Positions created to facilitate Jasper’s recovery from the 2024 wildfire will be fully funded to the end of their respective terms.

The announcement was part of the Tuesday, November 18 Committee of the Whole meeting update from the Jasper Recovery Coordination Centre (JRCC). Director of Recovery, Michael Fark, was presenting to Jasper Municipal Council.

“That is very good news,” Fark said about the confirmed funding. 

Funding for the 19 recovery positions comes from the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA), a cost-sharing program between the provincial and federal governments that helps reimburse Alberta’s disaster recovery costs. 

Disaster recovery resources also funnel through the province’s Hazard Assistance and Resilience Program (HARP). HARP was formerly run under Alberta’s Disaster Recovery Program. 

Councillor Wendy Hall thanked Fark for his detailed report which included a visual representation of the recovery journey for residents whose homes were destroyed in the wildfire.

“I think that is a really good reminder that our residents are still at very different stages…which is exactly why ongoing recovery supports are so important,” Hall said. “I’m really happy to hear that the positions were funded until the end of their term.”

Fark said no new recovery positions are anticipated. This may be revisited according to evolving operational needs, he said.

Fark said support provided by the Province of Alberta through the HARP/DRP program is critical to Jasper’s rebuild.

“Confirmation of the funding for recovery positions is essential to ensuring that the MOJ is properly resourced to ensure that community members and businesses in Jasper are supported through the remaining phases of recovery,” he said.

Interim housing

Eight interim housing units adjacent to the Jasper Yellowhead Museum and Archives (450 Bonhomme St.) are set for occupancy by the end of the week.

Fark said more interim housing units are set to arrive by the end of the year; approximately 13 will be located on the United Church (700 block of Turret St.) and six on lands leased by Trans Mountain in Patricia Circle.

Thus far, 408 interim housing units have been allocated in Jasper. Once the United Church and Patricia Circle lots are full, Jasper’s interim housing program will be maxed out at 500 units, Fark told council.

“We have up to this date processed over 875 applications for interim housing,” he said.

Fark’s charts indicated there are currently 69 available housing units, but that number is misleading, he said, because it represents either new inventory that hasn’t come on line yet, or Marmot Meadows dorm units which are on reserve for Parks Canada staff in the spring.

“There has been a limited number of people who wanted to move into the dorm only for the winter,” Fark said.

Fark pointed out that interim housing has been entirely funded by Parks Canada, noting that the Government of Alberta has supported some of the utility tie-ins, “but a substantial amount of that has come from Parks Canada.”

Thus far, 652 individuals have signed interim housing leases, including 353 households. The majority of the available housing units (>86 percent) are currently occupied. 

Debris Removal/Rebuild

Jasper is nearing the end of its debris removal program, Fark told councillors as part of his Tuesday update.

There are 82 sites in active reconstruction, he said, with 56 foundations being worked on, 45 “capped” foundations and 39 homes being framed.

“Good progress is being made. We are expecting further foundations to be poured this week and next week so that is positive information as well,” he said.

Fark said underground and aerial utility restoration continues to progress.

In the Cabin Creek neighbourhood, ATCO is expected to be finishing up by November 21, he said.

More information on the Cabin Creek utility rebuild can be found at ATCO’s website.

The JRCC’s rebuild and site preparation map also has more information on Jasper’s rebuild. 

Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com