to ensure the 2011 editions of Jasper’s maps are updated to reflect the changes. 

“Every effort is being made to contact the people who do that,” Balding said. 

The change has been met by positive response from residents, despite the minor inconvenience. 

“Most of the people we’ve talked to seem to think it makes a great deal of sense,” Balding said. 

Since Jasper became a town in 2001, Balding said changing some addresses in town has been on the agenda. 

“Doing something to deal with address changing has been on that list for a long time,” he said.