Peter Shokeir | editor@fitzhugh.ca For the most part, drivers slow down when passing wildlife, but not often enough. Last year, 121 animals were killed by vehicles within Jasper National Park. That is a lot of unnecessary animal death, especially considering this is a protected area. Wildlife-vehicle collisions often occur because of irresponsible wildlife viewing. However, let’s not forget to point the fin ...

Recently, I was proud to introduce Bill 15, Reforming Teacher Profession Discipline Act. Since I first took office, I have been focused on reforming the process of discipline for the teaching profession. In December, I released a statement outlining my commitment to bring legislation forward this spring to improve this process in part due to the Alberta Teachers’ Association’s (ATA) statement that they felt ...

Peter Shokeir | editor@fitzhugh.ca When I was a kid living in Washington State, snow was a rare and treasured phenomenon, and I would always make the most of it. But just when I grew out of my snow-loving phase, my family moved up to Alberta, and now I’m stuck with the white stuff every year whether I like it or not. I used to think of snowmen and hot chocolate when I thought of winter. That’s the consequen ...

Peter Shokeir | editor@fitzhugh.ca After two unpleasant years, we’re seeing a supposed end to the pandemic as jurisdictions around the world begin to relax health rules and people peel off their masks. In Canada, Alberta is the most gung ho to the point where the Kenney government is introducing legislation to limit the authority of municipalities to impose mask mandates or vaccine passports. Let’s just hop ...

Trans Mountain’s Twitter photo Peter Shokeir | editor@fitzhugh.ca ATCO camp workers in Blue River, B.C., have voted by over 93 per cent to join UNITE HERE Local 40. Robert Demand, Local 40 executive director and BC Building Trades executive board member, congratulated the camp workers who voted to unionize. “The high percentage who voted yes to join our union goes to show that camp workers are ready to come ...

Peter Shokeir | editor@fitzhugh.ca As Russia’s assault on Ukraine enters its third week, it has become all the more apparent just how stupid and cruel the whole invasion is—thousands dead, over 1.5 million refugees, civilians taking up arms, the shelling of a nuclear plant. With all that in consideration, it’s understandable that so many of us are emotional over this crisis and simply want the horrid thing ...

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 ...

Hello everyone, We would like to let you know about OUT Jasper LGBTQA2S+ Society. We are a non-profit organization for the Gay Community and our Allies. OUT Jasper is pushing the movement of the LGBTQA2S+ and human rights through the mountains. OUT Jasper is a peer and advocacy group for the LGBTQA2S+ living, working, and passing through Jasper, Alta. We also extend our reach as requested into the Yellowhea ...

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 ...