The Municipality of Jasper (MOJ) issued a friendly challenge to their rival Parks Canada staff to walk or bike to work during Environment Week, and the response was great. 

Christine Nadon, communications officer for the municipality said the Commuter Challenge was a huge success for the municipality’s staff. 

“I think it worked really well on our end of things,” she said. 

One third of MOJ staff signed up for the challenge, and while many already choose to walk or bike to work, the Commuter Challenge allowed them to truly see the impact they are making. 

“It was an initiative that was so easy to go with,” Nadon said. 

More than just Parks Canada signed up for the challenge, and it made Jasper the leading community in Alberta besides Calgary and Edmonton. Altogether, Jasper’s challengers walked or biked over 1,450 kilometres and saved about 130 litres of fuel. Those numbers made Jasper the third highest organization registered in Alberta, and the fifth highest number of participants registered at 60. 

Participants also got to track their calories burned, kilometres biked or walked and their personal savings on fuel. The challenge gave the participants a chance to see just what impact they are having on the environment and their health. The daily commute to work, trips to the grocery store and so on were allowed to be logged. Nadon herself did 10 kilometres in bike trips in just one day between town and the Environmental Services Building. 

“Everybody was a lot more aware of their modes of transportation,” Nadon said. 

The challenge meant some friendly teasing on the streets between Parks and the municipality, Nadon said. 

“It doesn’t matter who wins, it’s all about participating,” she said. 

One of the successes was the inclusion of many managers at the town office. 

“We had really good participation from upper management,” Nadon said. 

Ken Quackenbush, director of environmental services for the municipality, was the second person to sign up behind Nadon. George Krefting, municipal manager, encouraged people around the office to get involved. Nadon said it was a great example to set for the rest of the staff. 

The challenge has ended, but the biking and walking in town certainly has not. Nadon said biking and walking to work is so commonplace in Jasper that bike racks around town nearly overflow.

“It’s so easy, it’s part of our culture,” she said. 

Nadon said the municipality really tries to promote green modes of transportation, which is evidenced in such projects as the new underpass and the RV parking lot across the railroad tracks that keeps larger vehicles out of the downtown core. She is looking forward to bringing back the Commuter Challenge again next year. 

“Now the word will get out a bit more,” she said. 

Another great event that saw the municipality partner with Parks Canada during Environment Week was Stewardship Day, when the two got together to pick up garbage around town. People who would not normally work or socialize together got a chance to meet to participate in a friendly and productive project.