The Jasper Local February 15, 2020 by The Jasper Local

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thejasperlocal.com

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saturday, february 15, 2020 // ISSUE 163

Local nurses say no to health care cuts Members of the United Nurses of Alberta union took to the streets of Jasper to hold Valentine’s Day pickets and information sessions on February 13.

MOONLIGHT MAGIC // MICHAL JURIK FINDS A LINE ON TANGLE FALLS UNDER A FULL MOON ALONG THE ICEFIELDS PARKWAY. // LADA D PHOTOGRAPHY

“Healthcare workers are the heart of Alberta’s health care system,” said Jenna Broder, a registered nurse at the Seton Healthcare Centre. The nurses were joined by members of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE), Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) members and Teamsters from CN to advocate for their profession and demonstrate their unhappiness with the United Conservative Party’s plans to lay off hundreds of Alberta nurses. In late November, Alberta Health Services (AHS) told labour groups that approximately 500 full-time nursing positions will be eliminated over the next three years. “When people voted conservative they weren’t voting for health cuts,” said UNA member Jenna Broder. “They’re absolutely crippling the system.” UCP MLA Martin Long was in Jasper February 11 to update the Jasper Park Chamber of Commerce on what his office has been up to. After his visit, he spoke to The Jasper Local about austerity measures he said the government has had to introduce. “Most of our ministries have come in and tried to find efficiencies,” he said. “People in government services had grown accustomed to spending.” Continued on Page A3

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page A2 // the jasper local // issue 163 // saturday, february 15, 2020

editorial //

Local Vocal The other night, as I was biking home in the cold and fiddling with the volume on my phone, I somehow made an SOS call. Although I tried to hang up, it was too late. I had, through fumbling fingers, alerted the authorities. When they phoned back, I sheepishly explained my mistake. I had pocket dialled Jasper Dispatch. My bad. But then the voice on the other end asked me something I didn’t expect. He wanted to know my name. For whatever reason, this annoyed me. Somehow being asked to identify myself made me indignant. “I don’t think I need to tell you that,” I huffed. Eventually, reluctantly, I identified myself, but I certainly wasn’t polite about it. I ended the call feeling bugged, but also confused. For the rest of the bike ride home, I mulled over this altercation. Why was it so important to give my name? Was I overreacting? Slowly, it dawned on me to consider this dispatcher’s perspective. Asking for a name, I supposed, could be one way to help ensure that the person calling is telling the truth. I later learned that dispatchers have an obligation to follow up on a misdial. I also learned how common misdials are. What if, I thought, everyone who interacted with that dispatcher today was as rude as I had been? Now I really felt annoyed—not at the dispatcher, however. I was ticked at myself, for being a jerk. I knew what I had to do. When I called back, I was thankful the same person picked up. I apologized. He understood. No hard feelings. Sometimes we need a reminder that the public services we take for granted are staffed by people. Sometimes we need a reminder that working on the front lines is difficult. Sometimes we need a reminder to be a little more patient. In the anticipation of the upcoming negotiations between our provincial government and the public sector workers that will surely feel the stress of not knowing if their jobs are safe, I for one will try to be a little more appreciative of the services these workers perform for the benefit of us all. Oh...and I’ll try to minimize the pocket dials.

Correction: In the Local Vocal column of

our February 1 issue, we insinuated that no Harlequin ducks have been observed on the Maligne River lately. in fact the birds have been counted there as recently as June 2019. Thanks to Jasperite Volker Schelhaus for setting us straight. We regret the error. // BC

Keeping Maligne protected for caribou gives them a chance Dear Editor, There is only one place in Canada where Southern Mountain Caribou have the full protection of the Species at Risk Act (SARA): in a national park. Jasper is one of only four parks where that is currently the case, together with Banff, Mount Revelstoke and Glacier. There

are no caribou left in Banff and only a handful left in Mount Revelstoke. Jasper is pretty much it. Because SARA only applies automatically on federal land, in B.C. and Alberta, where every other dwindling herd of these threatened animals is found, caribou and their critical habitat are only protected by

negotiation with the federal government. Those negotiations are difficult and have not gone well with either province. You can probably imagine why these negotiations are tough. Caribou occupy habitat that has trillions of dollars of potential resource value; trees, minerals, oil and gas. ...Continued on A3

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 Politics

saturday, february 15, 2020 // issue 163 // the jasper local// page A3

MLA defends austerity measures Continued from cover

All across the province on Thursday, union members were bringing attention to the importance of nurses in the health care system. Registered Nurse Rachel Gaudry said if she could tell her MLA anything, it would be to listen to the public. “Reducing nursing doesn’t make sense,” she said. MLA Long said short of finding the savings, a one per cent reduction per year by attrition, as outlined by AHS, is required to sustain services.

LocaL Union members joined the United nUrses association to raise awareness on the importance of heaLthcare workers in aLberta. // bob covey

“We’re not firing nurses. People need to stop spreading messages like that.”

services. Long told attendees of the Chamber of Commerce meeting that the government will have to focus on the most vulnerable people and let people who are capable take care of themselves.

The UCP will table its 2020 budget on February 27, allowing time to debate and pass the budget by April 1. Jasper is bracing for potential cuts to some of its social

“If you have a certain amount of food and are trying to feed 500 people it might not go that far,” he said. “Whereas if you feed the 15 who actually need that food and the other

...Letter to the editor Continued:

The provinces are reluctant to give that up to protect caribou and they look to the federal government to set a good example. Imagine then, the raised eyebrows, when Parks Canada removes protection on critical caribou habitat so that a few keen skiers can get some turns? Provincial politicians are being urged to shoot wolves, limit wilderness access and change the lives of thousands of their citizens in the resource sector to recover caribou. They are understandably eager to point fingers and avoid making those decisions. Thus, removal of habitat protection for caribou in Jasper creates a ripple that lands on the shore of every southern mountain caribou herd not in a national park and puts the species in jeopardy across its range. Removing protections on critical habitat for any reason for any species in a national park is not something

485 who can provide for themselves do, then the food goes a lot further and you actually take care of the vulnerable.” Nurses like Jenna Broder and Rachel Gaudry think that cutting nurses’ jobs is what will makes Albertans vulnerable. “Don’t cut the heart of the healthcare system,” Gaudry said. Bob Covey // bob@

thejasperlocal.com

that should be done lightly. National parks make up only about two per cent of Canada’s land area south of 60 degrees latitude. That’s all. Parks are indeed for people, but by definition, people are managed differently in national parks than elsewhere in Canada. At the same time as these differences make parks special, they also make them frustrating and sometimes challenging for residents and visitors. But these rules define a national park and without them, parks will be governed just like the other 98 per cent. Then you can share your turns with sledders, your hikes with four-wheelers and your fishing hole with jet-skiers. Keeping the Maligne protected for caribou, even if we don’t think they are using it, gives caribou options in Jasper and a chance everywhere. John Wilmshurst, Jasperr, AB

page B1 // the jasper local // issue 163 // saturday, february 15, 2020

local development //

New Jasper SkyTram redevelopment concept unveiled JASPER

A major impetus in the redevelopment is the fact that at the current upper terminal, engineering reports have identified geological instability and “toppling.”

Proponents claim a “This tramway is 60 years old, redeveloped Jasper SkyTram will have millions of dollars it’s time for a replacement,” of economic impact, and also result in net environmental gains for Jasper National Park. As “It’s a geological concern,” said part of the plan, the road which Donald Murray, Vice President of currently accesses the SkyTram Ecosign Mountain Resort Planners, would be reclaimed, sensitive Zone a Whistler-based company helping Two Wilderness land would be oversee the redevelopment concept. returned to Jasper National Park and “Imagine books stacked on a guests would have a shorter travel bookshelf, slowly toppling.” distance to the facility base.

EDSON

Community Engagement Events

• Learn about the processes Grande Yellowhead Public School Division uses to meet educational priorities.

• Participate in conversation with your community and school trustees to contribute to the development of GYPSD’s 3 Year Education Plan.

March 4 / 6:30 - 9pm

Jasper Junior/ Senior High 401 Bonhomme

JASPERSCHOOLS

Please RSVP @ www.gypsd.ca

Proposed Lower Terminal Area

To Valemount

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Whistler Campground

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Communica and Jasper SkyTram management want feedback on their proposed vision, which would relocate the existing lower terminal and infrastructure adjacent to Highway 93, extend the line by a factor of four and operate year-round.

“I think there are a lot of people who have no idea about those things,” he said.

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“This tramway is 60 years old, it’s time for a replacement,” said Garrath Douglas of Communica, a Calgarybased PR firm contracted to help with stakeholder engagement.

Gibson outlined a concept at the new lower terminal that would include a dedicated learning centre, food and beverage facilities and barrier-free access for visitors. He said he wants to work with Indigenous partners to educate visitors about traditional land use.

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Attendees of a February 11 public information session at the Sawridge Hotel and Conference Centre learned of a concept plan that proposes to replace the tram system with a gondola capable of moving 600 passengers per hour.

“We would give back a whole bunch of wilderness land and reduce our environmental footprint, which contributes to the ecological integrity of the park,”said Dave Gibson, who recently retired as Marmot Basin’s president and who is now the Jasper SkyTram Redevelopment Project Coordinator.

PA ELDS EFI IC

Shareholders with the Jasper SkyTram want to haul Canada’s highest and longest guided aerial tramway into the 21st Century.

Geological Safe Zone

Upper Termimal would be four times longer than the current tram. A newforgondola LEGEND

To mitigate the issue, the new upper terminal is proposed to be relocated approximately 250 metres upslope from its current position. The new SkyTram would have an entirely different alignment than Jasper SkyTram Redevelopment where the existing cable spans. Concept Location To avoid going over Whistlers campground, the concept proposes to create a “curve station,” located near the current Snow Dump/Rodeo Grounds. Significantly, the old tram cars would be retired, replaced with eight-passenger, continuousloading gondolas. The current SkyTram experiences long

Alberta ALIGNMENTS line-ups in the peak season. GEOLOGICAL

SAFE ZONE “The demand exceeds the capacity of HIGHWAYS AREA the WATERWAYS facility,” MurrayMAP said.

EDMONTON

TheROADS plan would requireJasper the SkyTram to negotiate a new lease with Parks 0 1,000 Canada. Gibson said the project meters CALGARY proponents will continue to gather Projection Longitude/Latitude (NAD 83) environmental and engineering data. British Columbia

JASPER NATIONAL PARK

Banff

“This is step one,” said Gibson.January “We2020 want people’s feedback.” To comment on the redevelopment concept, visit the Jasper SkyTram’s website, jasperskytram.com. Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

saturday, february 15, 2020 // issue 163 // the jasper local// page B2

Local community//

Jasper mobilizing to help injured physiotherapist When 25-year-old Vanessa McGibbon decided to relocate to Jasper for a career move, she was looking forward to embracing small town living. Little did she know how much the small town would embrace her. On February 5, barely a month after she started her new job as a physiotherapist in Jasper, McGibbon was driving home from Valemount when her car hit a patch of black ice.

two cuts down the bone. Her left arm was broken. She had two severed tendons in her hand and her pelvis was bruised. She had broken teeth and a concussion. But it would be hours before doctors could diagnose all that, and she spent an agonizing hour on the side of the road before paramedics arrived. In the meantime, a gaggle of good samaritans helped McGibbon keep warm and safe. Trying to cheer her up, someone brought her a puppy.

an accident like this puts you out of sorts.” Young-Leslie was struck by the fact that McGibbon, a physiotherapist, devotes herself to helping others overcome injuries and now needs help doing that same thing. “Jasper is known for taking care of its own,” Young-Leslie said. “Right now, Vanessa needs our help.”

The money raised will help McGibbons and her boyfriend pay for basic living expenses “They took care of me,” she said. as she recovers. She’ll soon be And now it’s her friends and discharged to Jasper’s Seton colleagues who are helping Healthcare Centre from the take care of her. McGibbon is a St. Albert hospital where she’s “I tried to correct but my car contractor who does not earn a been since February 5, but it will started sliding into the other be months of rehabilitation lane,” she recalled. before she can go back to “I was heading right “Jasper is known for taking care her physio caseload. Her towards a semi.” of its own and right now, Vanessa boyfriend will take time off McGibbon’s Toyota work to care for her. needs our help” Rav4 collided with a Gibbons expected that her west-bound transport loved ones would help out truck. The impact salary. She doesn’t have benefits. (her mom has been by her side sent her car careening across Not having the use of her arms since she went to hospital), but the road. Inside, McGibbon means she can’t work. That’s why she’s been amazed by the wider was hurt, but alive. As a fellow a GoFundMe campaign has been response. traveller approached the car, he organized on her behalf. was shocked to find McGibbon “People’s support has been “Any sort of accident impacts conscious and lucid. incredible,” she said. more than one’s loss of wage,” To donate, head to “There was blood everywhere, said McGibbon’s friend, Jasper’s GoFundMe.com and my arm was disfigured, I knew Su Young-Leslie, a co-organizer search for Vanessa from how he looked at me that I McGibbon. of the campaign. “All of the looked bad,” she recalled. additional costs associated with bob covey// bob@thejasperlocal.com It was bad. Her right arm had

New Jasperite Vanessa McGibbon was injured in a car accident February 5 on Hwy 16. Her friends have organized a fundraiser to help cover her expenses. // Supplied

page b3+B4 // the jasper local // issue 163 // SATURDAY. FEBRUARY 15, 2020

FEATURE story // Story By Loni Klettl // Images courtesy of the Jasper Yellowhead Museum and Ar

THE SUPERNATURAL OF PIONEER ENDUR

FRANK BURSTROM SR

First World War veteran Frank Burstrom Sr. was a Park Warden in the early years of Jasper National Park and undisputedly one of the most gifted Nordic skiers who ever called Jasper home. His herculean endurance and effortless glide carried his well-worn skis into deep powder fields, over glittery passes and across the undiscovered ski wilds of Jasper and Banff National Parks.

After surviving WWI as possibly the youngest known soldier in Canadian military history, Burstrom finally traded his combat-issued weapon for a pair ski poles. His Norwegian bloodline surged into action and Frank the skier was off. The 1920s and 30s were an exciting time in the mountain parks; skis and skiing had stuck like klister. The sport was surging on the long wooden skis of Scandinavian immigrants, many of whom were displaced from war and poverty and who were seeking a better life. These passionate souls shared their knowledge with the locals who quickly realized that skiing was a lot of fun. Skiing brought exploration, companionship and an opportunity to dip the tips into powder fields, over mountain passes and down sublime slopes. Banff had their hotshot skiers, but Jasper’s skiers were a special breed of their own. There was Joe Weiss, a focused mountain guide from Switzerland; the Jeffery brothers, Vern and Doug, who learned how to ski while attending high school in Revelstoke; and Pete Withers, a park warden, who has been called the first recreational skier in Jasper and is credited with the first winter exploration of the Maligne valley in 1919.

Frank Burstrom, with his athlete aptitude and silent toughness, rounded out this gang of youthful ski explorers. These were the hardcore, uber-athletes decades before these terms were coined. Frank was not only a member of the Jasper Ski Club (JSC) but was also registered with the Canadian Amateur Ski Association. He competed in many Nordic events in Jasper and Banff throughout the 1920s and ‘30s. A favourite had to be the “marathon” ski race, which took participants on a 40 km tour from Maligne Canyon up to Medicine Lake and back on a widened wagon road. There are still fragmented sections of this wagon road and if you listen closely, you can still hear the laboured breaths of skiers. When Frank wasn’t working or competing, he was skiing— either with the guys or on his own. He took multiple sojourns into the Tonquin Valley and countless tours into the unexplored ski bonanza of the Maligne Valley. Burstrom was also known for being part of the first ever ski traverse from Jasper to Banff. In 1930, with his friends Joe Weiss, Pete Withers and Doug and Verne Jeffery, Burstrom left Jasper on January 15. After combating

enroute to Banff from Jasper, 1930 [L to R]: Pete Withers; Doug Jeffery; Joe Weiss; Frank Burstrom; Vern Jeffery. // JYMA 994.56.1003

rchives and the Burstrom Family fonds

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

L FEATS ANCE SKIER

MONDAY, MARCH 16 AT 12PM O’Sheas Lounge in the Athabasca Hotel

Lunch provided, please RSVP for lunch numbers to jaspervsu@telus.net

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer Advocate or joining the Jasper Victim Services Board – Please email jaspervsu@telus.net

bitterly cold temps (-50 degrees Fahrenheit), deep snow, poor maps and the usual disarray of ski travel, the party arrived in Banff on January 30, just in time for the famous winter carnival. Elated, exhausted,

Thank you to Tim Hortons as Jasper Victim Services received over $900.00 donation from this year’s Smile Cookie campaign.

fi nally agreed and, true to his word, showed up at the cabin six hours later. Almost immediately he was heading back to Jasper. There are very few skiers today, with all of our modern equipment and light-weight travel gear, who could duplicate this feat. Yes, the moon was out, the track was good and the snow was just right, but why was he so insistent on returning the same night? Burstrom’s answer is probably one of the most endearing quotes in ski history. “But it was necessary; I was getting married that morning at ten o’clock”.

These were the hardcore, uber-athletes decades before these terms were coined.

heavily whiskered, sun burnt and needing a bath, the story goes that Frank still had some gas in the tank and, unbelievably, entered a 20 mile race soon after. This 15 day, 300 km traverse, which followed the Icefields Parkway, not only made history, it ignited the imagination of endurance skiers and opened the portal to future ski traverse endeavors. One of those whose eyes were opened to the magic of Rockies skiing was Erling Strom. Strom was a Norwegian living in Lake Placid, New York who showed up in Banff in 1928 with skis a- blazing and his keen eye searching for skiing opportunities. He was focused on backcountry skiing at Banff ’s incomparable Mount Assiniboine and so began a glorious ski lodge era. Assiniboine (1928), Sunshine (1929) and Skoki (1931) were all built around the time Strom showed up. A fierce, long

distance skiing competitor, Strom was impressed with Jasper’s Frank Burstrom. The early 1930’s skiing accomplishments kept exploding; not only did the Jasper Five complete the fi rst ever Jasper to Banff ski traverse, another group of seven, including locals Joe Weiss, Doug Jeffery and the indomitable Strom, set out from Jasper on another long ski journey. Two days later they reached the Brewster Chalet at Maligne Lake, where unfortunately, Joe broke a ski. This was a dilemma, for which Joe had no solution other than to use the telephone in the nearby warden cabin and call Frank. Weiss knew this was a nearly impossible request, but he had to ask: Could Burstrom ski up to Maligne Lake with an extra ski? What a favour this was! A whopping 60 mile (100km) round trip on a moment’s notice. After much negotiating, Frank

Erling Strom later wrote “we knew we had picked a good man, but what I found out about him 14 days later made me think he was the best man I had ever met.” Frank’s story and many more have contributed to Jasper National Park’s ski history. These are remarkable individuals—a breed of special mountain souls whose pioneer skiing accomplishments have to be recognized, revered and repeated. Loni Klettl // info@thejasperlocal.com

SUPPORT FOR PERMANENT RESIDENTS & REFUGEES

You have questions. We have answers. 627 Patricia St. | Monday to Friday | 9am-4:30pm settlement@town.jasper.ab.ca 780-852-8070 Jasper Settlement Services

Local Business

page B5 // the jasper local //issue 163 // saturday, february 15, 2020

Cabane a sucre

Sugar Shack SAWRIDGE INN 1er MARS a 16 H . MARCH 1st at 4 PM

SOUPER TRADITIONNEL

TRADITIONAL FRENCH CANADIAN DINNER

BILLETS Famille Adulte 6 18 ans 5 et moins

50 20 10 GRATUIT

TICKETS Family 50 Adult 20 6 18 years 10 5 years and under FREE

POUR PLUS D’INFORMATION FOR MORE INFORMATION ACFA RÉGIONALE DE JASPER jasper@acfa.ab.ca 780-852-7476

Billets disponibles à la bibliothèque de Jasper, au bureau de l’ACFA et à l’école Desrochers

Tickets available at the Jasper Library, the ACFA office and the École Desrochers

local wildlife //

saturday, february 15, 2020 // issue 163 // the jasper local// page B6

This Great Grey owl snapped up lunch and Wildlife shooter Simone Heinrich was there to snap the photos.//insta: Simoneheinrichphotography

local athletics //

Whether making kick turns or killer memes, SkiMo athlete is roasting the competition SkiMo athlete Peter Knight has rocketed up to number one on the SkiMo circuit in Canada, but although he’s a beast on the skin track, the 30-year-old Edmontonian is arguably even more savage on social media. Knight has already chalked up two first place finishes in 2020, his most recent win coming at Castle Mountain in January. While he prepares to burn up the competition at SkiMo Nationals at Marmot Basin on March 6-8, the 30-year-old isn’t neglecting his other favourite pastime: roasting kooks on Instagram.

Canadian public are unfamiliar with ski mountaineering. Alex Stieda, a former pro cyclist and SkiMo ambassador, calls SkiMo the “triathlon of skiing,” attracting athletes from a variety of different cardio-heavy activities—trail runners and mountain bikers, for example. “It is unreal how fit the athletes are,” Stieda said. “And their skill level is unbelievable too. Watching how fast they do their transitions to how fast they ski downhill after putting in maximum effort on the climb is amazing.”

Competitors must hone their skills and stamina in three disciplines: uphill His latest targets skiing, bootpacking include “It’s unreal how fit and downhill skiing. Coloradan chairlift Each race covers 1,800 the athletes are” riders, metres vertical (climbing free-gearand descending); up to begging newbs and the 10 per cent of a course can be on foot International Ski Mountaineering (skis on pack). Federation. “Being proficient at the combination “It’s a pretty niche sport,” Knight of everything gives you the said. “I think that helps [make efficiency,” Stieda said. it good fodder for memes].” For 2020, the Marmot’s Revenge Indeed, most members of the race will feature three events: a

Edmonton’s Peter Knight has been on the Canadian Ski Mountaineering scene for a decade. He’s gearing up for another win in Jasper at the Marmot’s Revenge National SkiMo Championships March 6-8 // b covey

“vertical” race; a “sprint” event; and an “individual” race. The sprint, which will be set up in front of the mid-mountain lodge on March 7, is a particularly impressive event for spectators, Stieda said. Heats of four athletes will red line for several short, technical and intense laps.

place to watch athletes going full gas,” Stieda said. As Knight trains to keep his spot on the SkiMo podium, you can bet he’ll also be putting a fresh, SkiMo spin on the internet’s dankest memes. To make sure, follow him at @peteyknight5 on Instragram.

“Mid-mountain will be a great

Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com