Ireland has been a resident of the beloved Rockies resort town for his whole life and its mayor since 2001. He knows the unquantifiable costs of such climate disasters all too well: three generations lived in his white bungalow, memories now reduced to ash. He also understands why the blaze broke hearts the world over. Former tourists flooded social media with their picturesque snaps this past summer, even as Jasperites scoured their feeds for signs their properties were still standing.
With re-entry now under way, Ireland has an Everestian task ahead of him: keeping community morale afloat as the cold sets in. He knows that the fire could burn in the park for months, that recovery could take years, and that, with one lightning strike, it could all happen again.
This won't come close to doing justice to what you've lived through, but: I'm so sorry for your loss. How are your spirits today?
Well, they're always buoyed by comments like yours. So many people share our pain. That outpouring is helpful for my spirits and, I'm sure, for the residents of Jasper.
You were visiting your son's farm just north of Calgary when Jasper was evacuated. Do you remember the moment you found out the fire had reached town?
Vividly. Christine Nadon, our director of legislative and protective services, and her counterpart from Parks Canada were briefing us via Zoom from the downtown fire hall when the fire "impinged on the community." Those were the words they chose. Before the call, they said they could see a wall of flames. Embers were flying through the air and landing on roofs. At one point, the Parks Canada incident commander got up and left the screen, then came back and said, "Christine-" [Ireland starts to cry.]
Take your time.
This story is from the October 2024 edition of Maclean's.
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This story is from the October 2024 edition of Maclean's.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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