While Jasper’s downtown receives piecemeal patio treatment as individual businesses owners attempt to revitalize their restaurants, the deputy mayor of Canmore says their new downtown pedestrian zone is proving popular. 

Karen Marra is a first term councillor and former downtown business owner who sits on the board of Canmore’s Business Improvement Association. Marra says since Canmore closed two blocks to vehicle traffic to facilitate social distancing, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. 

“The businesses are seeing a good response,” Marra told The Jasper Local on July 10, approximately one month since the streets were closed to cars. “They’re telling us they’ve had better revenues than expected.” 

“The businesses are seeing a good response. They’re telling us they’ve had better revenues than expected.”

Karen Marra, Deputy Mayor of Canmore

That may or may not be due to the street closures, but one thing’s for certain, says Marra: Canmore is a safer place to stroll since the initiative has been introduced. 

“That’s been the main focus: how do we keep people safe and how do we support our businesses?” 

The idea of a pedestrian-only zone in Canmore had been kicked around for years, Marra said, but it was the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic that ushered in the change. 

“We don’t have wide sidewalks,” she said. “Queuing for restaurants and businesses was going to present a problem.” 

Now, businesses are required to keep the sidewalk in front of their storefronts clear. Lineups are permitted in former parking stalls and on the road, walkers and bikers share a 3.5 metre wide space. 

To achieve their new main street configuration, Marra said the town engaged businesses and residents in consultations. 

“We did a lot of brainstorming,” she said. 

Here in Jasper, some businesses have taken advantage of council’s recent decision to allow expansion of sidewalk seating or retail displays by using the parking lane in front of their businesses. 

Soto Korogonas, owner of the Downstream Lounge on Connaught Drive, not only expanded his operation into the parking lot adjacent to his restaurant, he also got the support from his neighbouring tenants to use their stalls, too. On July 8, the Downstream’s patio was spread across six parking stalls. That’s 24 open- air tables or 96 seats he didn’t have two days earlier. 

“Hopefully we can salvage some of this summer,” he said. 

Still, Korogonas thinks Jasper can do better. 

“Banff is offering a social distancing option in a really critical time,” he said, referring to the vehicle closure on Banff Ave that went up around the same time as Canmore’s. 

“Jasper needs to do some diverse things to encourage business.” 

Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com