West Yellowhead’s NDP candidate Fred Kreiner has elected not to participate in Jasper’s scheduled all-candidates forum. “I’ve decided and the NDP party has decided that our efforts are better used knocking on doors and talking to people,” Kreiner told The Jasper Local on May 15. The Jasper Park Cham...

Jasper Municipal Council is keeping a 51-year relationship with its Japanese Twin City alive. Despite some councillors wanting to skip the trip this year, a majority of voices around the Committee of the Whole table on Tuesday, May 9, voted in favour of sending a delegation to Hakone, Japan, in 2023...

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...

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...

The Municipality of Jasper’s administrative team floated the idea of changing Jasper’s paid parking system, but the majority of councillors indicated they are inclined to keep it, warts and all. On July 12, Christine Nadon, Director of Legislative and Protective Services, told councillors gathered f...

As the Municipality of Jasper prepares to roll out its residents’ credit system, the town’s recently-developed paid parking program has issued nearly 100 violation tickets and grossed upwards of $50,000 in revenue. “Visitors are clearly paying,” said Director of Protective and Legislative Services, ...

Parks Canada is retracting its stance on patio tents. In a letter to Jasper Park Chamber of Commerce president Justin Melnyk, Jasper National Park Field Unit Superintendent Alan Fehr confirmed that tents and canopies will be permitted for the 2022 season. “I understand that businesses require more t...

Residents say amendments to private home accommodations will shut families out of home ownership. UPDATE: 5:58 p.m., Friday May, 20 Parks Canada has issued an emailed update announcing the are WITHDRAWING the proposed PHA amendment package “Effective today, Parks Canada is withdrawing the proposed a...

I’d skirt the guidelines, frustrated councillor tells restauranteurs Patio decision epitomizes jurisdictional issues between town and federal government Councillor Scott Wilson expressed the collective frustration of Jasperites at the May 17 municipal council meeting when he told business delegates ...

As Paid Parking commences, the Municipality of Jasper is encouraging residents to register their vehicles so they don’t have to pay to park. All this week (Monday, May 16) Paid Parking signs are being erected in the downtown vicinity. As soon as they go up, the program is live. “When the signs are u...

You won’t see Richard Ireland on the campaign trail. Even though, for the first time in two decades, Ireland is facing a serious threat to his six-term run as Jasper’s only mayor, the incumbent is not canvassing for residents’ votes, handing out fliers nor booking any advertising spots. Other than t...