Who are you and why are you running for council?

My name is Jason Stockfish and I am running for council because I believe that my dedication to community building, and my work experience and education, combined with my many lived experiences in Jasper over 27 years, provides me with perspectives very similar to a majority of residents. I believe I can be an effective representative of the people of Jasper.

What are your top community priorities that you think Jasper Municipal Council has a role in shaping and why are these issues or themes important to you?

My priorities begin with affordable housing —for rent and purchase. Jasper had a huge shortage of housing prior to the fire, which was only made worse when we lost 356 structures last summer. 

Municipal Council has a role in providing housing as its residents well-being begins with a comfortable, affordable place to call home.

Listening and learning from residents’ ideas and concerns is another key part of my platform. I strongly believe that if our government is to be truly representative of its people, the people’s voices must be brought to council’s chambers.

As well, I will advocate to the provincial and federal governments for a fair share of tax dollars generated by the 2.5 million annual visitors to Jasper .

Our small tax base carries the burden of building and maintaining heavily-used infrastructure. I will actively pursue a stream of revenue for the municipality that assists with these costs.

Can you share a decision or experience that shaped your commitment to public service and how it influences your approach today?

When I ran for town councillor in 2021 but came up short in votes, rather than giving up on my dream of helping to shape the future of our community, I reached out to the Fitzhugh and asked if I could use my experience and education in Journalism and Political Studies to cover local politics. 

As a local journalist I sought to keep the electorate informed of matters before council. As a councillor, I would continue to ensure residents remained informed on local issues.

If elected, how will you ensure transparency and public engagement in your decision-making process?

If elected, I will be on the ground speaking with residents, listening to their ideas and concerns. I will organize opportunities for members of the community to share their thoughts. I will look to learn from the experiences and wisdom of others in the community.

What is one issue you believe isn’t getting enough attention in our community, and how would you address it?

I believe that the volunteers and organizations that do their best to bring arts, culture and sports to our community need additional support to broaden their reach, as these are the activities that enrich our lives. 

The lack of available programs is a big reason (next to affordable housing) that our friends, family members and neighbours leave Jasper when they’d rather stay and put down roots. 

I believe that if the municipality had a recreation programmer to assist in organizing these efforts, they could be expanded and made more accessible, which would significantly strengthen our community.

Please feel free to include a closing statement or sum up your platform.

Jasper has been my home for 27 years. I have held many jobs in town, from dishwasher to boat driver to journalist. 

Over the years, I lived in a variety of accommodations. My first place was a shed that my employer charged me $50 a month to live in, despite its lack of heat, hydro or running water. I understand the struggles many go through getting their footing in our magical mountain town.

I left for four years with my wife, Krissten, while she taught in Saskatchewan and I pursued an Honours BA in Political Studies and History at the University of Saskatchewan.

We quickly returned when it was time to start a family. I then commuted to Hinton for 12 years to earn enough to buy our home in Cabin Creek, which was lost in the fire. 

I am committed to helping rebuild Jasper even better than it was before the fire.

The 2025 Municipal Election is Monday, October 20. For information on voting, including advanced polls, see our piece on Voting Tools for Residents