Bear warning for popular backcountry trail
Parks Canada issued a bear warning on the Skyline Trail, Aug. 28, after numerous close encounters with a grizzly bear in the vicinity of the Tekarra Campground.
To stay safe on the trail, Parks recommends travelling in groups of four or more, camping in designated areas, watching for bears, making noise to alert a bear of your presence, carrying bear spray and knowing how to use it, using designated storage facilities for food, utensils, toiletries and garbage and keeping a clean campsite.
It also requests that hikers immediately report all bear sightings to Parks by calling 780-852-6155.
Prepare to vote Oct. 19, free webinar
The Jasper Adult Learning Council is hosting a webinar called Civic Literacy: Voting in the 2015 Federal Election, Sept. 15, with the hopes of attracting more voters to the polls this October.
The learning council is especially interested in engaging new and young Canadians in this year’s election, said Ginette Marcoux, the council’s executive director, in an email.
Marcoux noted that voter turnout in young voters is at a lower rate than any other age demographic in Canada, while many new Canadians don’t understand the electoral system or feel like they have enough information to vote.
The webinar is focused on providing voters with the information they need to cast a ballot Oct. 19, including why it’s important to vote, how federal elections work, how to register and how to vote.
The webinar will take place at the Jasper Adult Learning Council at 631 Patricia St. Sept. 15 from 12 noon to 1 p.m.
Everyone is welcome.
Council seeks province’s advice
Despite administration’s efforts to garner a clear response from the provincial government, the municipality has not been able to get an answer as to whether or not the Jasper Legion is eligible for tax exemption.
Mark Fercho, municipal chief administrative officer, told council Aug. 25 that on a staff-to-staff level, the provincial government hasn’t been able to provide the municipality with any information, and requested permission to write a letter on behalf of council, in hopes of garnering a response.
“At this point we haven’t been able to get any documentation flow,” he said.
In July, council asked administration to work with the province to interpret the legislation around tax exemption, to help it determine whether to accept the legion’s request for exemption.
The legion’s request for tax exemption came shortly after École Desrochers moved out of the building and into the Jasper Joint School Facility. That move has resulted in a significant loss of revenue for the legion, as it continues to pay for the building’s utilities and upkeep while no longer collecting rent.
Council deferred the legion’s taxes for this year, to help the struggling non-profit as the municipality determines whether it is eligible for exemption.
