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
Local seniors standing up for their space
Jasper's Director of Community Development Christopher Read in front of a tough crowd on Monday. New Jasper Recovery personnel need space, but local seniors do too. // Bob Covey
Community, Local Government, News
By Bob Covey
Monday, October 7, 2024
Local seniors standing up for their space

Jasper seniors faced with losing their dedicated lounge space are not taking the prospect sitting down.

As post-wildfire recovery work in Jasper ramps up and the Jasper Recovery Coordination Centre shores up resources to assist in Jasper’s anticipated years-long rebuilding process, local officials are looking for any available office space to house the extra personnel. 

As a potentially tidy solution to the problem, they’ve identified the Jasper Seniors Lounge in the Jasper Activity Centre.

“The idea of how to fit these new people into our operation is a challenge,” said Director of Community Development, Christopher Read. 

Read told more than two dozen local seniors gathered elbow to elbow in the very room in question that Jasper’s upper administrators see the space as “prime real estate” which would work well for the town’s current, post-wildfire, administrative functions. He tried to gauge from the group a sense of whether local seniors would be amenable to having their Seniors Society space temporarily set up in a different location—municipal or otherwise.

“If this space was not available to you, what would you need to make your community group function?” Read asked, listing several spaces that could potentially accommodate a community group: the upper curling lounge and the council chambers in the basement of the Jasper Municipal Library, for example.

Some local seniors questioned why the JRCC weren’t themselves looking to those spaces to expand, instead of putting the burden on the seniors to move. 

“Instead of looking at it from the perspective of us leaving, what about you utilizing those other spaces?” said Jasperite Linda Morgan.

Read said the curling lounge and offices wouldn’t be compatible flex spaces; he said other community facilities are being explored.

“We are in a place where we don’t have enough [space] and we have to figure out how to maximize use through flexible, shared spaces,” he said.

Since allocating dedicated space for local seniors in the mid-1970s, this is not the first time the municipality has asked the Jasper Seniors for their lounge. Earlier requests were rebuffed, but in 2024, as the town’s wildfire recovery operations have Jasper’s facilities “bursting at the seams” with employees, the issue has become more urgent. 

And because the Seniors Society don’t have a lease—and the evacuation in July precluded one from being signed—many seniors are worried that the town will “punt them,” as several members expressed.

“It’s a very big hurdle you’re asking for,” former school trustee Betsy DeClercq said. “There’s no other spot we could come up with that we can use just for ourselves.” 

Read was adamant he wanted to come to “an 80 percent solution” for all parties. He offered to facilitate a workshop that would help identify the seniors’ needs and make any transition “as win-win as possible.”

But Senior Society chair Janis Marks summed up the position of many when she suggested that “What we need is what we have: a place that’s ours.”

Jasper Seniors will present to Jasper Municipal Council today (Tuesday, October 8). Download the Jasper Local App so you don’t miss the latest coverage on this developing story. 


Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

Articles You May LIke ›
Evergreens celebrates 65 years of seniors housing
Community
Evergreens celebrates 65 years of seniors housing
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
When they turn 65, individuals in Canada become eligible for a pension. But when the Evergreens Foundation turns 65, pensioners throw a party! On Satu...
this is a test
Council considering pop up business village
Business
Council considering pop up business village
Peter Shokeir, Local Journalism Initiative, Jasper Fitzhugh 
Monday, February 3, 2025
Jasper council is considering a proposal to create a temporary pop-up business village on Connaught Drive. The pop up village would be potentially loc...
this is a test
Not a usual situation: Pressure mounting to strike interim housing agreement
Alberta Politics
Not a usual situation: Pressure mounting to strike interim housing agreement
Bob Covey 
Friday, December 13, 2024
Municipal affairs critic says province is bullying Jasper into accepting their rebuild parameters  The Government of Alberta is ratcheting up the pres...
this is a test
Rotary donation fills Jasper Food Bank’s cup
Community
Rotary donation fills Jasper Food Bank’s cup
Bob Covey 
Thursday, December 5, 2024
The Jasper Food Bank Society has received a big boost to help provide food security in Jasper. Jasper seniors were the first to receive the news. Over...
this is a test
Most Read ›
The dukes of hazard trees
Environment
The dukes of hazard trees
Bob Covey 
Monday, July 7, 2025
When normal forestry practices don’t cut it: With a light-on-the-land touch, specialized arborists are cleaning up Jasper’s burn debris It’s a widely-...
this is a test
Walking Through Fire: Wildlife
Environment
Walking Through Fire: Wildlife
Kirsten Schmitten 
Friday, July 4, 2025
Part 2: Home is where the hearth is In Part 1 of our Walking Through Fire series , we discussed how post-fire vegetation bounces back. But what about ...
this is a test
Pitch perfect: Jasper U15 Football Club provincial champs
News
Pitch perfect: Jasper U15 Football Club provincial champs
Lucas Habib 
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Jasper soccer players have once again brought home a provincial soccer championship. Jaifred Mota was the first one to rush keeper Kieran Rudge after ...
this is a test
Latest ›
Golf’s golden years at Jasper Park
Jasper History
Golf’s golden years at Jasper Park
John Wilmshurst, freelance contributor 
Monday, June 23, 2025
100 years ago, the Jasper Park Golf Club teed up its first round of the Royal and Ancient Game In 1457, King James II of England banned golf in Scotla...
this is a test
Two hikers killed by rockfall event at Bow Glacier Falls
Environment
Two hikers killed by rockfall event at Bow Glacier Falls
Friday, June 20, 2025
The Rockies hiking community is mourning the loss of two of its members today. Calgary's Jutta Hinrichs, 70 years old, a member of the hiking group Sl...
this is a test
The bear necessities
Environment
The bear necessities
Bob Covey 
Thursday, June 19, 2025
Collars, fences and attractant elimination keys to bear management Jasper National Park bear biologists are keeping a close eye on area grizzlies. At ...
this is a test
CONGRATULATIONS Class of 2025
Community
CONGRATULATIONS Class of 2025
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Congratulations to the 2025 graduates of Jasper Jr/Sr High School and École Desrochers! These bright young individuals are now stepping confidently in...
this is a test

NEXT ARTICLE

JPL bringing community together under the stars

Arts & Culture, Community, News

Most Read ›
The dukes of hazard trees
Environment
The dukes of hazard trees
Bob Covey 
Monday, July 7, 2025
When normal forestry practices don’t cut it: With a light-on-the-land touch, specialized arborists are cleaning up Jasper’s burn debris It’s a widely-...
this is a test
Walking Through Fire: Wildlife
Environment
Walking Through Fire: Wildlife
Kirsten Schmitten 
Friday, July 4, 2025
Part 2: Home is where the hearth is In Part 1 of our Walking Through Fire series , we discussed how post-fire vegetation bounces back. But what about ...
this is a test
Pitch perfect: Jasper U15 Football Club provincial champs
News
Pitch perfect: Jasper U15 Football Club provincial champs
Lucas Habib 
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Jasper soccer players have once again brought home a provincial soccer championship. Jaifred Mota was the first one to rush keeper Kieran Rudge after ...
this is a test
Latest ›
Pitch perfect: Jasper U15 Football Club provincial champs
News
Pitch perfect: Jasper U15 Football Club provincial champs
Lucas Habib 
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Jasper soccer players have once again brought home a provincial soccer championship. Jaifred Mota was the first one to rush keeper Kieran Rudge after ...
this is a test
The dukes of hazard trees
Environment
The dukes of hazard trees
Bob Covey 
Monday, July 7, 2025
When normal forestry practices don’t cut it: With a light-on-the-land touch, specialized arborists are cleaning up Jasper’s burn debris It’s a widely-...
this is a test
Walking Through Fire: Wildlife
Environment
Walking Through Fire: Wildlife
Kirsten Schmitten 
Friday, July 4, 2025
Part 2: Home is where the hearth is In Part 1 of our Walking Through Fire series , we discussed how post-fire vegetation bounces back. But what about ...
this is a test
Float on: Canada Day Parade gallery
Arts & Culture
Float on: Canada Day Parade gallery
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Jasperites donned their red and white, kitted out their floats and paraded around the community with pride on Canada Day (Tuesday, July 1). Local busi...
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