Parks Canada prepares for prescribed fire
Fire managers with Parks Canada took advantaged of the good weather this week to continue burning a fireguard in the Jackladder Complex.
Located 15 km north of the townsite, the fireguard will augment the work carried out last fall to create a strong barrier to allow Parks to contain a larger prescribed fire it hopes to carry out on April 17.
The Jackladder Complex is divided into two sub-units. The first was burned last spring. The second sub-unit, which will be burned if weather permits, is 102 hectares in size and is located between Highway 16 and the Athabasca River.
The burn will help restore the open valley bottom grasslands that were historically present in the area.
CN employee injured in collision between car and trainA Canadian National Railway employee was airlifted to hospital after their work truck was struck by a CN train at a private railroad crossing April 4.
According to CN, the accident happened around 9:30 a.m. about 20 km north of Jasper. The employee was the driver and lone occupant of the vehicle.
Deputy Fire Chief Don Smith responded to the accident at the request of paramedics, however he said before the fire department arrived, they were already able to remove the driver from the truck.
He said the driver was then taken to the airfield by ambulance, before being airlifted to Edmonton by STARS.
The circumstances of the incident are under investigation by CN and Employment and Social Development Canada.
Runners tie up laces for half marathon
More than 700 runners are expected to descend on Jasper to partake in the inaugural Canadian Rockies Half Marathon April 16.
The 21-km race begins at 1 p.m. in front of the Jasper Visitor Information Centre and finishes on Patricia Street in front of the post office. A map of the race route can be found online.
According to race organizers, 720 people have registered for the race and 75 spots are still available. Registration closes April 14.
Racers can pick up their race packages the day before the race at Totem Ski Shop between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Race packages can also be picked up on site on the day of the race between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
At 1:45 p.m. runners participating in the 10-km race will line up at the starting line. Fifteen minutes later, at 2 p.m., the five-kilometre race will begin, followed by the one-kilometre family fun run at 3:30 p.m.
To accommodate the runners, traffic will temporarily be reduced to one lane on Connaught Drive. There are no other road closures for the marathon.
Organizers are also looking for volunteers to help with the event.
Following the race there will be an awards and celebration event at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Tickets can be purchased online when registering for the race at www.jaspercanadianrockieshalf.ca.
