A town hall for Jasper residents will be held at the Shouldice Arena reception centre in Calgary on Monday evening
Jasper residents and business owners now have a clearer picture of the extent of devastation the wildfire brought to their town.
Highlighting that the information shared is based on damage visible from the street, the municipality said, “We have not been inside buildings or seen the backside of properties. There may be additional damage to homes and businesses that isn’t visible from the street.”
Buildings marked as “not damaged” could also have internal damage caused by smoke and water, the municipality said.
The visual damage assessment showed 410 addresses as destroyed, 10 with visible damage and 620 with no visible damage.
Jasper resident ‘town hall’ to be held in Calgary
“We understand the need for consistent communication to our residents particularly because, of course, it’s an enormously stressful time for them,” said Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland on Sunday.
Ireland was able to tour the City of Calgary’s reception centre for evacuees at the Shouldice Arena. He came to speak with residents, but also to thank Calgary for its help.
“For receiving our residents, helping direct them, to put a little bit of stability into their lives, a little bit of calming influence … they’ve been wonderful,” Ireland said Sunday.
As of early Sunday, he said Calgary has received more than 1,300 Jasper residents.
“That’s phenomenal — that’s approaching a third of our population,” Ireland said.
A provincial town hall for Jasper residents will be held at the Shouldice Arena evacuee reception centre in Calgary from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, where it will also be live-streamed.
It is not yet possible for residents to return to Jasper to view their property or collect belongings, as the town site is not safe, according to the municipality.
“The chemicals released by structural fire are a serious health risk. There is still an active wildfire on the perimeter of the town. Firefighters and first responders need space to do their job safely,” it said.
‘It’s been a lot, people are losing a lot’
Wrae Burkhardt, an employee of Sunwapta Falls Rocky Mountain Lodge — about 53 kilometres south of Jasper — was at the reception centre for evacuees at Shouldice Arena on Sunday.
Although she doesn’t live in the town, Burkhardt said an office “house” the lodge had in town went up in flames.
“That’s completely gone — and that was also the home of a few of our staff who lived in town as well,” Burkhardt said.
“Someone who I know, they lost their childhood home … they had to evacuate their elderly mother,” she said. “It’s been a lot, people are losing a lot — it’s been hard.”
Const. Aaron Lang said the dogs are specifically trained to be a “comfort dog” for anybody who suffers trauma.
Melon is an accredited facility dog, Lang said. “They do eventually sense, obviously, worry, madness, all different kinds of feelings.”
‘Community is people, it’s not structures’
“We know now the damage, we know the reality we have to face,” he said. “We also know the assets that we still have — a base upon which we can build.”
Ireland described the outpouring of sentiment coming from residents as “inspirational” when it comes to rebuilding the community.
“I’m confident that we’ll get through this; there’s lots and lots of heartache ahead as people come to terms with their own losses,” said Ireland. “Ultimately a loss for one is a loss for all.
“Community is people, it’s not structures. There is a place to go, there is a place to gather, because there is something left,” he said. “If there are homes for some there’s community for all.”
Despite the residents being spread out following the evacuation, he said “it’s still a community, it’s still strong.”
He described Jasper as a “Canadian treasure” and said Canadians have responded to the crisis appropriately.
“They feel a sense of loss and they have been so supportive in their messaging — and now in donations.”
Retroactive from when donations first opened on July 25, the matching will extend for 30 days. During that time every $1 donation will become $3 to “support the families and individuals most impacted by wildfires in Jasper and across the province,” read an Alberta government media release.
— With files from Brent Calver, Postmedia and The Canadian Press