Prescribed burn delayed again
Mother Nature kiboshed the plans of Parks Canada’s fire management team to undertake a small burn near Vine Creek, Sept. 21.
The winds were too strong to safely ignite a fire. So, yet again, the burn has been delayed. The team has been waiting seven years for the perfect burning conditions to ignite a prescribed fire at Vine Creek, but those conditions refuse to align.
The hope for Sunday was to burn four hectares of land on the southwest facing ridge of Mount Greenock to encourage the growth of Whitebark pine.
Whitebark pine is listed as endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. It has been declining in numbers because of fire suppression, pine beetle outbreaks and a disease called white pine blister rust.
Fires help the species because they open up the forest, allowing in sunlight—which they need to survive.
Local artists celebrated
The recipients of Jasper’s annual arts awards have been announced and on Friday, Sept. 26, they will be recognized for their contribution to the arts community.
Taking home the hardware is Marla Pollock for fine art; Brian Lackey for music; Shawna Woelke for choreography; Lena Fraser for theatre; Deb Joly for photography; Paula Klassen for writing; and finally Sam and Shelley Koebel for being patrons of the arts.
The Raven About the Arts Awards are taking place at the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Archives beginning at 7 p.m.
Everyone is invited to attend and show their appreciation for the people who give, inspire and strive to make Jasper a better place through art.
Duck days of summer
Who’s got the fastest duck? That is the question.
The community will find out on Sunday, Sept. 28, when hundreds of rubber duckies are dropped from the Miette River bridge on Highway 93. The drop takes place at 1 p.m. and will see the little yellow quackers drift down the river to the bridge at Tekkara Lodge.
The owner of the winning duck will receive a grand prize of $1,000. Second place will garner $300 and third $200.
Tickets for the 22nd annual Right to Read Society and Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Archives fundraiser are on sale now.
