COVID-19 is highlighting where Jasper’s economy is most vulnerable.  While Jasperites can thank their rubber tire visitors for propping up summer revenues, local tourism experts are warning that not only are we overly- dependent on international guests, but that most overseas visitors to Jasper get ...

Jasper’s Jimmy Gillese and his crew at Stellar Descents staked out a little whitewater history July 8 when they made the first ever commercial rafting trip on the Doré River near McBride, B.C.  While local rivers were at full volume last month, lower flows of visitors meant Gillese was able to get h...

While Jasper’s downtown receives piecemeal patio treatment as individual businesses owners attempt to revitalize their restaurants, the deputy mayor of Canmore says their new downtown pedestrian zone is proving popular.  Karen Marra is a first term councillor and former downtown business owner who s...

As one of the original Rockies occupations, alpine guiding has always occupied a small but sturdy foothold in the tourism sector. Part of that resiliency, surely, has to do with the job-site; for men and women wanting to test themselves against the elements—with the counsel of a qualified profession...

July 1, 2020 The Jasper Community Housing Corporation is forging ahead with plans to create affordable staff housing units on Connaught Drive. And though the JCHC hasn’t yet finalized how the housing complex will be governed, and it remains to be seen where the project’s funding will come from, to h...

Car is still king when it comes to planning a development in Jasper. Despite a request to reduce Parks Canada’s requirement of 89 stalls for their affordable staff housing complex, Jasper’s planning and development advisory committee (PDAC) couldn’t see past potential parking problems on the Jasper ...

2020 Budget Breakdown // June 15, 2020 Jasper Municipal Council voted against administration’s recommended zero per centbudget increase, instead adopting a more austere financial plan to reflect apandemic-affected economy. The Jasper Local explores some of the issues surrounding that process. By Bob...

A local restaurant known for giving its patrons a reliably excellent dining experience wants to make sure local seniors have a reliably excellent transportation service in Jasper. Ashley and Mike Kliewer, owners of The Raven Bistro, have teamed up with staff at the Alpine Summit Seniors Lodge for a ...

Back in 1978, Blair Timmins was living the Jasper life. When he wasn’t carving up the slopes he was tuning skis at Marmot Basin. But Timmins, fresh out of the Alberta oil patch, was frustrated with his job. The 24-year-old never had enough time to service customers’ skis properly. Between the time t...

A local business owner has taken a small but significant step in making Jasper more accessible. Ever since she opened the Bear’s Paw and Other Paw Bakeries, Kim Stark has always known the stores weren’t wheelchair friendly. “It always bothered me,” she said. “There’s that small step up that makes it...