Parks Canada announced last week that it has begun to collect fees and regulate the number of weddings taking place at three popular gathering sites in Jasper National Park.
The fee-based reservation system was implemented Jan. 1 to ensure wedding parties are not tripping over each other on their big day.
Previously Parks took a hands off approach, leaving it up to wedding commissioners to organize and juggle when and where weddings were taking place in the park. This often created bottlenecks at popular locations, such as Pyramid Island.
With the new reservation system, wedding parties must now make a reservation if they wish to hold their ceremony at Pyramid Island, Maligne Overlook or Athabasca day-use area (located near the Jasper Airfield).
Parks Canada is also taking reservations for Whirlpool group camping, the only venue where overnight camping is permitted for large groups.
Each venue was renovated and includes a variety of different amenities.
For example, at Pyramid Island wooden benches were installed to accommodate a maximum of 50 people.
The Athabasca day-use area includes a wooden arbour, wooden benches for 120 people as well as reception area with 15 picnic tables, a cook shelter, a group fire pit, three outhouses and potable water in the summer. It is also the only site that is gated to allow for private use, and it can accomodate 40 vehicles and 150 people.
Maligne Overlook includes a wooden gazebo and can accommodate 100 people.
According to the agency’s website, Pyramid Island and Maligne Overlook can be booked for $50 an hour, while the Athabasca day-use area costs $250 per day.
Pam Clark, visitor experience manager for Jasper National Park, said the agency sat down with stakeholders in the fall to get feedback from people who directly work in the wedding industry.
“They’ve been very supportive and positive and they’ve given us some good feedback, so we’ve incorporated that into the service improvements,” said Clark.
To date she said the agency already has about 100 reservations.
News that Parks Canada is making a concerted effort to regulate the booming wedding industry was welcomed by local wedding commissioners as well as a former bride, who learned first hand what happens when too many weddings are taking place in the same spot at the same time.
“I think that’s great that they have put those restrictions in place and will regulate the flow of traffic,” said Ana Botelho Clark, who had her wedding ceremony spoiled by another wedding at Pyramid Beach in 2014.
“It will offer more privacy and makes it a more special event.”
While the venues are designed with weddings in mind, reservations can also be made for other group events such as family reunions or corporate gatherings.
Gloria Kongsrud was one of three local wedding commissioners who attended the meeting with Parks Canada in the fall to discuss the new regulations. A wedding planner and representatives from several hotels in town were also in attendance.
“Originally I didn’t think it was such a good idea, but the more that I think about it, the more I think it probably is a good idea,” said Kongsrud.
Since the new regulations took effect Jan. 1, she has been advising wedding parties to ensure they first make a reservation with Parks Canada before they book her.
Despite the recent upgrades, wedding parties do not need formal permission from Parks Canada if they choose to get married elsewhere in the park.
In those cases, Parks requests wedding ceremonies comply with 12 guidelines that can be found on its website. These guidelines include a recommendation that no more than 25 guests attend a ceremony at a time and there must not be any significant impact on the park’s natural and cultural resources, such as picking flowers or setting up chairs for the ceremony (a few folding chairs are allowed for the elderly or the infirm).
For more information about each venue and how to make a reservation visit Parks Canada’s website for Jasper National Park and click on “visitor information” on the left hand side. In the drop down menu click on “facilities and services” and then click on the “event venues” icon. Otherwise email [email protected].ca or call 780-883-0845.
Paul Clarke [email protected]
