Federal election set for October
Canadians will go to the polls Oct. 19 in the country’s 42nd general election, after Prime Minister Stephen Harper asked Governor General David Johnston to dissolve government at 10 a.m. Aug. 2.
So far, there are three confirmed candidates running in the Yellowhead riding: incumbent Jim Eglinski for the Progressive Conservative party, Liberal Ryan Maguhn and Libertarian Cory Lystang. The NDP and Green Party of Canada don’t yet have candidates listed.
Eglinski, a retired RCMP officer and former mayor of Fort St. John, was elected in a by-election last year, after long-time Yellowhead MP, Rob Merrifield resigned to take a job under former premier Jim Prentice.
Maguhn is a Hinton town councillor and high school teacher. He ran in the 2014 by-election, garnering 18.2 per cent of the vote.
Lystang works in the oil industry and lives in Mayerthorpe, where he was born and raised on a cattle ranch. In the 2014 by-election, he earned 3.1 per cent of the vote.
The Jasper Park Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Fitzhugh, has organized an all-candidates forum for Oct. 5 at the Jasper Activity Centre.
Skating camp returns
Next week, kids of all ages will trade in their swim trunks and sunscreen for skates and hockey sticks, when the annual Jasper Skating and Hockey Camp takes over the arena, Aug. 10-14.
The camp is taught by Gaston Schaeffer, a retired figure skater who has coached for provincial and Olympic teams, and Tom Molloy, a retired hockey coach who wrote the book Hockey Coaching: The ABCs of International Hockey.
Schaeffer, who skated professionally at home in Switzerland, started the camp in 2000 along with his daughter, a figure skater, and his son, a hockey player.
Schaeffer teaches all of the participants to skate, while Molloy teaches hockey players the techniques and skills they need to succeed in the game.
To register for the camp, participants can either email [email protected] or contact Tamar Couture at 780-852-4548. Registration will also be open at the Jasper Arena on Sunday beginning at 4 p.m.
South Boundary Trail reopens
The South Boundary Trail was reopened to the public July 31, however a bear warning remains in effect.
In the spring two grizzly bears broke into backcountry cabins to gain access to horse feed, forcing Parks Canada to close the area.
The agency said the bears no longer appear to be a problem, but reminded the public that bears are unpredictable and can still pose a risk if they return.
Parks suggested people travel in tight groups of four or more, watch for and avoid bears, make noise to make them aware of your presence, carry bear spray, keep a clean campsite, ensure there are no bear attractants inside your tent and report all predator sightings or carcasses to Jasper Dispatch at 780-852-6155.
