“Hold on!” the pilot yelled. We had been surveying arctic caribou from a Dehavilland Beaver (often referred to as the best bush plane ever built). This particular aircraft’s “tundra tires” allowed its pilot to land just about anywhere, but our makeshift landing strip would be a real test. The ridget...

Re: Bear destroyed after dog mauling incident (April 24, 2023) Irresponsible dog owners responsible for deaths of bear and their own dog …..might have been a more accurate headline for this story about the bear killed after an off lead dog encounter. I don’t believe in dogs in the parks but a strong...

A helicopter transporting Natural Resources Canada glacier surveyors had a hard landing on an icefield in Banff National Park April 14. The accident left a Bell 407 helicopter in pieces, 3,000 metres above sea level, 3 km from the Saskatchewan Glacier.  A helicopter sustained substantial damage afte...

Jasper National Park wildlife officials have destroyed a black bear after the animal attacked and killed a visitor’s dog. The animal demonstrated predatory behaviour and showed little regard for being in close proximity to humans, Parks Canada officials said—factors which led to the decision to euth...

If you didn’t have on your BINGO card that community leader, social media influencer and LGBTQ2+ icon, MLA Janis Irwin, would be chatting up Alberta voters at a drag show at a seniors centre, do you even Pride? Edmonton MLA Janis Irwin was in Jasper recently ahead of the writ being dropped in the 20...

While this year’s freestyle season is already coming to a close, 14 year old Maxx Ederle is just getting started. Having closed out the year with a gold medal at the Alberta Champs, he’s both reflecting on a success-packed season and looking ahead to his numerous future opportunities. “This was defi...

Hopping from rock to rock, our laden backpacks jostling uncomfortably, the trail finally disappeared in a backwater channel of Jasper National Park’s Whirlpool River.  We gave up trying to keep our feet dry and simply waded in. On the Athabasca Pass Trail in Jasper National Park. // Tania Millen Sud...

Photos by Patrick Barker for The Jasper Local An elk that fell through a partly frozen lake in Jasper National Park was given a new lease on life by Parks Canada staff. An elk fell through spring ice on Lac Beauvert April 17. // Patrick Barker On April 17 at approximately 5 p.m., a bull elk fell thr...

Progress Pride flag flying proud above the townsite  Dozens of LGBTQ2+ community members and allies congregated in Jasper’s downtown on  Friday, April 14, to help raise the rainbow flag over the community. The event helped kick-off the 10-day Jasper Pride and Ski Festival . Advertisement inquires: a...

Photos by Maur Muzza Mere @ muzzadventures and Patrick Barker @ patrickrbarker The fifth annual Marmot’s Revenge skinned into Jasper National Park March 31-April 2 where guests at Marmot Basin got a close up view of the sport of ski mountaineering. Three dozen or so speed suit-clad racers climbed, b...

Parks Canada is planning to close the Icefields Parkway on April 14 (Friday) at 12 p.m. Warm temperatures will precipitate higher avalanche hazards in Jasper and Banff National Parks. To mitigate danger to the travelling public, Parks Canada will conduct avalanche control work tomorrow afternoon. “A...

This story originally appeared in The Rocky Mountain Goat Indigenous groups whose territories encompass The Raush Valley near McBride, B.C., have declared the near-pristine watershed an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area.  The status comes after decades of lobbying by local conservations and re...

Parkway closures to start at 3 p.m., April 9 The Icefields Parkway (Hwy 93N) and the Maligne Lake Road are anticipated to close tomorrow (Sunday, April 9) afternoon, Parks Canada is advising. Jasper National Park forecasters are expecting a spring storm to hit Jasper and Banff. The storm will affect...

View Post The Municipality of Jasper is lifting up the community’s approaching mural festival. At their April 4 regular council meeting, council agreed to reallocate $25,000 to secure a wall sponsorship with the 2023 UpLift Mural Festival .  “This will elevate our community for years to come,” said ...

When Russia invaded Ukraine more than a year ago, like so many people watching the tragedy from afar, Taggart Wilson felt utterly helpless. “When the war started I was spending days online, basically crying, wishing there was something I could do to help,” Wilson said. Advertisement inquiries: andre...

For ruffed grouse, winter in the Rockies can be a grind This ruffed grouse is getting some good lift off to get to those tasty rose hips. But wait, don’t they have wings for that? They do, but…a ruffed grouse’s wing feathers are designed to give them quick and powerful bursts of flight—maybe you’ve ...

The area around the Chetamon Mountain wildfire, including the Celestine Lakes Road, remains closed. The Chetamon wildfire remains active, with small areas of fire visible, Parks Canada said in a March 27 update. “Smouldering fire was captured by a remote camera installed to assist with with wildfire...

Ski mountaineer racing is coming back to Jasper National Park this weekend. Athletes who take part in this growing sport must be tremendously fit, demonstrate exceptional skiing skills and maintain extremely efficient travel mode transitions…otherwise Jasper’s only ski resort is likely to inflict it...

Problems that confounded Parks Canada’s online campground reservation service in years past appear to be in the rear view mirror. Meanwhile, occupancy rates in Jasper’s hotel sector have rebounded from the pandemic.  Issues which plagued Parks Canada’s online campground reservation system were resol...

The Municipality of Jasper has been awarded a $6.5 million grant to build community and family housing in Jasper. “This is the most exciting news in housing we’ve had in quite some time,” Jasper’s Mayor Richard Ireland said. The money will be used to help build a 40-unit apartment development on Con...