Jasper’s fire-stalled economy has been given another big boost to help it crank over.
Yesterday (March 6, 2025), the federal government announced $2.2 million in funding to provide temporary retail locations for local businesses, to advance affordable housing, to help enable efficient construction in Jasper and to help grow local tourism.
A month after he gave notice of nearly $40 million in housing support for Jasper, Terry Duguid, Minister for PrairiesCan and newly-appointed Ministerial Lead for Jasper, was back in the community to announce the latest package of investment to aid in Jasper’s recovery.
“I’m thrilled to see the progress and hear directly from you on what needs to be done,” Duguid told stakeholders and media members assembled at the Lobstick Lodge.
Pop-up villages and lay-down zones
To help address the needs of businesses which were lost in the July 24, 2024 wildfire, PrairiesCan is supporting the Municipality of Jasper to establish a retail pop-up business village in the downtown core, Duguid said. The Connaught Drive space will be home to temporary structures where businesses that lost their retail locations can resume operations.
Across the tracks, in the Stan Wright Industrial Park, many buildings housing critical trades and commercial services were destroyed in the fire. That has meant secure storage for construction materials, and spaces suitable to prefabricate building materials within close proximity to Jasper, has been limited.
To mitigate transportation and construction challenges, Duguid said PrairiesCan will help the MOJ establish an interim industrial park so businesses and tradespeople can access equipment storage and conduct essential rebuild-related operations.
In addition, the municipality will work with Parks Canada, builders and lease holders to coordinate staging spaces where contractors can securely store construction materials and establish temporary accommodations for tradespeople near work sites, according to a press release.
Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland said the federal investment will strengthen Jasper’s long term economic resilience.
“Our businesses have asked for tools, conditions and support they need to rebuild,” Ireland said. “Today marks a crucial step forward in providing that support.”
The MOJ will receive $1.8 million through PrairiesCan’s Community Economic Development and Diversification (CEDD) program to establish the village and deliver construction-related initiatives.
President of the Jasper Park Chamber of Commerce, Troy Mills, said the business community is grateful for the assistance.
“As Jasper moves from the emergency to recovery, initiatives such as the pop-up business village will be invaluable in fuelling our local economy,” Mills said.
Destination marketing
The announcement also included funding to enhance and market visitor experiences. Tourism Jasper will receive $250,000 through PrairiesCan’s Tourism Growth Program to enhance and promote visitor experiences that attract regional and international visitors to Jasper.
Tyler Riopel, CEO for Tourism Jasper, thanked Duguid for recognizing that “recovery is a process, not a moment.”
“Continued support like this ensures that our businesses can rebuild, our tourism economy can grow, and our community remains strong,” Riopel said.
At the presser, Duguid, along with Jasper National Park Field Unit Superintendent Alan Fehr, also confirmed to stakeholders that Parks Canada will be releasing a parcel of land to the MOJ for $1—a nominal fee which will help the Jasper Municipal Housing Corporation (JMHC) develop a 40-unit affordable housing rental complex on Connaught Drive (parcel HJ, in between the Petro Canada lot and interim housing parcel, HK).
The project marks the first stage of a broader community strategy to build high-density, long-term housing in Jasper.
The market value of parcel HJ is $2 million, according to local housing planners. The gifting of the parcel will help the JMHC ensure the rental units meet high affordability standards (affordability guidelines as laid out by the Affordable Housing Partnership Program (AHPP) require a certain percentage of units are rented at 60 percent of the market rate).
“This is amazing news for us from a budget standpoint,” said Jasper’s Municipal Housing Coordinator, Leanne Pelletier.
The 40-unit affordable housing complex received $6.5 million in seed funding in 2023 and Pelletier confirmed the JMHC has an application in to the AHPP to fund phase two of the project.
Mayor Richard Ireland said the transfer of land for housing will help address a long-standing, critical need in the community.
“Ensuring that people who work here can also live here is essential to Jasper’s long-term sustainability,” Ireland said.
He closed by reminding those watching that Jasper is open, ready and anxious to welcome the world.
“If there was ever a time to visit Jasper, to experience new adventures born in this time of change and to be inspired by a community that refuses to be defined or defeated by disaster, now—this spring, this summer, this year—is exactly that time,” Ireland said.
The federal funding comes on top of new revenue stabilization funding allocated for Jasper by the province on March 5. If passed, the Alberta government’s 2025 budget will include more than $3 million to help compensate for lower municipal revenues.
The funding builds upon the more than $3 million that was previously provided, bringing the total to over $6 million, and will help the Municipality of Jasper deliver essential services such as snow clearing, transit, roadwork and more to its residents, according to West Yellowhead MLA Martin Long.
“Last year’s wildfires were devastating, but I am continually encouraged with the tenacity and resolve of residents and businesses. Every piece of support helps along the journey to rebuild and recover,” Long said.
Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com
