Jasper’s business community received a sneak preview of Supt. Greg Fenton’s annual park report, Sept. 9, during a general meeting of the Jasper Park Chamber of Commerce.
A similar address, covering Jasper National Park’s hot topics from the year, will be given at Parks Canada’s annual public forum, tentatively scheduled for Oct. 15.
Here’s what you can expect to hear:
Development at Maligne
Fenton addressed public concerns about Parks Canada’s approval of the development of tent cabins on the shores of Maligne Lake, saying—despite public perception—the decision doesn’t mark a policy shift. Rather, he said, each proposal is different and is judged accordingly.
“We look at the merits of each proposal within the context of our existing policies and legislative framework,” he said.
He also noted that Parks is directed by policy to connect Canadians to JNP, and to do that, from time to time, Parks needs to refresh its offer.
Record visitation
Park attendance was way up this spring and summer and Parks is “forecasting record visitation in Jasper.”
April was up 18 per cent over 2013’s numbers.
May was only up two per cent, but June and July were up nine and seven per cent, respectively.
“August numbers were strong as well and you’re likely to agree that the August long weekend felt like one of the busiest, certainly, in recent memory.”
Fenton also noted that camping was up 10 per cent over last year’s numbers.
There are many reasons for this record year. Fenton pointed to strong marketing campaigns from Parks Canada, Marmot Basin, Brewster Travel Canada, Tourism Jasper and many other businesses in the park. He also noted the fabulous weather and last year’s rediscovery of Jasper, following the flooding in Banff, Canmore and Calgary.
Big numbers for Icefields Centre
Another significant increase was visible down the Parkway at the Icefields Centre.
According to Fenton, there was a 43 per cent increase in the number of visitors that passed through the centre’s doors this season over last, and the Glacier Skywalk, which opened for business this spring, received more than 150,000 visitors between May and July.
Smooth sailing
Parks spent $10 million this summer repairing the highways running through JNP.
Those repairs include paving on Highway 16, rock scaling on Highway 16 and Highway 93 and bridge repairs.
Fenton acknowledged the public’s complaints about traffic delays, but noted that the repairs are a significant investment that will ensure visitors and residents are able to get where they need to go.
The road work was paid for with appropriation dollars from the 2014 budget, as well as park fees.
Chairs in high places
Jasper was one of the first parks to participate in the national Red Chair Program, which saw Adirondack chairs dispersed throughout the park along popular hiking trails.
The program invites visitors to “take a break, enjoy the view and use social media for sharing photos and information about Jasper National Park,” explained Fenton, who said the program was successful nationally and in Jasper.
More chairs are expected to arrive next year.
Keepin’ tabs on caribou
“We continue to monitor caribou, wolves, elk and deer to better understand the dynamics that are affecting caribou populations, which are still continuing to decline,” said Fenton, noting that caribou are no longer being collared.
Instead Parks staff are now analyzing scat to track the populations in the Brazeau and Tonquin herds.
“We are still collaring wolves to better understand where wolves are going and how many there are out there and their predator/prey relationships with caribou.”
To combat the decline in Jasper’s caribou populations, Parks is continuing to work toward a captive breeding program in collaboration with the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, the University of Calgary and the Calgary Zoo.
And much, much more
Among other things, Fenton will also touch on Marmot Basin’s 2013 Long Range Plan, Parks Canada’s relationship with the municipality and the work the two are doing together, Aboriginal relations, youth engagement, the debris flow at Mount Edith Cavell, oTENTiks, mountain pine beetle and cross-country ski trails at Decoigne.
Nicole Veerman
[email protected]
