One Year Later – Reflecting on the Jasper Wildfire

Dear colleagues,

July 22 marks one year since the wildfire that drastically impacted Jasper National Park and its surrounding community was first reported. For 48 days, more than 3,000 personnel worked tirelessly to contain the fire, which ultimately affected 32,722 hectares.

On this day, we pause to reflect on an event that left a scar not only on the landscape, but on all of us who live, work, and care for this place. It’s also a moment to look at all the rebuilding and restoring efforts. In the face of adversity, Parks Canada team members have demonstrated exceptional courage, compassion, and dedication.  Many of you stepped up to support emergency response efforts, assist evacuees, protect heritage resources, and care for one another. Your efforts make a real difference.

The road to recovery is still ongoing. Rebuilding a community takes time. We are restoring not only infrastructure, but also a sense of security and place. I encourage you to visit the Jasper Recovery Information Hub for an overview of the fire, the wildfire response, and updates on recovery and rebuilding efforts. 

We worked with many valued partners throughout the response, recovery, and rebuilding phases. These strong and ongoing collaborations remain essential as we continue working together to help Jasper rebuild and heal.

As we mark this anniversary, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the staff in Jasper and across Parks Canada who contributed during and after the wildfire. I also want to acknowledge that another wildfire season is upon us, and that efforts remain ongoing to help prevent the spread of wildfires in affected regions.

I want to remind you that the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) is available to you and is designed to provide confidential psychological support during challenging times.

Thank you for your resilience, your compassion, and your continued dedication.

Ron Hallman

President & CEO

#ParksCanadaProud

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