Are Jasperites in touch with reality?

People love and hate Jasper for any number of reasons.

I’ve had this conversation again and again, sometimes on a slow afternoon at the office, sometimes after a few beers at the local watering hole. 

When I bring the topic up, my end of the discussion tends to come off negatively. Whether I’m irritated by the lack of anonymity here or bored looking for news in this town, it’s rare for me to find a sympathetic ear.

The good news: Jasper’s got a lot of supporters in its corner.

The question that plagues me: By living in the Jasper bubble, are we out of touch with reality?

Jasper is affluent and the crime rate is low. In eight months of living here, I haven’t once seen the homeless people or drunks I could find in one weekend in rural Alberta towns outside the parks, or in a big city anywhere. 

So what’s the problem? Most people would say that sounds pretty good. 

However, the way things are in Jasper represents a minute fraction of the way the rest of the world is. Sometimes it just doesn’t seem fair that we can put our blinders on, wrap ourselves up in the mountains and carry on our merry way.

Seeing a bum on a city street corner may seem depressing, but looking away doesn’t do anything for anyone. If anything, exposure to people in duress should help us appreciate what we’ve got and encourage us to share it with others.

It’s a reminder that people are suffering in this world, and not just because of a downward trend in visits.

But this is a tourist destination. People expect it to be perfect here.

When some of the biggest issues are keeping Jasper t-shirts in stock or making sure our restaurant servers are all smiling neatly, life can seem a little shallow.

On the other hand, if I look at Jasper in terms of Disney World, a comparison I often draw, I think about the joy that place can bring to a child, a family, a visitor of any age. Disney World is a place where people go on vacation to have fun, be entertained, and admire beautiful creations. Even a brief escape can have a profound effect on a person’s life.

Jasper’s not all that different.

It’s not a question of liking Jasper or not. It comes down to the difference between using this town as an escape, and allowing ourselves to become isolated within its protective boundaries. 

The bubble may keep us relatively safe and happy, but an escape from the escape may be just what we all need once in a while, to remind ourselves that where we live is not the norm.