It might be hard to imagine, but election season is upon us. On Sept. 18 communities across Alberta, including Jasper, will hold nomination day, the final day for candidates to decide whether or not they are going to run for municipal office. Deciding to run for office is a big decision that should be weighed carefully before deciding whether or not you want to throw your hat into the ring. For starters, it ...

Municipal council’s shock decision this week to reject the installation of a rainbow coloured crosswalk is a stark reminder of the challenges still faced by the LGBTQ community in 2017. In Jasper we like to think of ourselves as a progressive, open-minded community, however the decision demonstrates that Jasper still has a long way to go before we can truly claim to be the inclusive community we like to thi ...

The thick blanket of smoke that has swallowed up Jasper over the past week should be a wake up call that the threat of wildfire is a real and present danger in Jasper National Park. It should also be used as an opportunity for residents to ensure they have a 72-hour emergency kit ready to go and a full tank of gas in case of an emergency. For the laggards among us, we only need to look to British Columbia t ...

Jasper’s snow capped mountains and its abundance of wildlife might get the most attention from visitors who come to our tiny mountain town, but hidden almost in plain sight is a community of volunteers that rarely get noticed. This was once again on full display during Canada Day as tens of thousands of revelers descended on Jasper to enjoy the 150th anniversary of Confederation. For those in attendance it ...

What does it mean to be Canadian? It’s a question that some of the country’s greatest leaders, writers and thinkers have wrestled with since Confederation 150 years ago. At the heart of the debate is a question about our identity. Since that fateful day on July 1, 1867, Canadians have struggled to find a single narrative to define who we are as a nation, but within that struggle we have may have also found ...

Jasper is a place that prides itself as a progressive, forward thinking community, but allegations this week that some employers may be using child labour for their own narrow self-interest are deplorable and have no place here. Not only is it morally and ethically reprehensible to hire children who are under 12 years of age without parental consent and a permit from the province, if the allegations are pro ...

Jasper’s unique location in the heart of the Canadian Rockies has earned it an international reputation as one of the most beautiful places in the world, but beyond the snow-capped mountains and meandering rivers what makes Jasper special is also its biggest challenge. Located in a national park and on the fringes of the provincial border, Jasper’s faces an unusual set of circumstances that are by and large ...

Over the past few weeks it might seem like the world is headed towards environmental catastrophe after the United States pulled out of the Paris Agreement, but the reality on the ground, even here in Jasper, suggests otherwise. Everywhere you look residents, private businesses and various levels of government are investing their time, energy and money to preserve our planet and create a more sustainable fut ...

The world is a meaner place since the first community garage sale in support of Mountains of Relief, the local charity replacing a school flattened by an earthquake in the mountains of Nepal two years ago. President Donald Trump’s executive orders should not be any surprise to anyone who is aware of his Twitter habits, which appear to be anchored in starting fights over breakfast. They appeal to his very sc ...

  It goes without saying that the number one issue facing Jasper is housing. Whether it’s finding a place for a seasonal employee, helping a senior find a smaller home or to ensure a young family can afford to live in Jasper, housing affects us all. Yet it seems Parks Canada, which controls land use planning and development, could care less. This week the Jasper Community Housing Corporation (JCHC) ann ...