The Jasper Local November 1, 2016

a lt e r n at i v e +

LOCAL + independent

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tuesday, november 1, 2016 // ISSUE 84

SEE YOU IN THE SPRING // CAM VOS GETS SOME OCTOBER FRESHIES AT THE BALD HILLS. PARKS CANADA’S SEASONAL CARIBOU CLOSURES IN THE MALIGNE RANGE COME INTO EFFECT NOVEMBER 1. // VIET TIEU

After delays, Lake Annette Loop complete A new paved path around Lake Annette is open to the public, but a critical miscalculation in the trail priming process meant the project was thrown for a months-long loop.

“Wheelchair and stroller-friendly Lake Annete Loop is now open! Come and enjoy fall in Jasper National Park!” the park’s Twitter feed suggested on October 29.

their instructions on how wide to make the trail were at odds with the width of the paving machine. The first go-round was too narrow. The crew was forced to re-cut their original tread.

That announcement was anticipated much earlier in the year. A source close to the project (whose identity The Jasper Local agreed to protect) said the project experienced serious delays. Trail crew members began work on the project in May, priming the trail for re-paving. However,

The Lake Annette Loop was previously paved as a wheelchair-friendly trail in 1970. Rehabilitation work included widening the tread, levelling broken and sagging pavement, shoreline stabilization and sightline clearing.

In August, Parks Canada said paving was on schedule and would be completed in early September, on budget. When pressed for details about the too-narrow primer trail, media relations did not respond.

bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

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page A2 // the jasper local // issue 84 // tuesday, november 1, 2016

editorial //

Local Vocal Six weeks ago, when I learned about a local paddler finding and removing construction waste in the Athabasca and Miette Rivers, I figured I had a great storY: Keen high school athlete does his

part for the environment while busting the chops of an out-of-town contractor? Perfect! Throw in some sweet photos of a rad dude in a kayak and you’ve got a perfect Jasper Local scoop. Winning!

But wait. There was a problem.

The problem was that I neglected to provide a crucial element of the story: the other side.

You’d think that this far into my career, adhering to the basic news story formula would be second nature—and it usually is—but in an embarrassing instance of journalistic laziness, I simply ignored the voice of those who were getting an accusatory finger pointed their way. Worse than ignoring them, I didn’t even give them a chance to speak. Fail!

Even as I filed the story I was aware I had a weak product. Sure, the photos were cool, yet I knew in my heart that if a rookie reporter handed that story in to me I’d take one look at it and tell him to try I am full of emotion after Nice story on the refugee again. Without that second voice, the story simply wasn’t complete. family! Great pics too! seeing your article about I guess that’s the downside of being the boss: you our wonderful Al Homosh - Laura K, Valemount don’t have a superior to whip your butt in line if family.

You brought tears you mess up. The upside, of course, is that you can’t __________________ get fired! In this case, to give those who were being to my eyes with the photos Thank you for telling labelled as litterbugs a chance to respond, I decided of the boys sledding for this story! on a re-do. I’m glad I did. I’m aware that the story the very first time. Thank isn’t going to win a Pulitzer, but it shows that the - Kirstti B, via Facebook contractors aren’t so different than the kayaker in you for the amazing article terms of their regard for the environment. (Plus, that tells two truths, both my own conscience is now somewhat soothed). joy and despair. Thanks for __________________ Hopefully, readers who recognized the failings of We love letters! Please that first draft will see the error as a one-off. bringing that to light, you send notes our way!

Journalism isn’t a highly technical trade, but the made my day! letters@thejasperlocal.com ethics surrounding how and when to tell a story - Beth T, Jasper can be somewhat tricky. Recently, a colleague at The Fitzhugh felt the sting of the letters section after some readers disagreed with how a story was The Jasper Local // Jasper’s independent alternative newspaper handled. Only because this publication and my 780.852.9474 • thejasperlocal.com • po box 2046, jasper ab, t0e 1e0 name were referenced in the letter, I would like to let Published on the 1st and 15th of each month the record show that I do not agree that the editor Editor / Publisher should have been lambasted so severely.

Bob Covey.................................................................................... bob@thejasperlocal.com Journalists are human (promise!). Humans can Art Director be lazy and display poor judgement. Hopefully, Nicole Gaboury.................................................................. nicole@thejasperlocal.com over time, the trust that a community newspaper Advertising + sales builds with its readers—through hard work and sydnee makowichuk...................................................... sydnee@thejasperlocal.com fair reporting—can act as immunization to the cartoonist occasional journalistic malady.

Deke.................................................................................................deke@thejasperlocal.com If not, then a scathing letter always does the trick! facebook.com/thejasperlocal @thejasperlocal

Re: 'Hope is what keeps us human'

bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

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Local environment //

tuesday, november 1, 2016 // issue 84 // the jasper local// page A3

//Construction crews are held to a high standard of environmental protection. That fact wasn’t reported in an earlier story about debris in local rivers. // Bob Covey

Whose litter is it, anyway?

Construction workers are helping set the record straight when it comes to doing their part to protect Jasper’s waterways.

On October 1, The Jasper Local ran a story of a 17-year-old kayaker who’d been documenting pieces of construction waste he’d found in the Athabasca and Miette Rivers over the summer.

“I see this stuff when I’m paddling and it really makes me mad,” Reed Eady said at the time.

Since then, The Jasper Local has been in touch with construction crews who took issue with the accusatory finger pointed their way. The contractors applauded Eady’s environmental efforts but insisted that due to the rigorous environmental standards they’re obliged to adhere to, any waste found in the river would be from projects past.

“I can see it, if I’m a local kid who loves kayaking and I see this debris it looks like one plus one equals two,” said Dave Simpson, a manager with Calgary’s Ironclad Earthworks, the contractors working on the Miette River bridge. “But when we went back to see if we missed something, or if we screwed up, when we did our checks we were very comfortable that any material found wasn’t something we had done.”

Eady had discovered large pieces of steel, rebar, pylons and other debris just downstream of where crews were working.

Simpson said the work plans his company signs off on—and the regular monitoring

by Parks Canada—simply would not allow such egregious littering to occur.

“In a national park there is a higher level of scrutiny,” he said. “Some jobs you’re policing yourself, but here Parks Canada is actively monitoring.”

Parks Canada also responded to The Jasper Local’s story, noting that there have been isolated instances where debris have not been properly contained, but that the federal agency has worked with the contractor to rectify the issues.

“Mitigations performed include securing debris netting under each bridge and around work platforms; placing all equipment on impervious containments to catch spills; properly disposing of concrete waste; and travelling downstream to retrieve wood debris and plastic tarps that have fallen,” said spokesperson Joseph Zebrowski in an email.

Jasper carpenter Donnie McCreath worked on the Mile 12 and Fiddle River bridges. He agreed that the stringent standards imposed by Parks Canada make it highly unlikely that the garbage found would have been from work in 2016.

“They were upset if there were loose nails on the jobsite,” McCreath said. “I was very impressed by their attention to detail.”

Work on the Miette bridge is scheduled to be complete November 12.

bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

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page B1 // the jasper local // issue 84 // tuesday, november 1, 2016

Local community //

NOT TAKING IT SITTING DOWN: Senior fighting landlord over scooter use “Hello! Come in!”

Jasper’s Arlene Tomie doesn’t get around too fast these days, so when a visitor arrives at her apartment, she’s inclined to holler a greeting from her chair, rather than get up to open the door.

With braces on her legs and feet, and a walker within clutching distance, Tomie, like many seniors, is feeling her age today.

“If you want to be a senior, you’ve got to be tough,” she says.

There’s no question Tomie’s tough. Sure, when she feeds her pet bird, Tomie reveals her gentle side, however, it’s easy to see the 81-year-old has plenty of spunk. If you couldn’t tell from the bright pink fringes on her hair, her recent battle with her landlord indicates that despite the fact that she has a hard time standing up, Arlene Tomie doesn’t take things sitting down.

Tomie and her family are currently embroiled in a disagreement with the operators of Pine Grove Manor, where Tomie has lived since 2001. Tomie wants to use her electric scooter in the building.

The Evergreens Foundation, which operates Pine Grove, says it’s against their policy.

Tomie says the scooter gives her independence. Evergreens says the machines are a safety hazard.

“The scooter gives me freedom,” Tomie said.

In a letter addressed to Tomie’s daughter, Evergreens Foundation CAO Tina Szegi suggests that electric wheelchairs and scooters can pose a danger to other residents. Szegi also notes that the limited space in the Pine Grove apartments mean that scooters could be an obstruction during an emergency, such as a fire.

Lastly, scooters inevitably damage the building’s interior, Szegi writes.

“Please understand that these decisions aren’t made lightly and take into consideration the safety of the Manor residents as a whole,” she said.

(The Jasper Local reached out to Szegi and received no response).

Tomie doesn’t buy it. She remembers when the Jasper Lions Club operated the Manor and how at that time, scooters were allowed in the building. She scoffs at the idea of the scooter being a danger to other residents or a fire hazard and believes that the Evergreens Foundation is just making up excuses when it comes to protecting the building.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER// JASPER SENIOR, ARLENE TOMIE, IS EMBROILED IN A DISAGREEMENT WITH HER LANDLORD ABOUT HER RIGHT TO USE A MOBILITY AID IN THE BUILDING. SHE WANTS TO USE A SCOOTER TO HELP HER GET AROUND. // BOB COVEY

“I say if the hallways are too narrow why were [scooters] allowed before, when they built the place? ”

“The Alberta Human Rights Act mandates that service providers, including landlords, must make reasonable accommodations for people with The disagreement has been going on for disabilities up to the point of undue more than a year, but five months ago, hardship,” Orich said. “In this case, Tomie decided to hell with it. On May the accommodation would be for the 10, she brought her scooter inside the Evergreens Foundation building. When to amend their policy confronted, she disallowing mobility said she was “The scooter gives me aids on their property. indeed aware of I don’t believe this the policy, but that freedom.” causes them any she was going up hardship.” to her apartment anyway.

Three days later, Tomie received a warning letter from the manager, Glen McGrath. McGrath’s letter said failure to remove the scooter from the building would result in eviction. Tomie complied.

“They take away your freedom if you live here,” she said.

Szegi did suggest that Tomie could move to Alpine Summit Seniors Lodge, the other seniors facility run by The Evergreens Foundation. That building has been designed to accommodate scooters, but Tomie isn’t interested.

“I don’t want to go into long term care,” she said.

Plus, Alpine Summit doesn’t allow pets.

After the warning letter, Tomie’s granddaughter, Laurisa Orich, filed a complaint with the Alberta Human Rights Commission. The crux of Orich’s complaint is that the onus is on the Evergreens Foundation to make reasonable accommodations for her grandmother’s mobility challenges.

The Evergreens Foundation apparently disagrees. While Szegi did not return The Jasper Local’s email, Jasper municipal councillor Gilbert Wall, who sits on the board of the Foundation, said he is comfortable with the CAO’s position.

“I stand by the policy in this case,” Wall said. “If the [Human Rights Commission] tribunal suggests something different I’m willing to look at it at that time but until then, I think this is the correct application of policy.”

The Alberta Human Rights Commission has promised Orich they will investigate the dispute, but that process can take up to seven months to assign a conciliator, and up to a year for that conciliator to reach a decision. Until then, Orich is hoping that the Evergreens Foundation can at least help her grandmother find a space to store her scooter outside. Tomie said the Foundation has indicated they can.

“But if it snows, I’ve got a problem,” she said. bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

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Local business//

tuesday, november 1, 2016 // issue 84 // the jasper local// page B2

Opening her business…and her heart A new collaborative space in Jasper has been born.

“We all have amazing services to offer,” she said.

Jasper’s Jenna McGrath has established Jasper Wellness—a home for her doula services, but also for her other modalities: massage therapy and yoga instruction. More than a business, however, McGrath wants Jasper Wellness to be a place where other practitioners can set up shop.

As someone who was constantly uprooting from temporary spaces, McGrath knows how hard it can be to run a successful business when you don’t have a home. For years she was constantly on the go, taking meetings at local coffee shops then rushing to her rented clinic or yoga spaces.

“If it’s a good fit for this space, the doors are open to anyone under the wellness umbrella,” McGrath said.

“I used to have doula conversations with clients at the Snowdome, or I would spend two hours a day going from place to place carrying buckets of bolsters and yoga props,” she said.

Bringing Jasper Wellness into this world wasn’t an easy labour, but as a doula, McGrath is used to emotional births. She and her husband Sean spent all summer renovating the downstairs space at 618 Connaught Drive. On October 11, the 32-year-old entrepreneur opened not just the doors to her new business, but her heart to the possibilities of collaboration with other like-minded professionals.

“We’re not going to be exclusive, we want to be supportive,” McGrath said.

So far, McGrath has welcomed fitness guru Tracy Garneau, nutritionist Jenna Jackson and yogis Annie Baker and Marla Pollock to offer classes and consultations in the studio space. Her hope is that Jasper Wellness will be able to accommodate other health specialists, too.

HEALING HANDS // DOULA, RMT AND YOGA INSTRUCTOR JENNA MCGRATH IS JASPER’S NEWEST BUSINESS OWNER. JASPER WELLNESS BRINGS A COLLABORATION OF PRACTITIONERS UNDER ONE ROOF// BOB COVEY

“The doors are open to anyone under the wellness umbrella.”

While McGrath will still make mobile calls for massage clients, gone are the days of picking glass out of her feet because her yoga class was in a space which the night previous hosted a raucous party.

Instead, these days she’s picking what art will go on the wall and what type of shelving will work best in the consultation rooms.

“This is absolutely a dream come true,” she said. bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

POET BETH EVEREST // SUPPLIED

bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

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page b3+B4 // the jasper local // issue 84 // tuesday, november 1, 2016

LOCAL FEATURE // STORY BY FERN YIP // PHOTOS BY BOB COVEY

Teeny Tiny Concerts Home Routes artists bring live music to local living rooms

At a time when the light is fading and the cold creeps in quicker, listening to songs in the comfort of a living room is the perfect place to be.

connection between performer and audience.

In between sets Jasperites mingled with the musicians and each other while snacking on homemade goodies and tea, graciously provided by host Mckenzie.

The house concert is part of a nation wide project that began in 2007 by a non-profit arts organization called Home Routes/ Chemin Chez Nous. Home Routes provides performance opportunities to small, remote, and rural communities that may otherwise have no venue, by linking professional musicians with local audiences. Jasper is part of the Big Horn circuit of Home Routes, which includes 11 other small towns of central Alberta, that strives to deliver a balanced program of several musical genres such as blues, world, blue-grass, celtic, and American or Canadian music. Musicians like Newberry and O’Donovan // ARTISTS DAVID NEWBERRY AND DECKLAN O’DONOVAN SHARE A POST-CONCERT EMBRACE. // performed in Entwhistle, AB before arriving to Jasper and continuing onwards to Hinton shortly after. The key to such a unique touring schedule is the local volunteers who commit to hosting the event.

Nancy Addison got roped into being a Jasper host for Home Routes six years ago after experimenting with house concerts by local musicians on her own initiative.

Thirty Home Route // HOME ROUTES HOST SYLVIE MCKENZIE HELPED FIRST-TIME CONCERT GOER, 6-MONTH-OLD concerts later, CORA COVEY, GET ACQUAINTED WITH THE KITCHEN PARTY. // she reflects that

On the evening of October 19, a small audience did just that in Sylvie Mckenzie’s living room, mesmerized by the combination of David Newberry’s heartfelt and insightful songs, and Decklan O’Donovan’s playful keys. With wit and honesty, Newberry’s songs wove a rich tapestry of stories from childhood memories to regret, and even newborn nephews. It was live music unplugged and stripped down to its most essential core—one of establishing a vibrant

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feature //

// DAVID NEWBERRY’S SET STRIPPED LIVE MUSIC DOWN TO ITS ESSENTIAL CORE: ESTABLISHING A CONNECTION BETWEEN PERFORMER AND AUDIENCE. //

“although a lot of effort goes into hosting, the payback is far more because it brings the community out.” In the past year she is grateful that another host, Sylvie Mackenzie, has agreed to share the commitment by hosting a couple of shows.

them to focus more on delivering a great performance.

In Jasper, Home Route concerts have mostly been spread by word of mouth, but the Bighorn circuit schedule is also available online at www. homeroutes.ca. With a concert each month between now and April, there will be a total of For musicians, “Although a lot of effort goes four more performances. the Home Routes into hosting, the payback is If you’re interested in arrangement attending one of these far more because it brings the helps them at intimate concerts it’s an unreliable community out” a good idea to reserve time after your ticket ahead of time summer festival by contacting Nancy circuits have run out. O’Donovan jokes “I’m Addison on Facebook—her living room has pretty hungry and I’m getting cold.” Familiar a maximum capacity of around 40 people. with how stressful being on the road is for “Usually,” Addison says, “the kids next door travelling musicians, O’Donovan gratefully have the house steps reserved for the first adds “the Home Routes circuit makes for a lot less question marks. I don’t have to worry about two to three songs before they go to bed.” The things like ‘are the microphones dirty?’ ” Newberry next concert, which takes place November 17, promises to be an energetic and charismatic agrees: “The experience is the opposite of show by the bilingual folk duo Anique Granger playing bars. By staying in a private home I & Mélanie Brûlée. Come out for yourself to see actually meet local people, get fed really well, what Home Route concerts are all about—a and get more sleep, generally speaking.” With welcoming and warm living room awaits you. the Home Route model, all musicians have to worry about are their own transportation costs and getting to the next town, which allows

Fern yip // info@thejasperlocal.com

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page B5 // the jasper local // issue 84 // tuesday, november 1, 2016

Local food//

Just desserts: Pie maker rolls through Jasper and use lard instead of any substitutes.

Margaret Bailey rolls pastry, and scoops heaping spoons of Rhubarb-Saskatoon Berry Pie filling into pie shells. Whole pies are piled on top of one another on the counter tops of The Raven Bistro kitchen.

A blackboard behind Bailey reads “460 pies to date.”

Bailey has made the trip from Nipawin, Saskatchewan to Jasper, Alberta every year for the past three years to bake her delicious pies for The Raven Bistro. Her daughter, Darlene Bailey and Darlene’s husband, John Riedler, own the restaurant. Every time Bailey visits she stays for two to three weeks and makes 25 pies a day.

Bailey starts baking early in the morning before The Raven’s kitchen gets busy in the afternoon.

Often she’ll stay all day making pies. After she puts the final pie top on for the day, she’ll start making pastry for the next day of baking. This fall Bailey made 475 pies before she ran out of lard and aluminum pie shells. Last year she made 560 pies.

Eighty-eight-year-old Bailey picks all of the berries herself, and most of them are from her own garden.

Bailey uses rhubarb, raspberries,

The flaky pastry is a favourite of Bailey’s daughter, Darlene.

She also loves that her mom’s pies aren’t overly sweet.

“Margaret’s Homemade Pie” is served with a scoop of cinnamon ice cream and whip

“I like making sweets but I don’t like making meats” cream. The pies are popular with The Raven Bistro customers.

PRAIRIE FIRE // MARGARET BAILEY, FROM SASKATCHEWAN, STILL MAKES PIES THE OLD FASHIONED WAY: PICKING THE BERRIES AND MAKING THE DOUGH FROM SCRATCH. // EMILY RENDELL-WATSON

apples, Saskatoon berries and pumpkin in her pies. Her favourite kind of pie to eat (and make) is Rhubarb-Saskatoon Berry pie.

“eat half a pie in no time”, and she used to put cream on her ice cream.

Bailey first learned how to make pies from her mother when she was 12-years-old. She also bakes cakes, bread and muffins, but is adamant she doesn’t cook savoury food.

“I make all of the pastry by how it feels. I use lard and flour and I add water until I get the consistency I want,” said Bailey.

“I like making sweets but I don’t like making meats,” said Bailey.

This has a lot to do with Bailey’s own sweet tooth. She said she can

Bailey never uses a recipe, but the secret to her pies is the pastry.

A few of Bailey’s tricks are: don’t use as much flour as the recipe calls for because the pastry will churn out better; when rolling the dough always keep it on one side;

“My mom always gets people coming up to her when she’s here and they want to meet her. People tell her it tastes like their mom’s pie,” said Darlene Bailey. “She will often go to tables and sit down with customers.”

In addition to all the berries, Bailey also brought tomatoes, beets and carrots from her garden for salads at her daughter’s restaurant. And until her next visit, The Raven Bistro’s freezer is piled high with boxes and trays of frozen pies ready to be baked and served.

“My mom is the best. She’s the pie maker,” said Darlene Bailey.

Emily Rendell-Watson //

info@thejasperlocal.com

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Local sports//

JASPER JOY // AFTER THREE YEARS, COUNTLESS PRACTICES AND MANY PIZZA PARTIES, THE GRIZZLIES CHALKED UP THEIR FIRST WIN, FIRST GOAL AND FIRST PENALTY, ALL IN ONE GAME! // SUPPLIED

Grizzlies' first ever goal leads to first ever win The Jasper Atom Grizzlies broke all sorts of new ground on October 29 when the girls team won their first game in three years, defeating the Valemount wildcats, 3-2.

Not only was it the Grizzlies’ first win, but durng the game the team scored their first ever goal and took their first ever penalty.

“It was a story of belief and determination,” said coach Jason Munn.

“Suddenly all of the practices and losses came together and something clicked in the girls’ heads and they figured out how to play hockey.”

dad said.

The Grizzlies’ killer instinct couldn’t be present all game, however; at one point one of the Grizzlies, seeing that the opposing goalie had lost his stick, picked it up and returned it to him.

After the game, the locker room of nine-and-10 year-olds was the picture of elation, said coach Munn.

“That was a heartwarming moment,” Munn said.

“It was fist bumps and smiles all around,” the proud

bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

The win came on another milestone: coach Pat McLeod’s 50th birthday.

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tuesday, november 1, 2016 // issue 84 // the jasper local// page B6

Local history //

The Battle for Supremacy: Jasper versus Lucerne A lot of once-thriving western towns are gone. In our province, some of these include Alderson, Amber Valley, and Battle Bend. In some cases, there may be a lonely cemetery. In many instances, finding even an abandoned foundation would be an undertaking.

The Railroad Club hosted dances and community events. During the dances, it is said, babies were put on the stage so the mothers could watch them while swinging around the dance floor.

In the early 1920s, the Canadian National Railway (CNR) took over all railroad operations in the region.

Part of that change meant CNR’s management had to decide between Lucerne and Jasper as the divisional rail point. Both towns were well established. Both were in a choice location with similar populations.

Lucerne is one of these abandoned and long-lost towns. Named after Lucerne, Switzerland, its birth coincided with the arrival of the Canadian Northern Railway. It was located just inside the In the end, the railway reluctantly BC border about 22 miles from Jasper on the chose Jasper, and Lucerne almost south side of Yellowhead Lake, which was called immediately began to shrivel. By Buff Dung Lake back in the old days. Based on 1924, most people historic voting had relocated records, there were to Jasper. The In the end, the railway 300 people in the rails at Lucerne’s reluctantly chose Jasper, and community, not marshalling yard Lucerne almost immediately counting women and were pulled up began to shrivel. children. and moved. By Today, one person 1925, Lucerne’s with a connection population was down to 20. to the old town is Harry Home of Jasper, whose Effectively, the town ceased to exist mother and father worked and lived in Lucerne but continued on as a railway whistle when it was a thriving community. Harry’s sister, stop. The railway station, which had Jean, is still alive and has vivid memories of the been every bit as big as the Jasper town. According to Harry, there was a railroad roundhouse at Lucerne, a coal-loading facility, and Station, was eventually dismantled.

Today, except for an old house and a railway marshalling yard. There were five stalls in the roundhouse, a shed for a rotary snow plow, a the cemetery, most of the oncebustling town site has gone back to machine shop, boiler room and a 75-foot turntable nature. for locomotives.

The town also had an icehouse where large blocks of ice cut from the lake in winter were stored.

The ice was covered with sawdust so it would keep through the summer. The railway used it on passenger trains and in refrigerator cars.

There was also a general store, school, doctor, police force, restaurant, poolroom, barbershop, and community hall called “The Railroad Club.”

Service Directory

// LUCERNE STATION, CIRCA 1919 // JASPER YELLOWHEAD MUSEUM & ARCHIVES

// LUCERNE RAIL YARD, CIRCA 1919 // JASPER YELLOWHEAD MUSEUM & ARCHIVES

Stuart Taylor // Stuart Taylor is an amateur historian and member of Hinton Town Council. Let him know what you think of his historical features or suggest another subject for him to cover. Email: info@thejasperlocal.com

// TOWN OF LUCERNE, 1924 // JASPER YELLOWHEAD MUSEUM & ARCHIVES