Canada Day committee receives grant from feds
The Jasper Canada Day Committee received $7,000 from the federal government to host the community’s Canada Day festivities July 1.
The money was part of a $33,300 sum doled out to 15 organizations across the West Yellowhead region to support National Aboriginal Day, Multiculturalism Day and Canada Day.
The day is expected to kick off with a pancake breakfast starting at 9 a.m. in Centennial Park.
Following breakfast, a special flag raising ceremony will be held to celebrate the flag’s 50th anniversary at 11:30 a.m. on the front lawn of the Jasper Visitor Information Centre.
The parade will begin at 1 p.m. at the Jasper Activity Centre and wind its way through town before finishing at the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Archives parking lot.
A family BBQ will be hosted throughout the afternoon at Centennial Park, starting at 1 p.m. and run until 11 p.m. There will also be kids activities at Centennial Park from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The beer garden will officially open its doors at 6 p.m., with last call at 11:30 p.m.
Fireworks are expected to begin shortly thereafter or as soon as it’s dark.
For more information about Canada Day, visit www.jaspercanadaday.com
Faulty water pump to be repaired
Council approved up to $150,000 to repair a water pump that feeds water to the municipality’s reservoir, June 2.
The pump in Water Well No. 3, although functioning when switched on, depressurizes when it's turned off. In order to find out what’s wrong, the pump will have to be pulled out and inspected, said Bruce Thompson, director of operations.
“This work can be scheduled for a couple of months from now, based on availability of supplies,” he said, noting that it will cost between $30,000 and $40,000 alone just to pull the pump out as it requires specialized equipment, including a 40 tonne crane.
“That’s if it comes out easy,” he said. “But once we have it out and inspected, we will refit components and do some basic replacement and maintenance to it.”
He said if the issue is with vacuum seals or another component of the pump, then those will be fixed and it will be put back into place.
“We’re hoping that one of those components is where the depressurization is.”
Council waived it’s usual two-week notice period to allow Thompson to move forward with the project.
The municipality has three water wells, each of which pumps water to the municipality’s reservoir. Thompson said the community can run on one, but it’s necessary to have the others as backups.
Flea market and auction
June 14, Jasper will prove that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, during the Jasper Flea Market and Auction at the activity centre.
The event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a live auction beginning at 3 p.m.
Up for grabs is everything from vintage vinyl to guitars, skin care products, bikes, household items and video games.
