The Jasper Local April 1, 2019

a lt e r n at i v e +

LOCAL + independent

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thejasperlocal.com

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monday, april 1, 2019 // ISSUE 142

FIND YOUR HAPPY PLACE // LIAM FENGLER-WOOD WITH A PERFECT PERCH ABOVE THE TONQUIN VALLEY. // RON WOROBEC

Parks Canada considering disc golf facility Jasper National Park is entertaining a new proposal for a nine hole “ecologically sensitive, strategically relevant” disc golf course.

The idea comes on the heels of the agency’s withdrawal of funding for a $66 million biking and walking trail from Jasper to the Columbia Icefields.

Now those funds are apparently being considered for a new recreational facility on the Pyramid Bench.

The initiative would provide opportunities for a unique visitor experience and also provide an important safeguard in the community’s wildfire preparedness, the agency is suggesting.

Conceptual plans for a nine-hole, 20 hectare disc golf course will be presented at the agency’s upcoming annual forum.

Disc golf is an activity in which players throw a disc at a target;

it is played using similar rules as golf. Hipsters love it.

“When it comes to managing the threat of wildfire in a forested landscape, disc golf courses have many of the same values that a traditional fire break offers,” said Dave Argusenault, Parks Canada’s resource conservation manager. “Plus it’s really fun!”

The concept has the support of the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Archives, which recently discussed the 1914 survey of a golf course designed by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle at their weekly coffee hour. They’re hoping Conan Doyle’s drawings can be incorporated into the proposed facility.

“This idea is a hole in one,” said Historical Society member Bob Baxter.

Parks Canada anticipates disc golfers could be teeing off by next...April Fools! bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

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page A2 // the jasper local // issue 142 // Monday, April 1, 2019

editorial //

Local Vocal Most mornings, if I’m on the ball, just before our toddler pulls out all of her toys and books and crafts and games and spreads them all over the floor, I try to get us outside.

This has been much easier as of late, what with the winter finally relenting. Bundling isn’t as critical. Arguments about neck warmers are a thing of the past. I don’t have to trick anybody into wearing thick mittens.

And bike rides, hooray for bike rides! We’ve got a regular route around the block (which usually ends up with me carrying the bike back uphill). It takes about 30 minutes, depending on how many people, dogs and sticks we meet along the way.

These days, however, our route has a new look.

The neighbourhood has a decidedly orange flavour.

There’s no doubt in my mind that residents are showing their support for newly-minted NDP candidate Paula Cackett because she’s a Jasper local. We’re proud to call a smart, ambitious, fresh-faced leader one of our own.

But there’s something else going on, too. I think the reason there is a high preponderance of Team Notley signage in the 1,000 block of Bonhomme Street is because the block is made up of a high preponderance of young families.

Young families appreciate the $25 daycare that was introduced to childcare facilities across Alberta. Young families care about their kids having enough teachers in their schools. Young families want their teenagers to earn a higher minimum wage. Young families want their children to feel safe in school if they identify as LGTBQ. Young families don’t want their kids to have easy access to tobacco products.

Young people, in general, want to know their government is moving forward on climate change policy. Young people like green transportation initiatives. Young people want tuition freezes.

The signs aren’t a coincidence. They’re not just a case of a hometown favourite. The NDP’s social policies have resonated with Jasperites who want their elected officials to govern with more than just the economy in mind. The fact that lagging oil prices are, for the most part, beyond the control of the government, is not lost on these folks, either.

If our regular bike route is any indication, on April 16 there will be strong support to give the NDP another mandate—from the folks on my block, at least.

How other Albertans vote will remain to be seen, but they’d be wise to listen to young families.

After all, it’s young families’ province to inherit. bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

Plastics a problem beyond local retailers

Dear Editor, The recent push for a ban on plastic shopping bags in Jasper has coincided with my own effort to reduce my consumption of single-use plastics.

I have to say that Jasper’s separation of waste streams has helped me realise how much singleuse plastic I go through.

Seeing as almost all of our kitchen scraps go into the compost, and all recyclable packaging goes into a blue bin, all that is left in my kitchen garbage can is single-use plastic.

The thing is, though, the majority of these bags are not the ones that the cashiers use at our local

retailers; my waste seems to be composed of every other type of single-use plastic. I’ve got bags from day-old baking, bags that held fruit, the super-thin bags that come on a roll for packaging produce, styrofoam and shrink wrap from the packaging of meat products, etc.

The common theme is that the majority of my waste is not created by our retailers, but by their suppliers.

While I wholeheartedly support an effort to cut down on our plastic waste, I would encourage our local businesses to focus on where we can make the largest impact. Choosing suppliers who package responsibly could result

in a dramatic reduction in our waste. Our grocers could package meat in butcher’s paper rather than foam and shrink-wrap. They could choose not to buy their coconuts, corn, and other produce from suppliers who wrap them in plastic (they have a husk for a reason, darn it), and they could encourage their customers to choose a durable bag for produce rather than a single-use plastic one. If we look at only one solution to our waste problem, I think we’ll miss the bigger picture of where the majority of it comes from.

Craig Hartmetz, Jasper

The Jasper Local //

Jasper’s independent alternative newspaper 780.852.9474 • thejasperlocal.com • po box 2046, jasper ab, t0e 1e0

Published on the 1st and 15th of each month Editor / Publisher

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// local community

monday, april 1, 2019 // issue 142 // the jasper local// page A3

THE JASPER IMMIGRATION COALITION HAS PARTNERED WITH THE JASPER LOCAL TO PRODUCE A SERIES OF PROFILES OF NEW CANADIANS IN THE COMMUNITY. THE JASPER IMMIGRATION COALITION IS A GOVERNMENT OF CANADA-FUNDED PROJECT THAT AIMS TO HELP IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY’S CAPACITY TO WELCOME NEW CANADIANS WHO MAKE THEIR HOME HERE. MEET YOUR NEIGHBOUR, AND NEXT TIME YOU SEE THEM, SAY HELLO!

What are your names?

Jerome, Laura, Ethan and Maeva Joyeuse How long have you lived in Jasper?

Jerome: Almost 9 months. The rest of my family came about 2 months ago.

Where did you live before you came here?

Mauritius (off the southeast coast of Africa) What’s your first memory of being in Jasper?

Jerome: I was very sad, because it was the second time (going abroad) without my family and it was pretty difficult. I was just hoping that this will be the one time that my family can join me.

Laura: For us, cold, cold cold! We were happy to be reunited, but it was so cold! We arrived in January and it was too cold to do anything.

But now, we can go out and visit. We are enjoying it now more than two months ago! In Mauritius, we don’t have this kind of cold!

Jerome, how long did you have to wait to know whether your family would be coming?

I got the confirmation in December that I could bring my family.

Did you know much about Jasper before you came here. Was there anything that surprised you?

Jerome: I did some research when I found out I had a job opportunity here.

It was pretty amazing to live in the mountains with wild animals walking on the road. What surprised me was, early one morning when I looked outside and saw all these elk standing outside of the house. It was amazing! I had never experienced anything like that. Just looking outside and seeing all these wild animals. In Mauritius, you have to go to the zoo to see that, but now we are living in their territory!

NICE TO MEET YOU, JOYEUSE FAMILY!

You know that people are involved in a lot of outdoor activities here. Are there any that you would like to try?

Jerome: I want to do rafting.

Laura: The children already tried skiing and they really liked it.

Maeva: It was difficult for me!

Jerome: Ethan did well with it. The teachers said he was doing well with skiing.

How about camping?

Jerome: Yes. But my wife is afraid of bears.

Laura: When we first arrived, we were like bears. Hiberner…hibernating!

When you meet new people, what do you like to learn about them?

For me, it’s not the first time I meet Canadian people. For me know that people here are welcoming. I know they are welcoming people.

What is something that people would be surprised to learn about you?

Laura: People are already surprised when we say we are from Mauritius. People don’t know where that is. If they do know, they know that it has a lot of beautiful beaches and it’s hot.

Jerome: They always want to know: why did you come here? In winter?

Well, thank you for coming and bringing some of your Mauritian warmth! Nice to meet you, la famille Jouyeuse!

For more information about the Jasper Immigration Coalition, contact Doug Olthof at dolthof@ jaspercommunityteam.ca

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page B1 // the jasper local // issue 142 // monday, april 1, 2019

Local politics //

QUICK STUDY ON THE CAMPAIGN: Jasper candidate leaning on her core values Paula Cacket t’s life is full on these days.

The 29-year-old Jasperite is running for political office in the upcoming provincial election.

As such, she’s got a bag full of lanyards, buttons and pamphlets, promoting her party’s messages.

She’s got a truck full of lawn signs, ready to deploy on supporters’ front yards.

And she’s got two armfuls of kids’ stuff to keep her biggest fans engaged while on the campaign trail—toy cars and games for her almost-three-year-old, Asher, and the requisite pacifier, diapers and bottle for her one-year-old, Micha.

“Vote for my momma,” Asher says, passing out an information sheet.

It’s all hands on deck for Cackett and the NDP right now as Alberta gets ready to go to the polls April 16. Cackett, who has never run for public office before, has been busy knocking on doors and attending community events in West Yellowhead—no small feat in a rural riding which stretches from Jasper to Edson to Whitecourt.

And while most of the campaigning has been positive, Cackett knows it’s not always going to be friendly. There are strongly-held beliefs amongst many voters in

this riding that the economic downturn is the fault of the current government. Some of the rhetoric has been downright nasty. Cackett, an emergency nurse who is used to working in the heat of the moment, knows that she can’t take it personally.

“Comments like that are never nice but I believe in what we’re saying and the policies we’re fighting for,” she says.

Those values have been Cackett’s polestar. She comes from a family with a background of being involved with, and invested in, worker’s rights. Her dad and brother were both engaged in issues with their local unions. As a nurse, she believes strongly that the healthcare system must be kept public and accessible for everyone. And as a mom, the NDP’s support for families and education allowed her to go back to work after her first child was born.

“I want to fight for things important for my family and other families, particularly healthcare, fair wages and affordable housing.”

Still, when Premier Rachel Notley dropped the writ in Alberta last month, Cackett (who grew

DUTY CALLS //JASPERITE PAULA CACKETT IS THE NDP’S CANDIDATE FOR MLA OF WEST YELLOWHEAD. SHE IS CAMPAIGNING TO SUPPORT ALBERTA FAMILIES. // BOB COVEY

up in Jasper as an Ermet before taking her husband Joseph’s

periences have shaped her into the person she is today, but it wasn’t until she went to nursing school on the “I learned that I could make other side of the counit on my own, that I was try that she discovered independent and strong and her identity for herself, that I could make my own she said. Being born relationships and connections.” and raised in Jasper is blessed, but she said she needed to grow up last name) hadn’t planned on on her own. When she saw she stepping forward. Then came could make her own way, she a call from the NDP’s elections developed a confidence that has committee, who asked her if she helped her find her true self. was interested. Her brother had “I learned that I could make it suggested they give her a call. on my own, that I was indepenAfter she thought about it for a dent and strong and that I could day, and with her husband’s sup- make my own relationships and port, she called them back. connections.”

“In the end I decided it was the For the next two weeks, Cackett right thing to do,” she said. will be making a push to make Cackett has been influenced by as many connections as posother women who have been put- sible. She’s nervous about speakting their energy towards things ing in public at the scheduled that they deem to be important— forums, but she’s drawing on people like the premier, certhe strength she knows is within tainly, but also Danielle Larivee, her—the same place where her the Minister of Status of Women, core beliefs lie. and Deputy Premier and Minis“I keep telling myself there’s ter of Health, Sarah Hoffman. nothing to be nervous about “They’re pushing forward because it’s all stuff I believe in,” healthcare and women’s rights,” she says.

Cackett said. “The strong As she says this, Asher, her female leadership in the legisla- almost-three-year-old, makes it ture was really inspiring to me.” known that he recently learned Cackett has been a leader in her how to ride a pedal bike. He community, too. Jasperites will looks at his mom with expectremember her from her swimant eyes. Yes, she confirms. He ming days—her success with learned while on vacation at the Red Fins and River Dragons grandma’s house. led her to compete with Team As Cackett piles her lanyards and Alberta in the World Lifesavbuttons into one bag and the baby ing Championships in France in gear and toys into another, one 2014. And she has volunteered thing’s clear: everyone in the famextensively with minor soccer. ily is learning on the fly right now.

In 2009 Cackett went to Kenya with the Me to We organization Bob Covey// to build schools. All of those ex- bob@thejasperlocal.com

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Local environment //

monday, april 1, 2019 // issue 142 // the jasper local// page B2

Power line project nearing completion, local plant set to be decommissioned

the national park, ATCO reduced its ROW to a width of 10 metres, rather than the 18 metre standard. Where longer spans between structures were required, however, a wider ROW was cleared.

“The only 18 metre ROW is the Athabasca River Crossing,” said Sue Watson, ATCO’s Manager of Marketing and Communications (the Fiddle River is also crossed once by the project), ATCO originally estimated that 3,700 Douglas fir trees were present within ATCO has said that the new transmission the 45 km long easement, plus tempoline will offer more reliable power service rary work spaces and hazard tree areas. for Jasper customers, in part because However, the final number of Douglas Jasper won’t be reliant on one single firs removed ended up being signifigeneration point, but also because the new cantly less, Watson said. conductor which comprises the line has a “Douglas fir trees were only removed protective coating which is more resistant when within the 10 metre right of way to natural events. or when they were identified as a hazard “The transmission line really has been tree adjacent to the right of way,” she designed to minimize power outages,” said. said Toni Petteplace, Regional Director The 69kV transmission line and the 449 power poles which hold it 15 metres high in the air follow existing ROWS: “The project eliminates roads, utility lines and ATCO’s existing, low-voltage lines, for instance. Still, the need to use natural some criticism has been directed at gas and diesel in the ATCO for creating visual pollution, rather than putting the transmission community,” line underground. ATCO has repeatedly said this would be unfeasible.

When it comes to air pollution, the ATCO USED A HIGHWAY OF RIG MATTING TO PROTECT Jasper Interconnection Project will for ATCO. “The special conductor is more SENSITIVE WETLANDS DURING CONSTRUCTION OF THE generate 40,000 tonnes less greenhouse resilient to ice, wind and lightning.”

JASPER INTERCONNECTION PROJECT. // SUPPLIED gas than what is emitted at the current Construction crews have had their share Palisades Powerplant, according to of weather during the build. Temperatures Petteplace said, noting that winter construction helped Petteplace.

Petteplace said the additional capacity for dropped to -45 degrees Celsius during February’s cold mitigate environmental impacts such as damage to Jasper residents to purchase renewable energy from the snap, however, the timeline for the project remains on wetlands and potential disruption to bird migrations. provincial grid makes the upgrade altogether greener. target: facilities are scheduled to be in operation by May. Vegetation clearing for the right of way (ROW) was also “The project eliminates the need to use natural gas and “We anticipated building in winter conditions,” atypical for a transmission line project such as this. In diesel in the community,” she said.

Unfortunately, the project also eliminates local jobs. Nine local employees will be impacted by the changes to Jasper’s power supply. ATCO says efforts are being made to find those staff new opportunities within the company.

“Because the power plant won’t be there, the work won’t be there,” Petteplace said. “We’re currently working with our people to find options for them if they’re interested in relocating to do other work with ATCO.” If outages do occur, Petteplace said ATCO will retain three employees based in the Jasper area who can respond.

ATCO’s Jasper Interconnection project is almost finished, meaning the Palisades Power Plant, which has fired Jasper’s electricity supply for 45 years, will soon be decommissioned and a new, 45-km transmission conductor will come on line.

By the numbers

Jasper Interconnection Project

Length of transmission line (kilometres): 45 Width of right of way (metres): 10 Number of power poles (structures) required: 449 Number of access roads to right of way: 3 Number of new access points: 2 Number of pre-existing clearings: 15 Number of river crossings: 2 Estimated number of greenhouse gases emissions reduced as a result of decommissioned powerplant (tonnes): 40,000 Number of employees impacted as a result of decommissioned Palisades powerplant: 9 Estimated long term cost savings to ATCO (millions of dollars): 50 Estimated reduction in average consumer’s household electricity bill (dollars): 0 Bob Covey// bob@thejasperlocal.com

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page b3+B4 // the jasper local // issue 142 // monday, april 1, 2019

FEATURE // STORY AND PHOTOS BY DAVID HARRAP

SAVING GAIA—TEN CE PART 1

I had a new career, and so did Liam: we were recycling engineers.

arithmetic. “I bet there’s ten bucks.”

“Do you want me to go inside and get them?” His legs were already in the air as he teetered on the edge of the bin, about

wouldn’t be picking b man, that I can guara “What’s that, Dad? “ b “Aren’t we getting the

to fall in.

I could see headlines in the local paper: “A Modern-Day Fagin: Father Trains Son To Grovel In Garbage (Child Services Alerted)” “Better not. Doesn’t look too healthy in there. Let’s get a couple of sticks to fish them out.”

As I brought my head out of the garbage bin, to my stricken horror, there was a group of hikers passing. I clapped the lid down, but like Pandora it was too late: the hikers were already staring.

“Morning,” I spluttered, bright red.

And turning to Liam, who still had his head inside the other bin, I said in a loud voice, “CAN YOU SEE MY WATCH? . . . NO? . . . MAYBE I DIDN’T DROP IT IN THERE AFTER ALL. LET’S HAVE A LOOK BY THE FIRE PIT.”

“Shut up, Liam! Would There’s people here fo “So-o-o-o?” echoed th

A garbage man was now a sanitation engineer; a lavatory attendant, a sanitary warden; a rat catcher, a rodent operative; a shop assistant was now an associate.

Elegant titles for important jobs.

This euphemistic claptrap suited us down to the ground, for it’s not easy to hold your head up when you’re merely a bottle picker. But a recycling engineer?

Wow! You’re puffed with pride at having a serious part in saving Planet Earth.

Like so many memorable events it all started innocently: with Liam opening the lid of a garbage can at a picnic spot in the Park.

“Dad!” came the muffled yell from inside the Dumpster. “There’s tons of bottles and cans in here!”

“There is?” I stepped up to the plate, joining Liam on the Dumpster, and opened the other lid.

“OOOH!” “How much do you reckon, Dad?” Our heads moved in unison as we surveyed the pickings and did the mental

Had Liam been 10 years older, he would have said: “What the hell are you on about, Dad? You don’t even own a watch.!” (Mind you, if he was 10 years older he

“Bloody hell, Liam.” I and kept my voice low hikers wouldn’t hear.

“Get your head out of I flashed a nervous gr the Dumpster at the gr only staring now but s Liam surfaced from th diver coming up for ai shut with a metallic rin Dad?” “Not now Liam, for go looking,” I mumbled, a practicing ventriloqui A hiker came over. Oh climbed up the steps o embarrassing. I cast a I’d just farted.

The man had a piece o finger at it: “Wo ist der

Germans! I should ha Probably green Germ that’s a stroke of luck.

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ENTS AT A TIME

bottles with his old antee.) boomed the voice. ese bottles?”

ld you belt up? or heaven’s sake.” he voice.

I gritted my teeth w so hopefully the

the bin this instant.” rin over the top of roup, which were not stationary, too. he bin like a deep-sea ir, and let the lid snap ng. “What’s wrong,

oodness sake! They’re as though I were ism. h, Christ! He of the bin. Oh how a sheepish look as if

of paper and jabbed a r Maligne Canyon?”

ave guessed. mans at that. Well . At least it wasn’t

someone from town.

He wanted directions to the canyon. I gesticulated the way. He said something to the group; they smiled, bowed formally, clicked their hiking boots, and shoved off. Thank God for that.

we’ve got?”

“Let’s count it.”

“All right. Bring it in the bushes.

We’ll count it there so no one sees us.

“Fifteen dollars. Not bad.”

“Will we split it, Dad?” “Yeah. And let’s go to KFC. It’s Toonie Tuesdays.”

We started adding up all known areas and how many bins they had, doing arithmetic in our heads, coming up with dizzying triple-digit figures: dinners at Tokyo Toms; new hiking boots; trips to West Edmonton Mall; all the books we wanted. And if it was a hot drinking summer—who knows?

England and Australia for the winter?

We rocked in our seats from the sheer joy of it, fat cats belting out a rollicking chantey as we rattled and clanked to the bottle depot for a withdrawal:

“All right. Bring it in the bushes. We’ll count it there so no one sees us.”

I quickly scanned the picnic area to make sure no one else was going to surprise us.

We got sticks to fish out the bottles and cans. “You’re embarrassed, aren’t you Dad,” he said, seeing me cast nervous glances around as we hooked out the loot.

“Damn right, I am. I can’t believe I’m reduced to this—grovelling in barrels. Me, an Old Berkhamstead Boy. My dear old Mother would roll over in her grave if she saw her son now—How the mighty have fallen. Bloomin’ heck!”

“Huh?” It’s one thing to be of gentle birth and have no money, but entirely another matter to root around in society’s refuse to pluck out a dollar or two.

It wasn’t a Christmas pudding I was pulling plums from. Bright speech and wit may cover for tatty clothes, and an educated fellow down on his luck may well find a measure of acceptance, but I doubted that when folk saw a father-and-son team rifling through garbage they thought, Ah, how splendid! What a wonderful thing to do with your boy.

“Oh Dad, you’re so silly. Nobody cares.” Said Artful Dodger, fishing out the last of the cans.

“Well I do—How much do you reckon

“Thar’s gold, and it’s haunting and haunting; Thar’s gold in them there bins!

We’re running off with the boodle— BUT DON’T GIVE US NO FLIPPIN’ TINS!” David Harrap//

info@thejasperlocal.com Jasper’s David Harrap is the author of the soon-tobe-published book Over The Mountains, Under The Stars.

If he flashes you a nervous grin over the top of a Dumpster, smile, bow formally, click your hiking boots and kindly shove off.

622 Connaught Dr. Upper level PO Box 2079 Jasper, Alberta T0E 1E0

Phone: 780 852-2242 Fax: 780 865-1022

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page B5 // the jasper local //issue 142 // monday, april 1, 2019

local recreation //

STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN // SURVEYING PRIME REAL ESTATE IN THE MARMOT PASS AREA. // INSTAGRAM @DOUGNBOB

famoso.ca

famosojaspernationalpark famosopizzeriajasper

Jasper National Park 607 Patricia Street (780) 852-5577

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local arts //

monday, april 1, 2019 // issue 142 // the jasper local// page B6

ALL IN THE FAMILY // EVER-CURIOUS SHEEP ARE A REGULAR SIGHT ON JASPER’S HIGHWAYS. REDUCED SPEED ZONES ARE IN EFFECT. // SIMONE HEINRICH

Last film club flick of the season a Scottish, star-making triumph The Jasper Film Club’s last selection of the season is fresh as a Scottish summer’s night.

Wild Rose stars Jessie Buckley as Rose-Lynn, a woman on a quest to become a country music star while also grappling with the responsibilities of being a young mother of two.

She’s also just been released from prison.

“This is a happy-sad drama of starstruck fever that lifts you up and sweeps you along, touching you down in a puddle of wellearned tears,” according to Variety.

Buckley delivers a vivacious and unforgettable performance, her voice a star of its own. With a confident hand, director Tom Harper brings Nicole Taylor’s beautiful, textured script to life.

It’s full of authentic characters and unexpected turns. The setting is Glasgow, a city that, like Harper’s protagonist, is gritty on the surface, but is bursting with spirit and personality.

The film starts out by seducing the viewer into thinking it’s going to be exactly the sort of cheeky inspirational fairy tale it turns out not to be.

“Wild Rose manipulates us into expecting a certain template of triumph,” suggests reviewer Owen Gleiberman. “But the film pulls the country road out from under you. And that’s when it starts to get really good.”

Wild Rose tells a richly stirring, human story. But by the time we reach its final number, it lets you experience what the glory of country music really is: an art torn straight from life itself. ____________________________________________________ Wild Rose plays at The Chaba on April 4 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for guests not holding a Jasper Film Club membership.

JESSIE BUCKLEY STARS IN WILD ROSE, A RAUCOUS, FEEL-GOOD DRAMA ABOUT A SCOTTISH MOTHER TRYING TO MAKE IT NASHVILLE. THE JASPER FILM CLUB HOSTS AT THE CHABA AT 7 P.M. APRIL 4. // SUPPLIED

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