Jasperites were on the airwaves last week.

Listeners to terrestrial radio heard a pot-pourri of Jasper recovery stories and successes on CBC Radio One on Friday, March 14 when the popular morning show Edmonton AM broadcast live from Andromeda Coffee on Patricia Street. 

Hosts Mark Connolly and Tara McCarthy—along with a crack team of producers, editors and engineers—were among the community’s earliest risers as the show went live from Andromeda at 5:30 a.m. 

After café owner Shelley Koebel and her staff unlocked the doors, the first audience member to take advantage of the complimentary coffee and baked goods was Jasperite Dan Frechette. Soon after, a gaggle of guests filtered in to watch and listen as different Jasperites shared the mic with Connolly. 

Koebel welcomed the CBC crew to the community and talked about the efforts to re-open her businesses asap after the wildfire; local poet Paulette Blanchette-Dubé talked about her cathartic community project, The Deepest Part; Matricia Bauer of Warrior Women shared her Jasper journey; Pure Outdoors’ JF Bussieres talked about his hopes for the upcoming summer; the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge’s Director of F&B, Jamie Hussey, recounted his evacuation experience; and Logan Ireland with the Jasper Recovery Coordination Centre reported on the JRCC’s latest successes setting up interim housing. 

Jasper Folk Music Festival directors Peggy Munn and Cristin Murphy plugged the 2025 festival; local baker and entrepreneur Kim Stark shared her challenges with reopening the Bear’s Paw Bakery; and Astoria Hotel owner Oliver Andrew took Connolly on a trip down memory lane to help the host understand the hotel’s 100 year old history.

CBC reporter and videographer Acton Clarkton—who’s been on the Jasper beat since he set up a bureau in Hinton in the summer—told McCarthy about some of the incredible Jasperites he’s met. Parks Canada’s Jennifer Dubois set the record straight on what’s open and closed in Jasper National Park. And Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland shared his perspective as an elected official, while telling Connolly about the great progress that’s been made in Jasper’s recovery.

“We are open, people are welcome to come and we’re excited to have them,” Ireland said. “We understand that our full recovery is founded on a return to visitation.

“You and all others are welcome, right now.”

Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com