Rebuilding Jasper a ‘heavy burden’ for residents one year after the wildfire

About 200 Jasper residents, some quietly wiping away tears, gathered on Tuesday to commemorate the one-year anniversary of a wildfire that destroyed one-third of the picturesque mountain community.

Speakers at the ceremony, which included officials from all levels of government, Parks Canada and an Indigenous elder, focused on the resilience of Jasper residents. They also paid respect to Morgan Kitchen, a 24-year-old wildland firefighter who died while battling the blaze.