Joanne McQuarrie, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | [email protected]
Jasper has won a $3,664,584 grant from the federal government to help pay for upgrades to recreation facilities.
The municipality applied for the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program grant in 2019 to help finance already-approved upgrades to the Jasper Arena, curling rink, Activity Centre, Aquatic Centre and the Centennial Park Log Cabin.
Funding has also been secured from the provincial Municipal Sustainability Initiative and Community Facility Enhancement Program through a successful application by the Jasper Curling Club for the curling rink upgrades.
"This means local taxpayers and facility users will end up covering approximately 27 per cent of the total project costs, which is a great outcome for the community,” said Natasha Malenchak, director of Finance and Administration for the municipality.
Clearing up cardboard
Businesses can now be punished for not following rules set for putting out cardboard for collection.
Jasper Municipal Council passed a motion at their Sept. 1 meeting that all commercial cardboard placed in storage areas for municipal pick-up must be flattened.
If it is not flattened, it will be considered untidy or unsightly under the Nuisance Bylaw and businesses could be fined.
As well, commercial cardboard storage areas for municipal pick-up must be kept in reasonable condition or may be subject to fines under the same bylaw.
About the need for businesses to be more diligent, John Greathead, director of Operations, said, "We've had some good conversations so far.”
Deputy mayor Rico Damota said he has talked with a number of businesses about the issue and learned there are some concerns about residential people who share buildings with commercial renters. As well, Damota said, business owners don't think as many boxes will fit in storage containers with slots.
"If we work with the business community we can come up with a solution for everyone," he said.
Coun. Jenna McGrath said she believes fines are needed in this situation, adding that alleys have been untidy for years.
Coun. Scott Wilson said he is in favour of discontinuing the service and that businesses are getting a sufficient heads-up about possible changes.
"Just cut the service and let [it] unfold and the solutions will be numerous," he said.
Coun. Paul Butler agreed, and said the municipality should stop collecting cardboard as of 2021.
Damota said it will be hard to enforce the bylaw, having to know "who's putting what boxes where".
He reiterated the importance of communicating with businesses to come up with a solution.
Mayor Richard Ireland said the motion is necessary, that education is important, but some kind of backup is needed for a solution. He noted the soft educational approach about wearing masks proved to be ineffective and so sees the need to have defined expectations and consequences in this area too.
Centres open soon
It has been closed for six months, but Jasper Fitness Centre will finally reopen on Sept. 21.
The Aquatic Centre and Activity Centre are also set to reopen on that date.
All facilities will operate with reduced hours, pending staff availability and training.
But Jasper Fitness Centre could open for longer hours if there is a greater demand.
The fitness centre's proposed hours are Monday to Friday from 11a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The Aquatic Centre's proposed hours are every day from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for recreational swim, and Monday to Friday, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. for lane swim and Parent & Tot.
The Activity Centre's proposed hours are Monday to Friday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday to be confirmed
Yvonne McNabb, director of culture and recreation, told council there have been requests for service on a daily basis, that the municipality has received 178 calls requesting access to all of its facilities.
Upping communication
Jasper Municipal Council has voted to hire a communications coordinator for the municipality.
The position includes media relations, social media development and production, website coordination, advertising and public engagement.
The communications coordinator will work in the Legislative Services department, and council approved a spend of $13,504 to fund the position for the rest of 2020, starting in october.
Councillors reiterated the importance of maintaining a high level of communication in the municipality.
No Jasper Day this year
A motion to proclaim the third Saturday in September as Jasper Day was defeated with a tie vote.
Council discussed the subject Damota has brought forward to council a few times over this summer, saying it would be a way for residents to celebrate the culture and heritage in town, and each other.
Journault said. "I support an opportunity to say, 'Rah rah, good for us.'”
McGrath agreed. "Optimism and unity are what creates community," she said.
Wilson suggested planning for it first: "Work on it, feel it all out, go for it next year if we feel Jasper Day.”
Ireland concurred with Wilson, saying that it's a start but needs to be worked on before a proclamation is made.
And Butler said events like this “should grow from the community", not just because council proclaims it.
