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 ...

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...

"Very misleading" Councillor criticizes how transit finances presented; other councillors clap back Jasper Municipal Councillor Laurie Rodger argued that the true municipal contribution to transit was made unclear in an annual transit update on Tuesday (Jan. 27). Town administration’s report stated ...

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...

Chamber criticizes utility rate model’s ‘inequitable billing tiers’ As council considered increasing utility rates, debate reignited around the Municipality’s tiered model on Tuesday (Jan. 6). The Municipality adopted a tiered “CCC rate model” for its utility billing in 2022, forgoing flat rates, th...

All interim housing units at the museum site are now fully occupied, according to the Jasper Recovery Coordination Centre (JRCC). Michael Fark, Jasper's Directory of Recovery, also told council on Tuesday (Dec. 16) that the Patricia Circle and United Church sites will be occupied in February. Interi...

After weeks of deliberations and hearing multiple requests to reduce the tax burden, Jasper Municipal Council has passed its 2026 operational and capital budgets. Council managed to trim $150,000 from its interim budget and will use $149,000 from the fixed asset reserve to mitigate the Municipality ...

Council is sending its administrative team back to the drawing board on Jasper’s 2026 municipal budget. In asking for more information about the 2026 budget, council is hoping to create more transparency— and perhaps a bit of savings—on the proposed 10 per cent increase to local municipal taxes. Dur...

Jasper council is leaning toward supporting a proposed provincial electoral district that would have it join Banff and Canmore. On Tuesday (Dec. 9), committee of the whole recommended that council direct the mayor to provide a written submission supporting this change. Council will discuss this matt...

Council conforms to all but one of administration's recommendations as ongoing wildfire recovery guides MOJ's 2026 budget A tied vote defeated a motion to reduce the municipal tax requisition by two percent at councils’ 2026 budget meeting last month. As such, the proposed tax increase for 2026 is c...

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...

Funding requests from community groups, arts organizations, business advocates, service centres, foundations and festivals went before Jasper Municipal Council November 18.  The annual appeals for support—this year from 11 different groups—were the first items that the recently-elected council has d...

Jasper's mayor and six councillors were officially sworn in on Friday, October 24 at the Lobstick Lodge's Skyline Lounge. Jasper's 2025 council includes Mayor Richard Ireland and councillors Laurie Rodger, Danny Frechette, Kable Kongsrud, Wendy Hall, Kathleen Waxer and Ralph Melnyk. // Bob Covey The...

Jasper Municipal Council will have three new elected officials for the 2025-2029 term. Laurie Rodger, Kable Kongsrud and Danny Frechette were elected as first-time councillors in the October 20, 2025 Jasper municipal election. Final results, which are unofficial until noon on Friday, came in last ni...

The race for town council is on. It’s exciting, not just because there’s a slate of worthy candidates, but also because in a small town, residents know many of the people in the running personally. But for the same reasons that make them exciting, small town political races run the danger of turning...

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...

Herb Robinson will be Jasper’s next school board trustee. The retired educator, longstanding community volunteer, minor hockey referee and former president of the Jasper Yellowhead Historical Society was the only candidate to put his name forward in the Jasper Ward of the Grande Yellowhead Public Sc...