Year One Progress Report - August 2024 to July 2025
Jasper National Park
The Jasper Recovery Coordination Centre (JRCC) presents this Year One Progress Report to share progress towards recovery in the community of Jasper and Jasper National Park following the 2024 Jasper Wildfire.
The Year One Progress Report follows the priorities and objectives established in the Jasper Recovery Framework. Each priority includes a summary of actions completed during the first year of recovery that support each objective. Areas of future focus are identified to look ahead to where further work is needed.
Community re-entry
Incident response and community re-entry were led by Unified Command, a partnership between Parks Canada and the Municipality of Jasper, with support from many government and supporting partner agencies, including the Government of Alberta, through the Alberta Emergency Management Agency, and Alberta Wildfire, RCMP, ATCO Electric, ATCO Gas, telecommunications and the Canadian Red Cross.
Unified Command coordinated the following steps to prepare for re-entry of Jasper residents to the community on August 16, 2024:
Hazards within the townsite secured or mitigated
Basic levels of emergency services restored
Critical services restored to provide a basic level of service:
healthcare
municipal public works
utilities (electricity, gas and water)
telecommunications
critical retail (grocery, gas, banking, pharmacy)
Over 40 plans were developed and implemented to support re-entry on themes including hazard tree removal, fencing damaged areas, managing abandoned and destroyed vehicles, air-quality monitoring and reporting, and hazardous structure debris removal.
Park re-opening
Parks Canada re-opened Jasper National Park as soon as critical park services of emergency response, law enforcement, visitor safety, garbage collection, washroom cleaning and human-wildlife coexistence were able to safely operate. Many frontcountry areas and visitor experiences outside the burn area, such as Miette Hot Springs and the Columbia Icefields, opened in August 2024, soon after critical park services were reinstated.
The major transport corridors of Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway) and 93N (Icefields Parkway) were opened for traffic as a priority, once the roads were no longer at risk of fire activity, and burned areas had been addressed for hazards. Secondary roads within the wildfire perimeter, including Maligne Lake Road and Highway 93A, were assessed for hazards before safe access was restored.
Establishment of the JRCC
Parks Canada and the Municipality of Jasper established the Jasper Recovery Coordination Centre (JRCC on August 22, 2024), as a transition from Unified Command, which had led incident response and community re-entry. The JRCC established a working-group structure which is reflected in the 6 priorities of the Jasper Recovery Framework. The JRCC operates out of the Government of Alberta Provincial Building in the town of Jasper.
Priorities
Our recovery is focused on achieving 6 key priorities. All priorities are essential and are interrelated. Each priority includes objectives which outline key areas of work to achieve the priority.
Priority 1: Debris management
Coordinate the safe and timely removal of wildfire debris to enable rebuilding and protect public health, safety and the environment.
Priority 2: Interim housing
Provide safe and appropriate interim housing for displaced residents and workers, to support stability and continuity during recovery.
Priority 3: Rebuilding homes and businesses
Support the safe, efficient reconstruction of damaged and destroyed homes and businesses, while creating opportunities to address long-term housing needs and increasing resilience to future events.
Priority 4: Social recovery
Foster individual and community well-being through inclusive supports that help people heal and connect.
Priority 5: Economic recovery
Stabilize and strengthen Jasper’s economy by supporting affected businesses, welcoming visitors and enabling workforce recovery.
Priority 6: Park recovery
Rehabilitate park assets and natural areas to support ecological integrity and provide safe and quality visitor experiences.
Priority 1: Debris management
Protect human health and the environment
Status
Air quality monitoring stations and processes established with Alberta Health Services.
Complete
Requirements for demolition and completion permits established, including dust control, air-quality monitoring, addressing asbestos and enforcing compliance with input from Alberta Occupational Health and Safety.
Complete
Fencing managed under contract for destroyed properties to protect public and wildlife.
Ongoing
Mitigations put in place around drains to prevent wildfire debris run-off.
Ongoing
Debris removal process undertaken safely with complaints addressed quickly.
Ongoing
Site-specific sampling plans developed to ensure contaminants in air and soil are at safe levels to ensure the long-term health and safety of the community and environment.
Ongoing
Mitigations explored to reduce dust from cleared properties in the townsite.
Future focus
Long-term monitoring to assess if any residual contamination is present, and to understand how different contaminants may move through soil and water into the broader environment.
Future focus
Coordinate efficient debris management
Status
Prime contractor agreements established for demolition contractors.
Complete
Coordinated removal of fridges and freezers through Insurance Bureau of Canada and contractor (Ellis Don) following community re-entry.
Complete
Facilitated sifting debris for personal items at destroyed properties with Team Rubicon.
Complete
Supported coordinated debris removal and site preparation organized by Insurance Bureau of Canada and contractor (Ellis Don).
Complete
Process for on-site signage to inform neighbours of upcoming work developed.
Complete
Permitted debris removal work on Sundays.
Complete
Facilitated Marmot Pit as a disposal location for clean fill close to the townsite.
Complete
100% of demolition permits issued (as of April 2025).
Complete
99% of properties have debris removed (current to July 31, 2025).
Ongoing
50% of certificates of completion issued (current to July 31, 2025).
Ongoing
Online permit map created and updated regularly.
Ongoing
Coordinated debris removal and contamination remediation for national park assets.
Ongoing
Case-management of complex situations.
Ongoing
Requirements communicated for risk management at certain locations.
Ongoing
Priority 2: Interim housing
Provide scalable and adaptable interim housing
Status
Transitional housing in place at hotels for essential workers (August 2024 to February 2025).
Complete
Conducted needs analysis, based on responses from 621 households self-identifying as requiring interim housing.
Complete
Interim housing locations analyzed and selected.
Complete
Funding secured for interim housing units.
Complete
Site preparation and utility connections (power, water, sewer, gas) completed at 4 in town locations (HK -715 Connaught Drive, HF -101 Arnica Ave, HH- 72 Connaught Drive, GA- 901 Connaught Drive), and out of town at Marmot Meadows.
Complete
300+ interim housing units procured and installed: 162 trailers (single, double and triple), 120-room dorm-style complex, 24 prefabricated houses.
Complete
Property management services established with Canadian Red Cross for leases and maintenance.
Complete
Additional interim housing sites and units secured; utilities connected at additional in-town locations.
Ongoing
Livability of interim housing maintained and enhanced through partnerships with donors and funding agencies.
Ongoing
Secure additional funding for interim housing beyond existing 3-year term.
Future focus
Secure winter occupancy secured to balance known summer seasonal staff needs.
Future focus
Fair and transparent housing allocation
Status
Housing allocation matrix created and applied with Canadian Red Cross to ensure fair and transparent allocation in assigning available supply.
Complete
Collaboration with Canadian Red Cross to allocate units and sign leases with residents. 534 residents (277 households) living in interim housing (current to July 31, 2025).
Ongoing
Expanded seasonal and temporary options
Status
Interim Temporary Use Policy created for RVs and temporary work camps.
Complete
70 campsites available for residents at Whistlers Campground and campsites for seasonal staff at Sleepy Hollow Road.
Ongoing
140 unserviced sites available for contractors at Wabasso Campground.
Ongoing
Regional transit access
Status
Funding allocated and contract confirmed for daily commuter bus service, Hinton to Jasper through support with the Government of Alberta.
Complete
Demobilization and site restoration
Status
Planning to establish scope and funding for demobilization and site restoration.
Ongoing
Priority 3: Rebuilding homes and businesses
Policy amendments and planning
Status
Bill C-76 passed by Parliament to allow transfer of some development authorities from Parks Canada to the Municipality of Jasper.
Complete
Rebuilding Guide published.
Complete
Updates to Town of Jasper Land Use Policy and Architectural Motif Guidelines for the Town of Jasper to make rebuilding easier, increase resilience to wildfire, and increase housing options.
Complete
Eliminated the requirement for foundation elevation checks.
Complete
Relaxed compliance deposit requirements to reduce costs for lessees.
Complete
Completed updates to policy parameters for construction in the R4 district to facilitate rebuilding and permit the replacement of existing manufactured homes.
Complete
Simplified variance process to fast-track minor variances and variance applications for like-for-like rebuilds.
Complete
Reviewed and streamlined development review processes.
Ongoing
Conducted community engagement on town values, residential density and parking.
Ongoing
Clarified specifications for building materials that support fire resilience.
Ongoing
Adjustments to Town of Jasper Land Use Policy via quarterly updates.
Ongoing
Create new off-site levy bylaw.
Future focus
Develop and consult on community residential parking strategy.
Future focus
Complete the memorandum of agreement to transfer some land use planning and development authority from Parks Canada to the Municipality of Jasper.
Future focus
Responsive permitting
Status
22 new team members added to support planning and development review (current to July 31, 2025).
Complete
Online web map created and updated regularly with approved development permits, building permits and occupancy permits.
Ongoing
215 development permits issued out of 258 applications received. Development permits for rebuilds of fire-impacted properties include: 53 homes, 1 condo complex, 1 apartment building, 3 outlying hotels, 10 commercial properties and 1 cabin at Lake Edith (current to July 28, 2025).
Ongoing
73 building permits issued out of 73 complete applications received. Building permits for rebuild properties include: 17 homes, 1 condo complex, 1 apartment building, 6 in-town commercial properties and 1 outlying hotel. 7 residential properties,1 apartment building and 1 condo complex (current to July 28, 2025).
Ongoing
450+ pre-application meetings (drop-in and pre-booked) carried out.
Ongoing
2800+ emails and phone calls with lessees and contractors.
Ongoing
Reporting process established for permit turnaround times.
Ongoing
Capacity and processes at the Municipality of Jasper developed in preparation for the transfer of some land-use authorities.
Ongoing
Complex rebuild scenarios identified and supported.
Ongoing
Electronic permitting system developed and implemented.
Future focus
Reinstate site services
Status
Survey pins re-established.
Ongoing
Utility rebuilds coordinated and supported.
Ongoing
Safe and coordinated construction
Status
Interim Temporary Use Policy established allow for storage of construction materials and temporary accommodations for tradespeople.
Complete
Jasper Builders Guide published for builders, designers and contractors.
Complete
Coordinated with building industry including 3 builder workshops.
Ongoing
Laydown area planning, including site preparation at “Old Woodlot” and at Stan Wright Drive and establishment of application process.
Ongoing
Impacts of community-wide construction activities managed, including street use, construction haul routes, sound impacts, traffic impacts and repairs to infrastructure.
Future focus
Road and sidewalk improvements as part of rebuilding damaged infrastructure.
Future focus
Support for affordable housing
Status
Secured Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation Housing Accelerator Fund grant of $9.4 million.
Complete
Completed Housing Action Plan.
Complete
Secured funding to build a 40-unit long-term rental housing building to deliver rental units at below market rates. Land transferred from Parks Canada to the Municipality of Jasper for $1.
Complete
Housing Accelerator Fund initiatives advanced, including the Accessory Dwelling Unit Incentive Program and a land acquisition strategy for community housing.
Ongoing
Analyse vacant lands available for housing development as per Jasper Community Sustainability Plan (2011).
Future focus
Priority 4: Social recovery
Access to recovery supports
Status
630+ wildfire recovery case files opened with the recovery outreach team.
Ongoing
550+ visits to Recovery Alberta (current as of June 1 2025).
Ongoing
Residents informed of recovery supports through accessible, multi-channel, trauma-informed communications.
Ongoing
Community connection
Status
Community dinners serve 450 Jasperites per week for 12 weeks in winter 2024–25 in collaboration with the Canadian Red Cross.
Complete
Supported Emergency Preparedness Week 2025.
Complete
Coordinated first year anniversary commemorative events.
Complete
Community events including organised with support and funding of many donor agencies help promote connection and foster physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
Ongoing
Healing Through Fire interpretive program co-hosted with Indigenous partners from 3 communities offers guided hike, discussing fire ecology and ecosystem recovery, to connect residents and visitors with nature and Indigenous Knowledge.
Ongoing
Community wellness program developed with engagement of spiritual leaders.
Ongoing
Participation in recovery
Status
Indigenous pipe ceremonies held in August 2024 and July 2025.
Complete
Indigenous partner visit to Cultural Use Area, Buffalo Prairie and Palisades Centre.
Complete
In-person Indigenous engagement sessions conducted in October and November 2024, and online engagement conducted in June 2025, to discuss Indigenous participation in recovery.
Complete
38 community volunteer “Pathfinders” trained in mental health and peer support (current to July 1, 2025).
Ongoing
Hosted 4 in person and 3 virtual open house sessions to provide information and hear feedback from residents.
Ongoing
126,000+ people visit the Municipality of Jasper’s recovery and support web pages.
Ongoing
Relationships strengthened with Indigenous partners as part of recovery efforts.
Future focus
Addressing unmet recovery needs
Status
Survey established to measure baseline needs, with 890 responses from Jasperites.
Complete
Regular coordination forum established for external funders.
Complete
Jasper Food Bank established at temporary location with funding support from Canadian Red Cross.
Complete
Needs assessment strategy and survey developed and implemented.
Ongoing
Grants provided by non-governmental community organisations including Canadian Red Cross, Jasper Community Team Society and Banff Canmore Community Foundation to help community groups and individuals.
Ongoing
Outreach and targeted psychosocial supports for displaced Jasperites.
Future focus
Priority 5: Economic recovery
Business stability and workforce retention
Status
Business Recovery Lunch and Learn series hosted, with 95% of participants agreeing that the sessions enhanced their ability to navigate recovery, adapt to changes in the economy, and/or strengthen their business operations. Funded by Government of Alberta (GoA) with support from Community Futures West Yellowhead (CFWY), Jasper Park Chamber of Commerce (JPCC) and Jasper Employment and Education Centre (JEEC).
Complete
800+ temporary foreign workers assisted in securing or extending work permits and workers surveyed on wildfire impacts by the JEEC.
Complete
$2.17 million provided in non-repayable contributions to 236 businesses, low-interest loans up to $15,000 offered and a Jasper Recovery Coordinator established with funding from PrairiesCan and delivered by CFWY.
Ongoing
$2 million in emergency assistance provided to eligible small businesses and not-for-profits through a Support to Small Business and Not-for-Profits program provided by Canadian Red Cross (CRC) and GoA.
Ongoing
Business recovery support person established to provide business assistance with support from CFWY, JPCC and CRC.
Ongoing
Weekly newsletter to business community sharing business recovery information by JPCC.
Ongoing
Economic recovery and resiliency engagement and recommendations report by Economic Developers Alberta.
Ongoing
Mental health supports for business owners and employees.
Future focus
Business retention strategy developed.
Future focus
Interim commercial spaces and support
Status
Pop-up business village established with temporary structures allowing businesses that lost their retail locations to the fire to resume operations with funding provided by PrairesCan (7 businesses and 1 artisan space in place current to July 1, 2025).
Ongoing
Planning for interim industrial park to support businesses, with funding provided by PrairiesCan.
Ongoing
Policies and procedures for licensing businesses in the community of Jasper and Jasper National Park are adapted where possible to consider and support individual recovery circumstances.
Ongoing
Welcoming visitors
Status
“What’s open” online list of local businesses launched and regularly updated.
Complete
Marmot Basin, Parks Canada and ATCO Electric work to restore power, ensure safe road access and start operations to enable the Marmot Basin Ski Resort to open in November 2024, supporting the economic well-being of the community in winter.
Complete
New winter offers such as Rockaboo Mountain Adventures’ Jasper Ice Wall set up in the community of Jasper. Funding support for certain winter experiences provided by Travel Alberta.
Complete
Coordinated “Jasper is open for business” messaging to support the return of visitors.
Ongoing
‘Jasper You Know’ regional campaign by Travel Alberta and international campaign by Destination Canada to promote visitation.
Ongoing
National tourism conference planning for September 2025 ongoing with Government of Canada, Tourism Jasper and Travel Alberta.
Ongoing
Government of Canada ‘Canada Strong Pass’ provides free entry and discounted camping, incentivizing visitation to Jasper National Park for summer 2025.
Ongoing
Training sessions and wildfire communication messaging provided to front-line and tourist-facing staff by Parks Canada and JEEC.
Ongoing
Indigenous participation in economic recovery
Status
Directory of Indigenous businesses established and updated online.
Complete
Contractor with strong Indigenous benefits package and Indigenous staff on crew selected for debris removal contract for Parks Canada properties.
Complete
Work to expand Indigenous partners’ participation in economic recovery through contracting, procurement, guided-business licensing and other business opportunities.
Future focus
Monitoring economic recovery progress
Status
Re-entry survey to track open, closed and destroyed businesses following the wildfire sent by CFWY.
Complete
Parks Canada estimates visitation as 1,134,410 visitors to Jasper National Park in the 2024 calendar year.
Complete
Indicators established to track economic recovery.
Ongoing
Priority 6: Park recovery
Safe reopening of park facilities
Status
Areas outside the fire perimeter, including Columbia Icefields and Miette Hot Springs, reopened as soon as critical park services reinstated to support regional economy.
Complete
Hazard assessments for danger trees and slope stability completed prior to reopening areas for visitor access.
Complete
Facilities cleaned before reopening.
Complete
Autumn 2024 visitor offer included opening of Pyramid Bench trails, Old Fort Point, Lake Annette and Lake Edith, Athabasca Falls, Overlander, Medicine and Maligne lakes, and most backcountry areas.
Complete
Winter 2024 recreation opportunities open, including cross-country ski trails at Pyramid Fire Road, Pipeline, Whirlpool Winter Hub; backcountry skiing at Fryatt Valley Trail and Signal Fire Road; and opening of alternative winter canyon opportunities for guided businesses.
Complete
Spring and summer 2025 visitor offer included frontcountry campgrounds (75% of pre-fire inventory) and backcountry campgrounds (100% of backcountry sites open), opening roads such as Whistlers Road and day-use areas which had not yet opened, such as Horseshoe Lake.
Complete
Multi-media communications to inform visitors about how to visit safely.
Ongoing
Danger-tree clearing on trails, roadways and visitor-use areas.
Ongoing
“What’s open in Jasper National Park” web page created to post real-time updates on open sites and facilities.
Ongoing
Resilient rebuilding of park infrastructure
Status
Caribou Conservation Breeding Centre repaired following wildfire damage.
Complete
Damaged and destroyed signage replaced throughout the park.
Ongoing
Pit privies replaced at fire-impacted day-use areas.
Ongoing
Asset replacement planning for fire-impacted frontcountry campgrounds (Wapiti, Wabasso, Whirlpool) and South Entry Gate.
Ongoing
Rebuilding of staff housing within and outside townsite.
Ongoing
Work to hazards to enable safe reopening of Maligne Canyon, Valley of the Five Lakes and the road to Edith Cavell.
Future focus
Planning for cultural areas including Indigenous Cultural Use Area and Palisades Centre.
Future focus
Environmental protection during recovery activities
Status
Supported utility providers to restore power to outlying park areas (i.e. Marmot Basin).
Complete
Environmental surveillance conducted on wildfire debris removal inside and out of townsite.
Ongoing
Impact assessments to ensure projects use environmental best practices to protect the park environment.
Ongoing
Supporting natural regeneration
Status
5000+ Douglas-fir seedlings planted, as well as wolf willow, native grasses and forbs to supplement natural forest regrowth in areas at risk of erosion or vulnerable to the spread of invasive species.
Complete
2,200 plants planted at the Caribou Conservation Breeding Centre.
Complete
Select trails and areas closed to allow the landscape to heal before opening to human use.
Ongoing
Communication and interpretive programs offered to help visitors learn about natural regeneration processes.
Ongoing
15,000 Douglas-fir seeds collected in the park and propagated in a nursery for planting.
Ongoing
Measures identified and implemented to prevent invasive species.
Ongoing
20,000 whitebark pine seeds collected in the park and propagated in a nursery for planting in burned endangered whitebark pine forest.
Ongoing
Enhanced ecological integrity monitoring to better understand wildfire impacts to habitats and wildlife.
Future focus
Monitoring wildlife and managing human-wildlife coexistence
Status
Long-term monitoring of key wildlife populations pre- and post-wildfire (elk, deer, grizzly bears) in conjunction with ecological monitoring of large mammal occupancy to monitor population changes and potential for predator population response.
Ongoing
Continued species-at-risk monitoring that includes bats, black swifts and whitebark pine.
Ongoing
Ecological fire management
Status
5-year wildfire risk reduction strategy established to prioritize high-risk areas.
Complete
99 hectares of vegetation cleared adjacent to the previously treated 360 hectares in the Pyramid Bench and Community Fireguard areas, and over 15 hectares cleared near outlying commercial facilities in support of wildfire risk reduction strategy.
Complete
Jasper Wildfire Preparedness Information Session, April 23, 2025.
Complete
Ongoing implementation of wildfire risk reduction strategy.
Ongoing
Protecting cultural heritage
Status
Indigenous partners, including Elders, Knowledge Holders and youth, participated as cultural monitors in archaeological investigations to support recovery from the wildfire and at areas slated for construction.
Complete
Discussion with Indigenous partners about respectful debris removal and planning for rebuilding at the Palisades Centre, a place of historic and contemporary importance for Indigenous partners.
