Jasper continues to push for temporary housing while inviting tourists back

As Jasper residents brace for a long road to recovery, the community is open to tourists choosing to visit this winter.

But the “sea of devastation” in the Town of Jasper’s west end after this summer’s wildfire is overpowering, according to one resident who lost her home.

“I’ve been living here for nine years, it’s just unrecognizable to me,” said Laura Coulson. “Sometimes you can’t even remember which house stood down the block.

“This is a really, really long process that we are going to be experiencing.”

Recovery leaders have given homeowners like Coulson guidelines on how to keep their future homes fire smart.

The rebuilding after the July wildfire can feel slow to some, but there has been some movement, say officials.

“There’s a significant amount of work. The ground conditions here are challenging,” said Michael Fark, director of recovery at the Municipality of Jasper.

Fark says they are on track to have two sections of land ready for modular housing, funded by the province, with people living there by January.

“It’s critical. People have lost their homes; they’re trying to rebuild and resume their lives. It’s challenging. Many people have found alternate forms of accommodation. Currently, they are sub optimal,” said Fark.

CityNews visited Jasper at the end of October. Residents said navigating the community’s housing shortfall is separate from their tourism economy. The mayor and business leaders call for Albertans to come ski when Marmot Basin opens later this month, with hotels and businesses ready to open.

“Visitors are the lifeblood of the community in many ways, and so we hope to see people starting to return soon,” said Sylvie Walsh, the owner of Ransom & Bombshell Boutique.

Those visiting Jasper this fall or winter will notice some businesses not directly impacted by the fire are still working to reopen, as they navigate insurance, cleaning and contamination.

“So fortunately, the fire didn’t make it this far through downtown. But just because the actual fire didn’t hit a building, a lot of buildings have been hit from the effects of the fire,” said Ashley Kliewer, owner of The Raven.

The Raven is a restaurant hoping to open in December but is waiting on insurance and restoration to deal with contamination to their ceiling. Although some businesses are still closed, locals say there is still lots to explore in Jasper.

“Appreciate that everyone has their own attachment to Jasper. And we’re a little beat up right now, but we’re going to get there. We need some cheerleaders,” said Kliewer.

You can hear more about the struggles and triumphs in “Jasper Rebuild,” this Sunday on CityNews Connect — a half hour special, airing at 7 p.m. on CityTV in Alberta.