Vows renewed, community planning process begins

There was no sign of the seven-year itch that undermines some marriages, but Parks Canada and Jasper Municipality nevertheless renewed their vows on the weekend.

“Today marks the anniversary of the foundation of this unique relationship,” Mayor Richard Ireland reminded the crowd that included town councillors, Parks Canada officials, and members of  the working group on the Jasper Sustainability Community Plan.

“On July 19, 2001 citizens ratified and endorsed a unique form of shared governance and shared jurisdiction within a national park community. That was the essence of the agreement that we’re cementing again today,” Ireland said.

Saturday was celebrated across Canada as Parks Day, and for Superintendent Greg Fenton,  it was “an appropriate day to re-affirm our commitment to the future of a special place within a special place, and to confirm the original agreement of 2004 and work together for a shared future.”

Over the next 18 months, Jasper Municipality and Parks Canada will jointly develop the Jasper Community Sustainability Plan, the successor to the original Jasper Community Land Use Plan of 2001, Fenton said.

An eight-member working group appointed by the steering committee comprised of town council and the park superintendent will lead the process. 

Members of the working group are Chris Garnham, a retired CN railway engineer; Patrick Harvey, 911 dispatch manager for Parks Canada, Robin Marks, a retired engineer; Debby O‘Bryan, a florist, and B&B owner; Trish Tremblay, environmental consultant and tour guide; Ron Hooper: retired JNP superintendent; Joe Couture, a former councilor active in tourism and Pat Crowley, manager of Maligne Tours Ltd.

The working group will begin a round of discussions with Jasper residents in September. FoTenn Consulting Inc.of Ottawa and Vancouver, was chosen from among 12 urban design and planning consultants to assist the process and advise the working group. The cost of FoTenn’s services has not been set.

The discussions will shape recommendations from the working group, but the final word on the community plan belongs to the steering committee.

By putting pen to paper on Saturday, the municipal politicians and Parks Canada officials agreed to treat each other with respect, especially when they disagree on contentious issues, Ireland said.

“It’s an agreement about the nature of our relationship; it’s intended to govern our conduct. It speaks of collaboration and cooperation. It commits us to conduct ourselves in ways that best insure that we remain mutually respectful,” he said.