As the community rebuilds, the Municipality of Jasper is working with land development experts to identify middle housing opportunities . The Jasper Housing Enablement Initiative (JHEI) is a 16-month collaboration focused on practical, community-fit housing solutions. The goal of the initiative is t...

Jasper policyholders have just four months to file insurance claims for wildfire damages or initiate legal action against an insurer. On Tuesday (March 10), after being informed that a blanket extension was not feasible, committee of the whole directed council to continue its advocacy efforts. “I th...

West Yellowhead MLA Martin Long says he does not support Alberta’s separation from Canada. Long, who was appointed as Alberta’s Minister of Infrastructure last February, explained his position during a brief interview with The Jasper Local on Thursday, March 5. “What I’ve said is I support a strong ...

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 wild...

Jasper officials are anticipating recent land-use policy updates will help address the town’s chronic housing shortage and simplify rules for residents. The changes, which came into effect February 9, include loosening restrictions on accessory dwelling units and increasing the maximum height of apa...

Council will seek feedback before increasing off-site levies to cover the cost that net new development puts on municipal infrastructure. Town planner Marley Pollock told council on Tuesday (Feb. 10) that the existing rates do not reflect the current costs of providing infrastructure to support the ...

To help provide peace of mind for a recovering community, the West Central Airshed Society (WCAS) has taken up long-term air monitoring for Jasper. The non-profit organization, which is responsible for monitoring and reporting outdoor air quality across west-central Alberta, replaced the Alberta gov...

The Jasper Recovery Coordination Centre (JRCC) has received feedback from residents about higher-than-expected invoices associated with the bulk debris removal program. Michael Fark, Municipal Director of Recovery, told council on Tuesday (Feb. 3) that the JRCC was following up with the Insurance Bu...

Solar is for sale in Jasper. But as Jasper Local publisher Andrea Ziegler has discovered, taking advantage of the sun’s energy isn’t as straightforward as it might seem For some years, my husband and I have been considering installing solar panels on the roof of our Jasper home. We have been delayin...

After an influx of new applicants, the waitlist for interim housing has grown to 58 people. During their regular council meeting yesterday (Tuesday, Jan 20), Jasper Municipal Council received an update from the Jasper Recovery Coordination Centre (JRCC). Jasper's Director of Recovery Michael Fark to...

Resident wants replacement power lines buried underground for safety, aesthetics With replacement power lines going underground for Pyramid Lake and Marmot Basin, at least one Jasper resident is questioning why ATCO isn’t burying new lines in town as well. Jasperite Charlie Finley (left) in his Turr...

The Municipality is interested in helping the Anglican and United Churches rebuild from the 2024 wildfire. The Jasper Anglican Church was destroyed in the 2024 wildfire. Its parish is now working with the United Church to rebuild. // Wes Robson (2020) During Jasper Municipal Council's committee of t...

As Jasperites rebuild and new windows are installed in reconstructed homes, now seems like an opportune time to have a conversation about bird-friendly windows. Bird-window collisions happen when birds can't distinguish between windows and the habitat those windows may be reflecting—trees or sky, fo...

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, M...

Jasper is expected to see substantial rebuilding this winter and contractors are focusing on pouring foundations while the weather cooperates. Foundation pours are likely to continue until late November or early December. Parks Canada has issued 75 building permits as of Friday, October 24, with 36 ...

Two of Linwood Homes’ rebuild projects are standing tall. Following last year’s devastating fires, the team at Linwood Homes has been working closely with Parks Canada, local authorities, and residents to ensure the community can return home as quickly and safely as possible. Now, one home is alread...

Although it could be a decade before the Jasper townsite recovers from last year’s wildfire, rebuild projects have broken ground on several lots. BILD (Building Industry and Land Development Association) Alberta CEO Scott Fash, whose organization represents the residential construction industry in A...

Permitting is steadily moving forward in Jasper, according to the Jasper Recovery Coordination Centre (JRCC). At the August 5 regular council meeting, Directory of Recovery Michael Fark updated Jasper Municipal Council on the most recent activity facilitated through the JRCC’s offices. Fark said tha...

A nervous Darren Thom was awake at 5am today (August 12, 2025), eagerly anticipating the arrival of his new home. Nearly three hours later, at 7:50am, a truck towing a large flatbed trailer rounded the corner from Patricia Street onto Ash Avenue. The R4 District's first replacement home, post wildfi...

Too restrictive regulations? Or insincere insurance companies? The Jasper Local digs into one of the complex elements of rebuilding in a national park Editor's note (Aug 11 5:30 p.m.): This story has been updated to include comment from the Insurance Bureau of Canada When compared to how quickly it ...