Help Rebuild Our Family's Lives After the Jasper Wildfire

Help Rebuild Our Family's Lives After the Jasper Wildfire

As we all know, Jasper has suffered an immense loss with the current and ongoing wildfire. I am creating this campaign to provide some semblance of financial stability to my immediate family who are displaced from their homes. My sister Ashley and brother-in-law Brian, along with my nephew Arlo and his dad Cliff, were evacuated safely, along with their animals and the few essentials they were able to safely get out with.

The Spirit of Jasper

Jasper is not just any town. It exists because of the spirit, heart, and genuine connectedness of the small community that resides there. The 4,500 residents call each other neighbor, friend, and family, pouring themselves daily into their communities by operating small businesses and creating secure employment for so many, volunteering with community organizations, collectively raising the next generation of community minded Jasperites, and fiercely protecting the park and its inhabitants (human and wildlife alike). They are the first to step up for anyone and everyone—from newly landed Canadians navigating a new home in Jasper to seasonal workers away from home for the first time, to team coaches, community dinner and foodbank leaders... the list is endless. Every piece of this community is united in caring for each other and those in need. As Mayor Ireland recently shared, “If there are homes for some, there is community for all.”, which has always been the case and will continue in ways that will be forever embedded in the spirit of Jasper moving forward.

Our Family's Situation

Ashley, Brian and Arlo: They are self-employed wedding photographers whose businesses were hit hard by COVID-19. They have worked tirelessly to stay in Jasper – creating new businesses to make ends meet and taking jobs in the service industry during tourist season to sustain themselves. Their main priority has always been to continue to raise Arlo in the only place he has ever known, along with his Dad who also had the incredible experience of being born and raised in Jasper. With Jasper having a significantly higher cost of living than much of the province, they have made it work up to this point. Although their home is still standing, the power and water have been shut off, leading to potential damage, loss of refrigerated and frozen food, as well as unknown expenses from being displaced – time will remain unknown as they wait to hear from officials. Their business, reliant on weddings and events, will take time to recover, and traditional support like unemployment insurance is not likely going to be made available for self-employed individuals. We will see what comes for them on this front.

Cliff and Arlo: Cliff received confirmation that his and Arlo’s home was lost in the fire. They were living in a rental unit they lovingly transformed into their long-term home. Without tenant insurance, they have suffered significant losses. While Cliff has a supportive work situation, losing everything makes his future in Jasper especially precarious. Cliff deserves so much in this world and his entire life has been to prioritize the safest, most encouraging, playful and carefree childhood for Arlo. The way Cliff has created a life for Arlo that emulates all of the best parts of his childhood in Jasper has formed one of the most curious, kindest, inspired young kids I have ever known.

How You Can Help

With all the aid that will help those to rebuild their lost homes and businesses, it will be a drop in the bucket in the financial recovery for those returning to Jasper. As a town that relies so heavily on the financial impact of a bustling tourism season to sustain them through shoulder months, every single person will be hit with unfathomable financial burden.

This brings me here, to GoFundMe, to ask my community and network to help me develop a future for my family so they can return to help their neighbors rebuild their homes and to give them time to see business return to Jasper in order to support themselves.

I will do everything I can to ensure that they can stay in the town that has held them through everything, where their hearts can recover with those fighting to rebuild as well. Arlo deserves to continue his childhood in the only home he has ever known, with the most important people he will ever know.

Any funds raised here will be sparingly used for essentials for my family, and every other dollar will be put aside for other families in need.

Ashley, Brian, Arlo, and Cliff are so endlessly grateful for the outpouring of love and support from each of you and I can assure you they will dedicate their lives to paying it forward to all who may need it.

Sending love to each person that makes up the heartbeat of Jasper. Forever the best place on earth.