Dear Editor, Jasper National Park management has closed large parts of formerly prime backcountry ski terrain as part of a larger program to protect and restore caribou populations that have sharply declined over the past century. JNP offers the hypothesis that ski tracks facilitate wolf movements a...

As bears in Jasper National Park are emerging , the U11 and U13 Bears are going into hibernation after thrilling season enders in Cold Lake and Grande Cache The first weekend of spring break was a huge one for the Jasper minor hockey scene.  As mentioned a few weeks ago , both the U11 and U13 Bears ...

Parks Canada reminding the public about staying safe in bear country The first bear sighting in Jasper National Park this spring has been reported. The black bear was spotted foraging for food in the Lac Beauvert area on the evening of April 2, and more black bears and grizzly bears are expected to ...

Director of Urban Design and Standards position will provide expertise and support for development matters The Municipality of Jasper is creating a new director position to help guide its planning and development challenges into the future. A recommendation to create a new full-time permanent Direct...

Parks Canada is considering a new project to get backcountry hikers over the turbulent waters of Simon Creek and on their way to Athabasca Pass Historic Site. While the notion of a new bridge—donated by trail users at no cost to the federal agency— was rebuffed three times by Jasper National Park’s ...

In part one of his series on caribou , biologist and wildlife photographer Mark Bradley discussed barren-ground caribou. Part two will focus on woodland caribou, the same ones found in Jasper National Park. Wolves, Elk and Caribou in Jasper National Park The area that is now Jasper National Park has...

Wildfires, smoke hazards, freezing rain and extreme heat are predicted to increase in Jasper over the next 30 years, and the town can expect the daily average temperature to never drop below minus 30 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. This, according to a recently released Climate Risk Asses...

Alberta Health Services and the Hinton Healthcare Centre are letting the public know of temporary acute bed shortages in the facility. Six of 23 acute care inpatient beds have been closed since March 15, according to the AHS website. The bed closures, which are anticipated to last until April 3, are...

The Jasper Brewing Co. Barley Kings are keeping their crown at the top of the Jasper Hockey League castle. The defending JHL champions fended off an impressive challenge by the De’d Dog Outlaws in the final game of Jasper’s “Super Sunday” JHL Triple Header, March 25, claiming the A-Cup in overtime w...

No booze, limited tickets and volunteer security personnel will constitute new restrictions The Jasper Hockey League is taking measures to ensure the season’s grande finale isn’t a giant fiasco. Since the summer, the Jasper Arena has been undergoing renovations to add three dressing rooms to the bui...

Proposed Parks Canada policies for murals in Jasper would stifle art and compromise a burgeoning local festival, proponents say. On March 21, at Jasper National Park’s Planning and Development Advisory Committee meeting (PDAC) , Parks Canada will present proposed amendments to Jasper’s Architectural...

UPDATE (May 7, 2025): The drug and weapons-related charges have been dropped, according to the RCMP Drug trafficking and weapons-related charges against two Jasper residents have been approved by the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service. Since Jasper RCMP last advised the community about a six-month in...

“In a split second, everything can change” A Jasperite who was buried in an avalanche while snowmobiling in British Columbia is reminding other backcountry users how quickly things can go from good to bad in avalanche terrain. Alison Mason has been snowmobiling—sledding, in Valemount parlance—for fo...

Increased avalanche hazard will put Jasper National Park public safety officials on alert Parks Canada is warning motorists and the travelling public about the potential for closures on the Icefields Parkway and the Maligne Lake Road. Warm temperatures over the next several days in Jasper and Banff ...

Jasper Municipal Council will backstop a fundraising shortfall to ensure the community gets the skatepark it deserves. Councillors voted unanimously in favour of loaning up to $150,000 to the Jasper Skatepark Committee. The recommendation came at their March 12 Committee of the Whole meeting. “This ...

Ahead of the Jasper National Park 2024 Annual Public Forum , Parks Canada is launching a fruit tree replacement program . The announcement comes after the 2023 summer season wherein more than 400 bear-related incidents in the Jasper townsite were responded to by wildlife officials. The main cause, P...

Photos by Bode Hofhuis The Jasper U13 Bears and U15 Bearcats went border-to-border last weekend for the final round of hockey playoffs and a chance to qualify for the provincial finals at the end of the month.  Ash Habib streaking in. // Bode Hofhuis Following a successful first playoff round, both ...

An event designed to celebrate, empower and inspire women will coincide with International Women’s Day. On Thursday, March 7, from 12 p.m.-2 p.m. at the Jasper Activity Centre, the Jasper Local Immigration Partnership (LIP), in collaboration with Jasper Settlement Services, is organizing a lunch fil...

Parks Canada is inviting Canadians to speak to the year that was, and the year that will be, in Jasper National Park. On March 12 and 13, Parks Canada staff will host the 2024 Jasper National Park Annual Public Forum—in-person, and on-line, respectively. The events provide an opportunity to speak di...

A painful slog out of Jasper’s backcountry has taught a party of skiers a lesson in being prepared for safe adventuring. Jasper’s John Ward has skied many a mile over many a mountain pass—and made most of his tracks and turns without incident. “I’ve never required any assistance,” Ward said. John Wa...