“The roots of this ski family started in that little beautiful church in Jasper in 1972,” Rod says
The weather that day was bitter cold at -31 C.
It’s been one week since an estimated 25,000 people fled Jasper as wildfires ravaged the area, destroying around 30 per cent of the townsite’s structures, according to Parks Canada — including the historic Anglican church where the couple married.
“I can’t help but get emotional about it,” said Rod, from their summer home in Crystal Bay-Sunset, Sask.
“Jasper was where we started our life together… where we built our roots.
“We’ve walked down every street. The community, the people became part of us.”
Rod moved to Jasper and got a job at Smitty’s pancake house. A self-described ski-bum, then-19-year-old Rod couldn’t work as a waiter or cook because of his long hair and beard, so he became a dishwasher, but his main focus was skiing as much as he could with his mountain town as a base.
It wasn’t long before he met 17-year-old Pat at a Halloween dance in 1971. The two fell in love and were soon engaged to be married.
With a chuckle, Rod remembers the wedding day and Pat’s father spending 30 minutes trying to convince him not to marry her.
“We were so young — I was 20, and Pat was 18 — there was a lot of doubted wisdom, and I can remember after my conversation with her dad, he said, ‘I can see you’re determined to do this,’” Rod said.
“We were young, and everybody thought we were crazy, but it all worked out.”
“I remember it being so beautiful inside,” Pat said.
“It had gorgeous oak pews and wooden carvings, and it had this carved eagle with outspread wings.”
‘Reminisce of what used to be there’
Jasper became home for the Sellers. They raised a family, and their children also fell in love with the small tourist town’s ambience.
Even when they left Jasper, it always held a special place in their hearts, whether it was to visit Pat’s parents, attend high school reunions or catch up with friends.
When they go to their winter retirement home in Sun Peaks, B.C., about 450 kilometres southwest of Jasper, they always make a point to stop in the town where it all started. When they make that trek to Sun Peaks this winter, it will be an emotional and sombre drive through Jasper.
“I’m nervous about it because I know I will get emotional. We’ll drive around and look at the destruction and reminisce of what used to be there,” Rod said.
“We will want to catch up with all our old friends and see how they’re doing.”
Pat added: “We’re definitely worried about our friends who live there. We’ve really been experiencing their feelings. We were very fearful for everyone there, and what they’ve gone through.
“We hope everyone living there can get back safely when the time comes and the town can start rebuilding.”
Seeing the town they used to call home get torn apart by wildfires has stirred up many memories. For the Sellers, Jasper is a scene out of a fairy tale.
Rod went to Jasper to work and ski, and he ended up finding the love of his life.
“The roots of this ski family started in that little beautiful church in Jasper in 1972,” Rod said.