Voices of Jasper
Jasper National Park
Spring is upon us! It’s the perfect time to reconnect with nature and rediscover the park. Follow along this spring as locals share how they are embracing the changing landscapes of Jasper National Park.
Spring 2025
The regrowth of burned earth symbolizes not just survival, but also renewal and strength. I truly believe adversity gives birth to change and innovation. Facing challenges often leads to remarkable transformations and innovations, pushing individuals and communities to adapt and thrive. This resilience can inspire others and foster a deeper sense of connection and purpose within the community.
It's cool to see further through the trees than ever before. We love finding so much green growing, and we can't wait to see more green!
I love riding my bike on all the trails in the wildfire affected areas. Love the new views, the different dirt, the burnt forest, which gives off powerful vibes that excite me and my wheels. Can't get enough of it. I'm in a new Garden of Eden. What will Adam be wearing? I feel like a Jedi, as my bike and I groove and energize on black exclamation marks for trees, exposed rocks and and first bright green buds and grasses. Get on a bike, you too can be a Jedi, in a new Garden of Eden!
The Secwepemctsín word for wildfire is tsertsrép (tser)[tsrép].
Jasper’s landscape has changed so immensely over the last 200 years, my ancestors and I have all witnessed different versions of these lands. Being able to see these changes occur is such a great way to learn about the capabilities of nature. We are thankful that our children will have the opportunity to grow alongside the future forest and watch its continued changes.
This form of healing through nature is about doing hard things that build resilience and strength. The plunge never changes, but you do — with each dip, your mind learns calm and your body learns resilience. There’s something about being in the waters here in Jasper — the cold, clear water seems to carry away the weight that you’re holding. It’s like nature’s own kind of healing, quiet and powerful, reminding you to breathe deep, bear witness to the profound calmness that washes over you.
Growing up in the Philippines taught us resilience and courage, and the wildfire tested us in a new way. As we look around this place we love to bike through, it feels and looks very different. But as the bearberries sprout, wildflowers bloom, and bear cubs crawl out of their den—as new life emerges, we feel a sense of hope and healing. For many of us, the road ahead may seem quite steep from afar, but if we take it slowly—giving ourselves time to recover—we will eventually reach our destination. The wildfire taught us that it’s okay to pause and rest, and to look for life within the ashes—with hope and a sense of community guiding our way back up
Spending time in burn scarred areas in search of subject material for paintings has redefined the way I view landscape. Vast expanses of lodgepole have been erased to reveal the structure of the mountains exactly as the glaciers left them. At first, I was resentful of Jasper's new and devastating visual reality, feeling like so much had been taken away when in fact we have been given so much. Through art I have now come to see wildfire as a powerful symbol of renewal that has prompted me to reconsider my connection to earth, and my responsibility as an artist to respond creatively to the need for its preservation.
Nature is resilient. It teaches us to slow down, breathe, and be patient. It’s been a tough year for many reasons, but as soon as you find yourself in the forest or out on a lake, you start to unwind — and you get to witness changes that are as striking as they are beautiful. I love seeing people who’ve been visiting Jasper for years come back this year and rediscover the area. The landscape inspires renewal — a world waiting to be explored!
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