Jasper, Alberta, a forested mountain community beloved by locals and tourists alike, now stands as a stark reminder of nature’s power, and the strength of its close-knit community.
What was once a scenic, panoramic landscape is now 270 degrees of charred wilderness, the result of a series of wildfires spanning 32,000 hectares.
An estimated 25,000 people were forced to evacuate the national park on July 22, including roughly 5,000 residents of Jasper. Monika Glassford, born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, was one of them.
For Glassford, the disaster didn’t just stop with the flames—it invaded her home, leaving her life disrupted by both fire and asbestos contamination.
She is now faced with the emotional and financial task of rebuilding her life and replacing her belongings.
It was a regular shift at Jasper Brewing Company when Glassford’s friend called her, saying that she witnessed a forest fire south of the …