Hinton is urging the Alberta government to commit to continued funding for its specialized wildfire team before the program’s current funding expires March 31. Mayor Brian LaBerge said the town wants stable, multi-year funding and an immediate commitment, rather than waiting for next year’s provinci...

Free June 23 session aims to help residents protect their rights before July 22 limitation period Nearly two years after the Jasper wildfire destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses, an Edmonton litigation lawyer is urging residents whose insurance claims remain unresolved to take one critical ste...

Reopened after nearly two years of closure following the 2024 wildfire, the beloved Valley of the Five Lakes trail network is once again welcoming hikers into one of Jasper National Park’s most iconic landscapes—although visitors this time will encounter a dramatically changed environment. Parks Can...

The Rotary District 5370 Charitable Foundation (RDCF) has wrapped up its final round of Jasper wildfire relief funding, distributing $85,440 to eight local organizations and bringing the total amount invested in Jasper recovery projects to $140,000 across 15 community groups. Announced May 6, the la...

Sprinklers available for homeowners to purchase The Jasper Fire Department is once again offering residential sprinklers to homeowners at a discounted price so they can better protect their homes in the event of a wildfire. Nik Kellis, captain of fire prevention for the Jasper Fire Department, said ...

As an out-of-control wildfire burns south of Whitecourt, local emergency officials are urging residents to be prepared. The fire, known as WWF017, grew to an estimated 80 hectares within hours of detection and on May 11 at 5:30 p.m. prompted an evacuation order for parts of Woodlands County, which i...

Nearly two years after wildfire tore through Jasper, Canada’s Minister of Emergency Management says communities across the country should brace for another challenging fire season — and that Canadians themselves have a critical role to play in preparing for it. Canada's Minister of Emergency Managem...

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...

Nature may look chaotic, but it is, in fact, very well organized. So says artist Dee McLean. “We mess with it at our peril,” she says. A scientific illustrator, painter, children’s book author, exhibit curator and former cricket coach, McLean uses art as a vehicle to engage her audience with science...

Two new reports shed light on how the 2024 Jasper wildfire spread so quickly. The reports, which were commissioned by Parks Canada, also reaffirm the importance of FireSmart principles. The Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) report focuses on the fire’s behaviour outside the townsite and its rapid gro...

“We’re all one day away from a life we don’t recognize.” An intimate story about grief and the healing power of art following the devastating 2024 Jasper Wildfire is making its debut on the world’s largest mountain arts stage. Embers , a new film directed by Kimberley-based filmmaker Trixie Pacis an...

After months of lobbying three different governments for reimbursed costs incurred while hosting Jasper wildfire evacuees, the Village of Valemount and nine Valemount businesses have had their voices heard. In August, the Village received $302,585.60, disbursed by the Alberta Government via the Muni...

The Municipality of Jasper has received the Disaster Recovery Institute Canada’s (DRI Canada) Award of Excellence. The honours were bestowed on the municipality for its courageous response to the July 2024 Jasper wildfire, the largest in more than 100 years in Jasper National Park. Jasper Wildfire C...

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...

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 ...

“I feel like I should share my process of healing and hopefully it can help somebody else.” - Katie Potter __ A collection of writing, visual art and photography is rising from the ashes of Jasper’s devastating wildfire. To commemorate the one year anniversary of the fire, on July 25, the Jasper Art...

When normal forestry practices don’t cut it: With a light-on-the-land touch, specialized arborists are cleaning up Jasper’s burn debris It’s a widely-accepted mystery: whether or not a tree that falls in the forest makes a sound. But what about the riddle that Jasper National Park officials were fac...

Part 2: Home is where the hearth is In Part 1 of our Walking Through Fire series , we discussed how post-fire vegetation bounces back. But what about animals' attraction to fire? There is a small stampede of wild things drawn to fire’s heat and the blackened forests it leaves behind. Some pyro-lovin...

Part 1: Pioneer species on a fire-affected landscape Driving into the park a month after the 2024 Jasper Wildfire, we braced ourselves for a charred-earth landscape. Emotions of loss, devastation, and trepidation followed us in. So when we passed vibrant patches of green grasses springing from newly...

A wildfire 6 km west of Mercoal, Alberta, remains out of control. Alberta Wildfire firefighters, helicopters and heavy equipment continue to respond to wildfire EWF030, located 6 km west of Mercoal and 16 km southwest of Robb, AB. Alberta Wildfire firefighters, helicopters and heavy equipment contin...