logo
  • News
    • Community
    • Local Government
    • Sports
    • Alberta Politics
    • Opinion
    • Deke
  • Events
  • Jasper Builds
  • Peaks & Valleys
    • Wildlife
    • Hiking and Climbing
    • Biking
    • Fishing
    • Snow Sports
  • Culture
    • Jasper Arts & Culture
    • Local Dining
    • Local Literature
  • Jasper History
  • Support
    • News
      • Community
      • Local Government
      • Sports
      • Alberta Politics
      • Opinion
      • Deke
    • Events
    • Jasper Builds
    • Peaks & Valleys
      • Wildlife
      • Hiking and Climbing
      • Biking
      • Fishing
      • Snow Sports
    • Culture
      • Jasper Arts & Culture
      • Local Dining
      • Local Literature
    • Jasper History
    • Support
Special Mayor’s Awards presented to responsive residents
Food services professional Glenda "the Great" MacDowell and Jasper paramedic Rob Prinz were recognized for their community contributions on December 15.
Community, News
By Bob Covey
Tuesday, January 2, 2024
Special Mayor’s Awards presented to responsive residents

Two of Jasper’s most responsive, health-giving and helpful citizens have been recognized for their ongoing contributions to the community. 

Advanced care paramedic Rob Prinz, and food services professional Glenda MacDowell, with her consummate duty-of-care for residents, visitors and anyone else who darkens the door of the Jasper Activity Centre, were both presented with a Mayor’s Special Award on December 15 during Jasper’s annual Community Holiday Party. 

Three decades ago Rob Prinz came to Jasper from a ski patrol job at the now-defunct Fortress Mountain, in Alberta’s Kananaskis Country. He figured his emergency-response resume would match up well for the rigours of a position that would require a host of hard and soft skills, including compassion, incident management and leadership. 

Rob Prinz says he feels fortunate to be working with “some of the same dispatchers, fire department members and nurses” since he came to Jasper 31 years ago. // Bob Covey

But were it not for Jasper’s natural surroundings, and the colleagues he’s worked with over those 31 years, Prinz said his career could have gone much differently. And he likely wouldn’t be accepting a Mayor’s Special Award in 2023.

“The only reason I’ve managed to last this long in this career is because I’m doing it in this town,” Prinz said. 

As most first responders in a small, rural town will attest, one of the most challenging parts of the job is being on-call. Paramedics like Prinz work four shifts per week where they’re on call 24-hours per day; they are also bound by an eight-minute response time—meaning when the call comes in, no matter what time of day or night, they’ve got eight minutes to be driving down the road to the scene of the emergency.

“So you’re never really relaxed,” he said. “And neither is your spouse, who also wakes up every time your pager goes off.”

A large part of what makes those sacrifices worth it, Prinz says, is the contact with patients.

“You’re not meeting people on their best day, but you’re usually making it better,” he said.

Glenda MacDowell knows a little about making people’s days better. Mayor Richard Ireland received four separate nominations for Glenda’s recognition, each of which were reviewed by Jasper Municipal Council, and all of which offered glowing remarks on Glenda’s tireless efforts to help bring a smile, and satiation, to residents and visitors. 

How do you get a photograph of someone who shuns the limelight? Stick your pyjama-clad kid in the frame! Sorry Glenda! // Bob Covey

“One of Glenda’s nominators said ‘she has the biggest heart, which could be why she is so in tune with the heartbeat of our community,’” Ireland told the attendees of the Holiday Christmas Party. “And if it is true that the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach, this person has found that route.” 

Ireland reminded the crowd that during the 2022 Chetamon Mountain wildfire, and every day since, Glenda has provided free soup for those in need of a warm meal, warm surroundings and warm companionship. This past spring, evacuees from Edson and Yellowhead County were among those who discovered the simple comforts of Glenda’s constant care. 

“She is a pillar of the community,” Ireland agreed with another nominator. “She consistently goes above and beyond…yet is one of the most modest people around.”

After presenting Prinz with the Mayor’s Special Award for Exceptional Achievement, Ireland presented the Mayor’s Special Award for Humanitarianism to Glenda MacDowell, aka “Glenda the Great.”

“In time of strife and calamity, acts of humanitarianism at every level have heightened significance,” Ireland said.


Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

Articles You May LIke ›
Jasper’s Mayor will run again in 2025
Alberta Politics
Jasper’s Mayor will run again in 2025
Bob Covey 
Friday, August 15, 2025
Richard Ireland has indicated his intent to run for mayor in Jasper again. The only mayor that the community has ever known filed his notice of intent...
this is a test
ReRooted: On commemoration of wildfire, Jasper’s mayor offers poetic leadership
Community
ReRooted: On commemoration of wildfire, Jasper’s mayor offers poetic leadership
Sophie Pfisterer, freelance contributor 
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
At about 10 p.m. last July 22, 2024, anxious Jasperites, stuck in gridlock only blocks away from their homes and illuminated by the headlights of thei...
this is a test
Council endorses land use policy changes
Community
Council endorses land use policy changes
Peter Shokeir, Local Journalism Initiative, Jasper Fitzhugh 
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
But keeps parking requirements after hearing from concerned residents Editor's note: This article includes a correction (6:08 p.m. July 16) regarding ...
this is a test
Railroaders’ eligible residency discussed by council, CN
Community
Railroaders’ eligible residency discussed by council, CN
Bob Covey 
Monday, June 9, 2025
The fate of longterm Canadian National (CN) employees based in Jasper whose reporting terminal is being relocated is being discussed by local official...
this is a test
Most Read ›
Jasper RCMP make stolen vehicle arrest
News
Jasper RCMP make stolen vehicle arrest
Monday, August 18, 2025
RCMP have charged a Jasper resident with possession of stolen property and dangerous driving. On August 17, Jasper RCMP received multiple reports of a...
this is a test
Bearing down: Finding food in and out of the burn
Environment
Bearing down: Finding food in and out of the burn
Mark Bradley 
Thursday, August 14, 2025
Even though the summer sun was sweltering, the mother grizzly kept up the search. Eventually, she poked her nose into the ground and started digging. ...
this is a test
Jasper’s Mayor will run again in 2025
Alberta Politics
Jasper’s Mayor will run again in 2025
Bob Covey 
Friday, August 15, 2025
Richard Ireland has indicated his intent to run for mayor in Jasper again. The only mayor that the community has ever known filed his notice of intent...
this is a test
Bet on Jasper: Reflections from the river
Community
Bet on Jasper: Reflections from the river
Georgia Ristivojevic 
Friday, August 15, 2025
Were it not for a life-altering wager, longtime local and raft guide Andre Blanchette-Dube might not have been raised in Jasper. “My parents moved to ...
this is a test
Latest ›
Shovel Pass Lodge gets a fresh alpine start
Business
Shovel Pass Lodge gets a fresh alpine start
Andrea Ziegler 
Thursday, August 7, 2025
En route to Jasper on July 23, 2024, as part of the Banff wildland firefighting team, Sara-Jay (SJ) Nogel was pretty sure she saw her dream going up i...
this is a test
Mushroom harvesters charged
Environment
Mushroom harvesters charged
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Two people who illegally harvested morel mushrooms in Jasper National Park have been charged with multiple offences. On May 28, 2025, Parks Canada law...
this is a test
Japanese alpinists summit Mt Alberta on centennial climb
Hiking and Climbing
Japanese alpinists summit Mt Alberta on centennial climb
Bob Covey 
Monday, August 4, 2025
At 4:20 p.m. on July 24, 2025—three days after the 100th year anniversary of its first ascent— two men who had been making their way up the steep, cru...
this is a test
New Red Cross-sponsored mural to honour The Things That Grew
Arts & Culture
New Red Cross-sponsored mural to honour The Things That Grew
Bob Covey 
Friday, August 1, 2025
The 2024 wildfire exacted a terrible toll on Jasper, but instead of focusing on what’s been lost, Jasper’s next mural will honour The Things That Grew...
this is a test

NEXT ARTICLE

Wolves: Jasper's iconic predator

Environment, Guest Editorial, News, Peaks & Valleys, Science, Wildlife

Most Read ›
Jasper RCMP make stolen vehicle arrest
News
Jasper RCMP make stolen vehicle arrest
Monday, August 18, 2025
RCMP have charged a Jasper resident with possession of stolen property and dangerous driving. On August 17, Jasper RCMP received multiple reports of a...
this is a test
Bearing down: Finding food in and out of the burn
Environment
Bearing down: Finding food in and out of the burn
Mark Bradley 
Thursday, August 14, 2025
Even though the summer sun was sweltering, the mother grizzly kept up the search. Eventually, she poked her nose into the ground and started digging. ...
this is a test
Jasper’s Mayor will run again in 2025
Alberta Politics
Jasper’s Mayor will run again in 2025
Bob Covey 
Friday, August 15, 2025
Richard Ireland has indicated his intent to run for mayor in Jasper again. The only mayor that the community has ever known filed his notice of intent...
this is a test
Bet on Jasper: Reflections from the river
Community
Bet on Jasper: Reflections from the river
Georgia Ristivojevic 
Friday, August 15, 2025
Were it not for a life-altering wager, longtime local and raft guide Andre Blanchette-Dube might not have been raised in Jasper. “My parents moved to ...
this is a test
Latest ›
Walking Through Fire: The Land
Environment
Walking Through Fire: The Land
Kirsten Schmitten 
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Part 3: Seeing the forest floor through the trees In  Part 1 of our Walking Through Fire series , we discussed how post-fire vegetation bounces back. ...
this is a test
Jasper RCMP make stolen vehicle arrest
News
Jasper RCMP make stolen vehicle arrest
Monday, August 18, 2025
RCMP have charged a Jasper resident with possession of stolen property and dangerous driving. On August 17, Jasper RCMP received multiple reports of a...
this is a test
Bet on Jasper: Reflections from the river
Community
Bet on Jasper: Reflections from the river
Georgia Ristivojevic 
Friday, August 15, 2025
Were it not for a life-altering wager, longtime local and raft guide Andre Blanchette-Dube might not have been raised in Jasper. “My parents moved to ...
this is a test
Bearing down: Finding food in and out of the burn
Environment
Bearing down: Finding food in and out of the burn
Mark Bradley 
Thursday, August 14, 2025
Even though the summer sun was sweltering, the mother grizzly kept up the search. Eventually, she poked her nose into the ground and started digging. ...
this is a test
This site complies with Jasper requirements
Contact us
Privacy Policy
Advertise With Us
About The Jasper Local
Accessibility Policy
Support

Follow Us

Advertise with us

Measurable, targeted, local. Email example@thejasperlocal.com

ePaper
coogle_play
app_store

© Copyright The Jasper Local