As a retired teacher, Jasper’s Paulette Dubé has logged thousands of hours in the classroom. Like many educators, she considers herself a life long student.

But before July of 2024, Dubé would not have guessed her higher learning would include how to help a community navigate rebuilding after a wildfire.

Yet now, thanks to Jasper’s Pathfinders program, Dubé is well-versed in recovery lexicon.

“I speak fire. I speak bank. I speak insurance,” she laughed. “These are the languages that have been forced on us.”

In the wake of the 2024 wildfire, the municipality’s Pathfinders program has been equipping Jasper residents like Dubé with training to support community recovery. Dubé is one of dozens of Jasperites who have joined the program in an effort to help guide her fellow community members as they make their way through unknown terrain.

“The learning curve has been really steep for everybody,” Dubé says.

Now that she’s completed the Pathfinders training, Dubé’s own learning curve has flattened. Most days, anyway.

“We’re getting there,” the local writer and poet says.

On the poet’s notebook is a unmistakable symbol of resilience: fireweed. In this case it also symbolizes Dubé’s ongoing involvement in Pathfinders. The nature of the program is one of continuity; once participants complete the four core training meetups, they are supported with monthly meetups—chances to build peer support skills, but also to check in on each other.

“We’re finding that equilibrium,” she says.

As for her own reasons for joining in the first place, Dubé said she just wanted access to reliable, verified information.

“I needed some clarity for my own information,” she said. “Then you want to help other people. Because nobody knew where to go, who to talk to.” 

That’s changing.  Pathfinders is building community capacity, according to Jasper’s Manager of Social Recovery and Housing, Doug Olthof. As of February 19, 84 Pathfinders had been trained, and the program has expanded into the high school. The training modules cover community supports and navigating the rebuild—insurance pitfalls and scope of work details and debris removal, for example—but also mental health first-aid and suicide prevention.   

“People are very vulnerable,” Dubé said. “And if your mental health is shaky, if you’re ignoring it, everything else can fall apart.”

Pathfinders aren’t counsellors or therapists, but they have tools to help their neighbours, colleagues and fellow residents manage stress and uncertainty. And they can guide people to the right resources.

Recognizing a Pathfinder

To help Jasperites recognize a Pathfinder as someone they can reach out to, the program arms Pathfinders with visual identifiers, denoting the wearer’s availability.  

“When you see a person in the community who has that fireweed logo on a backpack or a hat, you know that’s someone who’s done the Pathfinder training,” Olthof said.

Another Jasperite who sports the Pathfinders logo is Logan Ireland. As someone actively employed on the rebuild through his work with the Jasper Recovery Coordination Centre, Ireland wasn’t sure how much new information he’d be receiving by going through the course. Spoiler alert: he learned a bunch—particularly as it relates to providing mental health support for people in his circle.

“Prior to this course I was more inclined to want to help solve someone’s problem,” Ireland said. “I’ve since learned that sometimes the best thing I can do is just listen…just validate for that person that what they’re feeling is real.”

The Pathfinders course is continuing throughout 2026 and the JRCC is actively recruiting additional participants, Olthof said. Honorariums are available for individuals taking the course away from work time.

To nominate yourself or another individual, visit the Pathfinders website.

Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com