Swipe for support

A small donation to the Jasper Food Bank is now only a swipe away.

On Friday the organization will begin its “Alberta Share” program in conjunction with Robinson’s IGA. 

Shoppers can simply ask a checkout clerk to swipe the Alberta Share card and an additional $2 will be added to their bill. This amount will then be donated to the food bank.

 “The great thing about this program is that it is a sustainable fundraiser for the Jasper Food Bank,” said Food Bank President, Patrick Mooney. “It’s a lot better than having to knock on doors every three months.”

The donated funds will be spent on food purchases from the affiliated store, keeping the dollars given by Jasperites in the community.

Alberta’s Share Program started in Calgary late in 2002. It is based on a successful model from British Columbia, where the swipe and share program generates over $1 million for food banks across the province every year. In Alberta, more than 54,000 people use food banks every month and demand is growing with the population. To date, the Alberta Share program has earned over $250,000 for food banks.

“The program is wonderful because it allows the community to support itself by donating to its food bank while supporting local businesses,” said Tamisan Knight, association coordinator for the Alberta Food Bank Network Association.

To launch the Jasper Share program, Mayor Richard Ireland will be making the honourary first donation on Friday afternoon at the IGA

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For the history books

Parks Canada is in the process of developing better commemoration and protection for the 15 National Historic Sites in the Mountain Parks, including the five in Jasper.

“National Historic Sites are somewhat lost in the landscape fabric,” Parks planner Shawn Cardiff said at last month’s planning forum.

“We need to do a lot more to tell the stories and to improve visitor experiences.”

One of the primary concerns for some of the sites in Jasper National Park is deciding what constitutes the boundaries of the site. 

This task is particularly difficult in the case of Henry House, an early 19th century fur trading post. Despite historical research, the exact location of the actual site has not been established. At this stage, Parks would like to see an off-site interpretive display established at the parking lot near Old Fort Point, according to Cardiff. This location offers views of the original trade routes through the area.

Other sites in Jasper are remote and inaccessible from roads, but in those cases the focus will revolve around off-site displays at pullouts or in Jasper itself, Cardiff said.

The Athabasca Pass National Historic Site, for instance, is a gruelling three-day backpack from the nearest road. There is a plaque situated at the pass itself, but Parks plans to enhance information available along the Icefields Parkway. The Hardisty Hill pullout, with good views back towards the pass, has been identified as a prime location for future interpretive displays. There are also plans for roadside displays along Highway 16 marking the Yellowhead Pass site.

Jasper House, the remains of which are located in a clearing on the banks of the mighty Athabasca, will also see a focus on interpretation away from the site. Designated as an area for special preservation, the number of visitors to the clearing will remain low, largely facilitated by guided tours. 

Right in the heart of Jasper, the Park Information Centre is the Parks’ National Historic Site with the most traffic, serving approximately 200,000 visitors each year. Many people who pass through do not realize that the building is a historic site, originally built in 1914. Slated for a $1 million restoration over the next three years, the info centre will be getting a new roof, an improved foundation and other exterior upgrades. At the same time, Parks recognizes that the building is not intended to accommodate high visitor traffic and is considering ways to minimize congestion. If another information facility is ever built or designated, Parks will look at ways to  use the current building in a commemorative manner.

Draft management plans for all National Historic Sites within the mountain parks will be released in the spring of 2006 and a period of public review will follow.

Medals for Mounties

Two current members of the Jasper RCMP detachment were honoured in Edmonton late last month. Constables Stephanie Lutes and Ed Burstrom each received a Centennial Medal at a police ceremony at the Royal Alberta Museum. The provincial award program had a specific number of medals set aside for RCMP officers.

Burstrom was nominated by Western Alberta regional superintendent Marty Cheliak, who is based in Grande Prairie.

“I was quite surprised,” Burstrom said when asked about his initial reaction to the medal. “There are so many people around our organization who work very hard in the community.”

Constable Lutes, who was recognized for her work in community policing, was on vacation at the time of the presentation but will be able to take part in the next presentation of medals in the new year.

Significant honour was also bestowed on Sergeant Mike Self, the long-time head of the Jasper detachment. Self is now stationed in Edmonton with the criminal operations office.

“He is such a committed member,” Burstrom said of his former boss. “He’s one of those people who if given a choice between vacation and his job, would choose his job.”

The ceremony in Edmonton was also a special moment for Burstrom’s wife, Michelle. She had the opportunity to perform a song about the RCMP that she had written and recorded.

Whirlwind of whimsy

This week’s council meeting lasted an astounding 13 minutes. What follows is a brief retelling of the most significant matters discussed: approximately 50 written comments have been received about the municipality’s facility review recommendations. The comments will be compiled and presented to councillors in two weeks.

The provincial government has provided nearly $75,000 in funding for Jasper’s ambulance services. This is the same amount that was provided last year and it will provide council with some room for budgetary manoeuvres over the next year as they had earmarked local funds for the same purpose.

Finally, Jasper’s delegation has returned safe and sound from Mbyea, Tanzania and is busy adjusting to our winter weather. Three representatives from that city will have to do the same in February, when they visit Jasper to commence the second stage of the partnership between the two communities.