Municipality of Jasper adopts climate action plan nearly one year after wildfire

The Municipality of Jasper is embarking on a five-year plan to mitigate the impacts of climate hazards like wildfires, wildfire smoke, extreme heat, freezing rain, and receding glaciers. 

Council approved the Climate Adaptation Action Plan, after reviewing the report at a meeting Tuesday.

It comes nearly a year after a wildfire ravaged forest in Jasper National Park before it entered the town, destroying about 350 residences. 

"This disaster caused severe disruption to Jasper's built, natural, social and economic systems, significantly impacting individuals and families, local businesses, the broader community, and the surrounding region," the report says. 

The climate action plan contains 28 steps to safeguard critical infrastructure, protect essential services and better prepare the community to deal with natural disasters. 

Mayor Richard Ireland said the municipality has been working on some of the measures for years, such as the FireSmart program to buildings.

There's a sense of urgency now after last year's disaster. 

"We're aware of risk to our community, wildfire being one of them, and that risk continues despite the wildfires of summer of 2024."

Administration says some measures are high priority, such as preventing wildfires, installing backup power systems for critical infrastructure, fire-proofing buildings, upgrading HVAC systems and adding clear-air shelters, shade structures and cooling spaces in public places like parks. 

Ireland said the municipality will work with Parks Canada to improve some infrastructure standards.  

"I know that our wastewater treatment plant now is sided in wood, that should probably change," he said. 

"We've already taken steps to encourage Parks Canada to change building requirements so we don't wind up with more combustible buildings."

Coun. Scott Wilson said people are aware that things have to change.

"Everybody feels it and on those hot, dry days, we really do start thinking about it." 

Wilson said wood had been the going concern for builders in previous decades, but as the town looks ahead to a hotter, more eventful climate future, reducing risk when building and landscaping is paramount.

The plan includes an education campaign — spreading the word to advise people which municipal buildings they can go during a heat wave or heavy smoke.  

The climate action plan also stems from a risk assessment plan that was compiled before the wildfire.

That report says Jasper is expected to get hotter in the coming years, alongside an increase in the number of extreme rainfall events, including freezing rain.

Wildfire risk will continue to be significant, the report said.

"Ideally, municipal staff, members of the Jasper Park Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Jasper, and other community organizations should work collaboratively to co-create a plan toward greater resilience that can realistically be implemented," the report said. 

The money to implement aspects of the plan will be allocated in future budgeting processes, the report says.