Editorial

The recent snowfall has been a blessing for Marmot Basin and Jasper’s winter enthusiasts, but it’s also been a nightmare for the surrounding highways.

Flu season is upon us, and this year the H1N1 strain has reared its nasty little head yet again. This vicious strain of influenza attacks the young and healthy more viciously than other strains.

Thoroughness is key to a successful budget process. There is always something to add or cut, but what’s important is deciding which is which. On Tuesday, council approved an interim operating budget for 2014.

Tis the season of overindulgence and merrymaking.

Policies exist for a reason. They are there to shape what is and is not acceptable. They are there to guide governments through tough decisions. And they are there to ensure fairness and due process.

If you judge the Reuse It Centre on financial sustainability alone, it’s a flop. After nearly two years of operation, the pilot project isn’t making enough money to survive. In fact, the secondhand shop is recording a monthly deficit of about $1,000.

Jasperites exercised their democratic right a month ago, casting ballots to select seven people to represent the community for the next four years. And now those seven people are preparing for their next big assignment: the budget.

In a town like Jasper, opportunities in the tourism industry abound.

As Torontonians waited for their mayor to speak about his use of crack cocaine on Tuesday, Jasper’s own mayor was chairing the first regular meeting of our newly-elected council.

Three years ago, Jasper National Park was designated a dark sky preserve by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. That same year, Tourism Jasper organized the first Dark Sky Festival—an event that has grown with popularity each year.