Don’t fret, Jasper will have a Canada Day celebration next year and for many years to come.
After the Canada Day Committee indicated that, following years of volunteer service, all of the members would be stepping down, the ears of the Jasper Park Chamber of Commerce perked and at its last executive meeting, the board voted to take the lead on the annual event.
“This is vitally important,” said Pattie Pavlov, general manager of the chamber. “Canada Day is a longstanding tradition, and kudos to those people who have worked so hard for so many years to make it happen.
“I can understand that you get volunteer fatigue after a number of years, and I think, as the chamber, we’re in a position where maybe we can help.”
Brian Higginson, who’s been on the committee for years, said—although he hadn’t yet heard the news—he’s happy to know someone’s stepping up to the plate.
“If someone wants to take over, that would be great,” he said.
Pavlov said she hasn’t yet been able to sit down with the outgoing committee members, but she hopes to learn from them and to work with them—if possible—on next year’s event.
“Let’s face it, I have learning to do,” she said. “There are nuances that I don’t know. I’m hoping that once it’s established that we’re the lead, some of those individuals who are experiencing some of that fatigue might be willing to stay on one more year to help.”
Pavlov has had preliminary discussions with a number of the event’s annual partners and, so far, has received the green light to take on the organizing role.
“Everybody’s in,” said Pavlov, referencing the municipality, Parks Canada and the Jasper Legion. “I’ve had no negative feedback whatsoever.
“I’m actually pretty pumped, and all of our staff here—Aggie and Trina—are both pumped, too.
“In most small communities the chamber does take the lead on Canada Day. So, to us it’s a really good fit.”
The plan is to keep the staple events that the committee has hosted for years. That means the municipality will continue its pancake breakfast, Parks will continue to host the flag raising ceremony, there will be a party in the park throughout the day and the parade down Patricia Street, as well as fireworks in the evening.
“It’s a hugely popular event, so I say, it ain’t broke, so don’t fix it,” said Pavlov, noting that the parade and fireworks will likely become the responsibility of the chamber.
Although it hopes to lead the way with organization, Pavlov said the chamber will need volunteers to make the event a success. She invited anyone who’s interested in participating in the event’s organization to contact the chamber at [email protected].
Nicole Veerman
[email protected]
