The Municipality of Jasper took a day to recognize its staff last month.  On Thursday, February 16, the MOJ closed its facilities and asked employees to gather in person for an organization-wide staff appreciation day. Deemed the Recognize: Impact Employee Awards Celebration , the day’s events salut...

Parks Canada wants feedback on its proposed changes to Private Home Accommodation policy changes. The agency is reminding interested parties that they have until January 31 to provide comments. In December, Parks Canada’s planning and development office proposed new, less-restrictive rules for PHA’s...

Conceptual policies have less severe restrictions on food prep areas, PHA size and access points  Parks Canada has revised deeply unpopular amendments to proposed Private Home Accommodation regulations. But questions persist as the agency solicits public feedback on the conceptual policies. The prop...

Jasper’s top official got a warm welcome in the gallery of Canada’s Upper House last month.  Mayor Richard Ireland was part of a Rocky Mountain delegation in Ottawa on November 22 when he was introduced in the Canadian Senate as a longterm colleague and dear friend of former Banff mayor, now-Canadia...

Jasper municipal council passed its 2023 budget on December 6 with a $1.08 million or 4.45 per cent increase over the 2022 tax requisition. All of council voted in favour. To a residential ratepayer who owns a home assessed at $900,000, the increase represents a $105 annual jump; to an urban-commerc...

Council has moved forward a 2023 budget with a four-and-a-half per cent increase to Jasper’s tax requisition. The budget adds new resources to address council’s stated priority of increasing internal capacity to advance housing in Jasper. If approved, the budget would also bring online a position to...

A 2023 proposed budget with 12 new “base” staff positions and five “optional enhancement” positions has been advanced by Jasper municipal council for further deliberation. At their November 15 and 16 budgetary meetings, council discussed each of the positions in depth. Some of the costs of the incre...

Two local business owners are concerned about the lack of business supports in the wake of Jasper’s September 4-14 power outage emergency. Patricia Street proprietors Lynn Wannop and Shelley Koebel both attended the September 27 committee of the whole meeting, on behalf of their individual businesse...

As some municipal councillors voiced frustration with Jasper’s uncertain power situation, Jasper’s mayor advocated for a principles-based-approach to establish objective criteria for the town to begin welcoming back visitors. On the heels of an expansive update from Mayor Richard Ireland, who is the...

Critical infrastructure online, power outages becoming less drawn-out Jasper’s power situation is precarious, there is a wildfire on the landscape 15 kms northeast of town and representatives from the municipality and the national park are telling visitors that now is not the time to visit Jasper. H...