Jasperites were well represented at this year’s Travel Alberta ALTO awards, with the Jasper Discovery Trail and Pine Bungalows receiving awards.

Sue Cesco, manager with Friends of Jasper, travelled to Banff to accept the award on Monday, Oct. 26 at the Banff Springs Hotel. The Discovery Trail captured the friends of tourism award, beating out competitors from Whitecourt and Drumheller.

This year, Friends of Jasper upgraded signage around the trail, which was praised by Travel Alberta for its ease of access.

“The community really came together to make this project happen,” said Cesco in a release. “Built with community spirit, the Jasper Discovery Trail offers something that Jasper National Park was missing – a trail that’s educational, easy, close to civilization, wide and hardened for various use types.”

A tearful Mike Wasuita was visibly overwhelmed after receiving word that Pine Bungalows had captured its first ALTO award. After being nominated four times previously, Pine Bungalows finally won the ALTO Sustainable Tourism award.

Pine Bungalows was recognized for a number of its sustainable practises and creating a more natural environment at the resort.

“We stopped mowing the lawns in 2003, creating more wildlife habitat,” Wasuita said. “The use of biodegradable products such as laundry detergents, vegetable-based oils for machinery, electric-powered golf carts, recycle bins placed in every cabin for guests, washable mop heads and rags for cleaning and water and waste management all contribute to our respect for our special place in a riparian area next to the Athabasca River.”

Wasuita said the recognition helps let him know the resort is on the right path.

“Being an Alto award winner reinforces to us as a team that we are on the right track to making a difference. In our opinion, everyone who has been nominated for a sustainable tourism Alto Award is a winner.”

Pine Bungalows beat out the Chateau Lake Louise and Mount Engadine in Kananaskis Country for the award.