Jasper, Alberta

Jasper is a specialized municipality in western Alberta, Canada. It is the commercial centre of Jasper National Park, located in the Canadian Rockies within the Athabasca River valley. Jasper is approximately 362 kilometres (225 mi) west of Edmonton and 290 kilometres (180 mi) north of Banff, Alberta, at the intersection of Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway) and Highway 93 (Icefields Parkway).

For other uses, see Jasper (disambiguation).
Jasper
Specialized municipality
Municipality of Jasper
Train and elk in Jasper
Location within Alberta
Coordinates: 52°52′23″N 118°04′56″W
Country Canada
Province Alberta
RegionAlberta's Rockies
Census division15
Founded1813
Incorporated [1]
 - Improvement district 
August 31, 1995
 - Specialized municipalityJuly 20, 2001
Government
 • MayorRichard Ireland
 • Governing bodiesJasper Municipal Council and Parks Canada
 • CAOMark Fercho
 • MPJim Eglinski
 • MLAEric Rosendahl
Area
 (2016)[3]
 • Land924.06 km2 (356.78 sq mi)
Elevation1,060 m (3,480 ft)
Population
 (2016)[3]
 • Total4,590
 • Density5/km2 (10/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Postal code span
T0E
Area code(s)+1-780, +1-587
Highways
WaterwaysAthabasca River
Miette River
RailwaysCanadian National Railway
Websitejasper-alberta.com

The Municipality of Jasper, comprising the Jasper townsite known as the Town of Jasper[5] and a surrounding rural service area,[6] was established as a specialized municipality on July 20, 2001.[5] Governance is shared between the municipality and the federal Parks Canada agency.[7]

History

Established in 1813, Jasper House was first a North West Company, and later Hudson's Bay Company, fur trade outpost on the York Factory Express trade route to what was then called "New Caledonia" (now British Columbia), and Fort Vancouver on the lower Columbia River.[8]

Jasper National Park was established in 1907. The railway siding at the location of the future townsite was established by Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in 1911 and originally named Fitzhugh after a Grand Trunk vice president[9] (along the Grand Trunk's "alphabet" line). The Canadian Northern Railway began service to Fitzhugh in 1912.[10] The townsite was surveyed in 1913 by H. Matheson.[10] It was renamed Jasper after the former fur trade post. An internment camp was set up at Dominion Park in Jasper from February 1916 to August 1916.[11]

By 1931, Jasper was accessible by road from Edmonton, and in 1940 the scenic Icefields Parkway opened, connecting Lake Louise and Jasper.

Geography
Downtown Jasper

Jasper is located in the Athabasca River valley, at the confluence with Miette River. It lies between the Victoria Cross Ranges (northwest), Pyramid Mountain (north), Maligne Range (southeast) and Indian Ridge (southwest).

Jasper is connected to the west via the Yellowhead Highway and the Yellowhead Pass to Prince George and to the east to Edmonton. Toward the south, the Icefields Parkway leads to Banff and Banff National Park.

Located near Jasper are Pyramid Lake and Patricia Lake, as well as Lake Annette, Lake Edith, Lac Beauvert, Maligne Lake, Medicine Lake and other smaller lakes. The Jasper Skytram, which takes visitors to The Whistlers' summit, and the Marmot Basin ski resort are located near the town, as is the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. The Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Archives is located in the Jasper town site, as is the Jasper Visitor Centre.

Climate

Jasper experiences a borderline Humid Continental/Subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb/Dfc). The highest temperature ever recorded in Jasper was 36.7 °C (98 °F) on 16 July 1941.[12] The coldest temperature ever recorded was −47.2 °C (−53 °F) on 24 January 1916.[13]

Summers in Jasper are pleasant, with daily highs usually around 21.1 °C (70 °F) and lows around 7.2 °C (45 °F). Winters are cold, though may be considered mild by Canadian standards, with daily highs around -2.2 °C (28 °F) and lows around -11.7 °C (11 °F), with some nights dipping below zero.

Climate data for Jasper, 1981−2010 normals, extremes 1914−present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 13.3
(55.9)		 16.5
(61.7)		 20.8
(69.4)		 26.5
(79.7)		 30.4
(86.7)		 34.5
(94.1)		 36.7
(98.1)		 35.0
(95.0)		 32.8
(91.0)		 27.2
(81.0)		 18.0
(64.4)		 15.0
(59.0)		 36.7
(98.1)
Average high °C (°F) −3.3
(26.1)		 −0.4
(31.3)		 5.7
(42.3)		 10.9
(51.6)		 16.1
(61.0)		 19.6
(67.3)		 21.9
(71.4)		 21.7
(71.1)		 16.7
(62.1)		 10.0
(50.0)		 0.4
(32.7)		 −4.7
(23.5)		 9.6
(49.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) −8.0
(17.6)		 −5.8
(21.6)		 −0.4
(31.3)		 4.5
(40.1)		 9.4
(48.9)		 13.1
(55.6)		 15.2
(59.4)		 14.6
(58.3)		 10.0
(50.0)		 4.4
(39.9)		 −4.0
(24.8)		 −9.1
(15.6)		 3.6
(38.5)
Average low °C (°F) −12.7
(9.1)		 −11.2
(11.8)		 −6.5
(20.3)		 −2.0
(28.4)		 2.6
(36.7)		 6.6
(43.9)		 8.4
(47.1)		 7.4
(45.3)		 3.2
(37.8)		 −1.3
(29.7)		 −8.3
(17.1)		 −13.5
(7.7)		 −2.3
(27.9)
Record low °C (°F) −47.2
(−53.0)		 −43.3
(−45.9)		 −36.7
(−34.1)		 −28.9
(−20.0)		 −17.8
(0.0)		 −6.7
(19.9)		 −3.4
(25.9)		 −3.0
(26.6)		 −12.2
(10.0)		 −28.7
(−19.7)		 −38.8
(−37.8)		 −43.9
(−47.0)		 −47.2
(−53.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 23.4
(0.92)		 14.3
(0.56)		 16.8
(0.66)		 19.7
(0.78)		 31.1
(1.22)		 51.0
(2.01)		 63.8
(2.51)		 64.5
(2.54)		 33.7
(1.33)		 30.5
(1.20)		 24.4
(0.96)		 19.5
(0.77)		 392.6
(15.46)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 6.1
(0.24)		 3.8
(0.15)		 6.2
(0.24)		 13.2
(0.52)		 30.4
(1.20)		 50.4
(1.98)		 63.8
(2.51)		 64.6
(2.54)		 32.2
(1.27)		 23.1
(0.91)		 9.4
(0.37)		 2.2
(0.09)		 305.2
(12.02)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 23.9
(9.4)		 14.7
(5.8)		 15.0
(5.9)		 8.1
(3.2)		 0.75
(0.30)		 0.57
(0.22)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 2.5
(1.0)		 9.3
(3.7)		 20.8
(8.2)		 24.4
(9.6)		 120.0
(47.2)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 10.6 7.9 8.1 8.9 11.1 13.9 14.1 14.7 10.5 9.8 10.4 9.6 129.6
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 1.7 1.5 2.6 6.0 10.9 13.9 14.1 14.7 10.0 7.7 2.9 0.8 86.9
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 9.9 7.1 6.8 4.1 0.73 0.07 0.0 0.0 0.60 2.7 8.4 9.5 49.9
Mean monthly sunshine hours 71.7 98.4 164.4 199.6 227.1 226.1 251.5 237.3 177.2 131.0 71.8 56.5 1,912.5
Percent possible sunshine 28.2 35.5 44.8 47.8 46.4 44.8 49.6 51.9 46.4 39.7 27.4 23.7 40.5
Source: Environment Canada[12][14][15]

Demographics
The Jasper Information Centre

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Municipality of Jasper recorded a population of 4,590 living in 1,576 of its 1,702 total private dwellings, a change of 3.6% from its 2011 population of 4,432. With a land area of 924.06 km2 (356.78 sq mi), it had a population density of 5.0/km2 (12.9/sq mi) in 2016.[3]

In the 2011 Census, the Municipality of Jasper had a population of 4,051 living in 1,399 of its 1,615 total dwellings, a change of -5% from its 2006 population of 4,265.[16] Statistics Canada subsequently amended the 2011 census results to record a population of 4,432 living in 1,606 of its 1,819 total dwellings, a change of 3.9% from 2006.[17] With a land area of 925.52 km2 (357.35 sq mi), its population density was 4.8/km2 (12.4/sq mi) in 2011.[16][17]

Municipality of Jasper population breakdown – 2011 municipal census[18][19]
Component Permanent
population		 Shadow
population		 Total
population
Town of Jasper unpublished 4,152
Rural service area unpublished 1,084
Total Municipality of Jasper 4,584 652 5,236

The population of the Municipality of Jasper according to its 2011 municipal census is 5,236,[18] a change of 10.3% over its 2008 municipal census population of 4,745.[20] Jasper's 2011 population of 5,236 comprises 4,584 permanent and 652 non-permanent residents,[18] while its 2007 census counted 4,235 permanent and 510 non-permanent residents.[20]

Transportation
Jasper railway station, seen from Connaught Drive
Two Goldleaf double-deck panorama cars of the Rocky Mountaineer in the station of Jasper

Jasper railway station is served by Via Rail with two passenger services. The Canadian and the Jasper–Prince Rupert train both operate three times per week.[21]

Jasper Airport is located 7.2 nautical miles (13.3 km; 8.3 mi) north of Jasper.

Education

Jasper's educational services are provided by:

Grande Yellowhead Public School Division No. 77

Greater North Central Francophone Education Region No. 2

Main article: Greater North Central Francophone Education Region No. 2
  • École Desrochers (K–12)

Media

Newspapers

Radio

Frequency Call sign Branding Format Owner Notes
FM 92.3 CJAG-FM The Lone Wolf Active rock Athabasca Hotel
FM 95.5 CFXP-FM Real Country West Country music Stingray Group Rebroadcaster of CFXE-FM (Edson)
FM 98.1 CBXJ-FM CBC Radio One Talk radio, public radio Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Rebroadcaster of CBX (Edmonton)

Television

OTA channel Call sign Network Notes
11 (VHF) CFRN-TV-11 CTV Rebroadcaster of CFRN-DT (Edmonton)

Notable residents

Sister city relations

See also

References
  1. Alberta Municipal Affairs (2010-09-17). "Municipal Profile – Municipality of Jasper". Retrieved 2010-10-02.
  2. "Municipal Officials Search". Alberta Municipal Affairs. September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  3. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  4. "Alberta Private Sewage Systems 2009 Standard of Practice Handbook: Appendix A.3 Alberta Design Data (A.3.A. Alberta Climate Design Data by Town)" (PDF) (PDF). Safety Codes Council. January 2012. pp. 212–215 (PDF pages 226–229). Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  5. "Order in Council 279/2001" (PDF). Government of Alberta. 2001-07-24. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  6. "Jasper Sustainable Community Plan" (PDF). Municipality of Jasper and Parks Canada. September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-05-21. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  7. Municipality of Jasper Archived 2013-05-02 at the Wayback Machine - Governance
  8. Parks Canada - Jasper House National Historic Site Archived 2012-09-10 at Archive.today
  9. "Jasper Alberta Information Centre History".
  10. Lothian, W.F. (1987). A Brief History of Canada's National Parks. Environment Canada.
  11. "Internment Camps in Canada during the First and Second World Wars, Library and Archives Canada".
  12. "Jasper, Alberta". Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010. Environment Canada. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  13. "Daily Data Report for January 1916". Canadian Climate Data. Environment Canada. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  14. "Jasper". Canadian Climate Data. Environment Canada. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  15. "Jasper Warden". Canadian Climate Data. Environment Canada. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  16. "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, and census subdivisions (municipalities), 2011 and 2006 censuses (Alberta)". Statistics Canada. 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  17. "Corrections and updates". Statistics Canada. August 13, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  18. "2011 Municipal Affairs Population List" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. 2010-10-05. Retrieved 2011-12-12.
  19. "Municipality of Jasper Regular Meeting Agenda, Tuesday, September 6, 2011 (Agenda Item 7.1)" (PDF). Municipality of Jasper. 2011-09-06. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 21, 2013. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  20. "2010 Official Population List" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. 2010-09-15. Retrieved 2011-12-12.
  21. Via Rail. "Jasper station". Retrieved 2007-06-22.
  22. NHL Players from Jasper, Alberta | QuantHockey.com Retrieved on March 19, 2011
  23. "Loni Klettl". Team Canada - Official Olympic Team Website. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  24. "Sister City". Archived from the original on 15 August 2009. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
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