With so much chaos in the world, it’s rather easy to forget about the trucker protests and the government’s response to them. Of course, the Ukraine situation is far more urgent of a matter and deserves the coverage that it’s getting, but it also diverts the attention of politicians and the media, both domestic and abroad, from discussing what just happened to Canada. This Ukraine crisis may have also saved ...

Peter Shokeir | editor@fitzhugh.ca People don’t appreciate what they have until it's gone. Last week, news broke that the Chaba Theatre would be sold and converted into a restaurant. The news created waves on social media, with some commenters offering their support and others complaining that one of the last indoor activities and cultural attractions in Jasper is closing in favour of another restaurant. I ...

Peter Shokeir | editor@fitzhugh.ca Sometimes, we are so habituated to the objectionable that many don’t even notice it even as they drive by it. Such was the case with the former Pocahontas Campground, which has been temporarily renamed “Miette”, as has the area’s warden cabin and hiking trail. This came after discussions between Parks Canada and the Advisory Group of the Jasper Indigenous Form. Pursuit has ...

Peter Shokeir | editor@fitzhugh.ca Unless you’ve been actively avoiding the news (as many sane people do these days), you will have heard about the trucker convoy and protesters in Ottawa last weekend, and as of Jan. 31, it looks like they plan to stay. Ostensibly, it’s because of the federal vaccine mandate for truckers, but like many mass movements, it quickly becomes about many different causes and gripe ...

Peter Shokeir | editor@fitzhugh.ca During the early days of the pandemic, officials were urging the public to wait for the vaccine, because once it came, a return to normalcy would soon follow. Indeed, the vaccine has significantly improved the situation, with the lower death rates in continuing care centres more than enough evidence of this. And yet, the pandemic continues, and new regulations are coming d ...

Peter Shokeir | editor@fitzhugh.ca This time, it’s due to the surge in cases caused by the Omicron variant. The return to school was delayed by one week, events have been postponed or flat-out cancelled and, of course, people are getting sick. Not a great way to start out the New Year. I myself have been mainly working from home since the start of January, and it’s been going well for the most part, as I ha ...

Hello Jasper!  My name is Jason Stockfish, and I am proud to say that I have taken part-time employment as a reporter and as an advertising sales representative with the Fitzhugh. I have lived in Jasper for the better part of 23 years now, and it feels very much like home for me and my family.  Some of you may recognize my name from my recent run for town council in Jasper’s municipal election back in ...

Peter Shokeir | editor@fitzhugh.ca Contrary to what many commenters say on social media, browsing WebMD and listening to podcasts doesn’t make you a medical expert. In fact, while that type of education isn’t inherently bad, it seldom bestows expertise on most subjects—health care, policing, foreign affairs and so on. The most humbling fact of all is that it’s impossible to be an expert on everything. Much ...

Peter Shokeir | editor@fitzhugh.ca Here’s a controversial opinion: the government has been fairly reasonable with its COVID-19 restrictions, and most people have been good at following them. There are a hundred caveats to this opinion, of course. The authorities have not always handled the virus well, such as the ill-conceived quarantine hotels and the massive amount of public spending, much of this due to ...

Peter Shokeir | editor@fitzhugh.ca On Thursday, Nov. 3, 2005, the Jasper Fitzhugh published its first issue. We’ve now reached our 18th anniversary and wanted to extend a big thank-you to the community and all the businesses that have supported local news over the years. The history of newsprint in Jasper dates back to almost a century ago. In 1927, the Jasper Signal began to provide much-needed local news ...