Love for Jasper: An outpouring of grief for a place that has touched many Albertans

The wildfire thatripped through Jasper National Park and the Town of Jasper this week has caused acute grief for those who've lost homes, businesses and livelihoods.

But there's a secondary lossfor the many people in this province who love the place, andfor whom Jasper holds a multitude of memories.

Kristin Heimbecker is one of those. She grew up in Fort McMurray; when she moved to Edmonton she discovered Jasper as a breath of fresh air and escape from the city.

"Jasper just feels like coming home....To experience the peace and calm that it brings has just beenjust such a gift to us," said Heimbecker, whosurprised herself at how emotional she felt hearing news of the fire this week. Sheposted photos with her favourite memories on social media and invited others to do so, too.

During COVID, her family would make the four-hour drive from Edmonton to Jasper for day-hikes. Their favourite is Valley of the Five Lakes, a routeshe hopes has remaineduntouched by the blaze.

Heimbeckeris also worriedfortown residents. Having friends and family who lived through the2016 Fort McMurrayfire, she knows how long it can take for a community to rebuild, even for those whose homes are still standing.

"This is a long road ahead of them.I've seen it."

Latest figures from Jasper National Park officials on Friday show that 32 per cent of all structures in the townsite were destroyed.Of the 1,113 total structures within the town, 358 were destroyed.

Most of the destruction occurred on the west side of the municipality, and critical infrastructureincluding the hospital, schools, activity centre and wastewater treatment plant were saved, said Parks Canada officials.

Gardening expert Kath Smythwas scheduled to go on CBC's call-in show Alberta at Noonon Friday to take questions on plant health and pruning. When the show pivoted to focus on the Jasper wildfires, hermemories of the place were top of mind.

"Jasper just entranced me," she said. Workingin Jasper as a chambermaid to put herself through university, Smyth said she saw her first elk in the townsite and was surprised by a bear on her way home one night.

Smyth said she was relieved when she saw a post on social media asserting that the famous Jasper the Bear statue had made it through the fire unscathed, a claim CBC News has been unable to independently verify.

A now widely shared photo posted to Facebook by Edmonton resident Gord Stewart shows Jasper in the evening light, a snap Stewart captured on a previous trip to the town. He said he decided to share the photo when he saw what he thought was the statue in the background of a live newscast from Jasper after the wildfires this week.

More news on whether that landmark an emotional touchstone for many alongside others have survived,has Albertans waiting on the edge of their seats.

Calgary resident BlaineHarris called into the radio show to share a memory of visiting Jasper as a child and being stunned at the whirlpool on the Athabasca River. PhilLefevbre, from Edmonton,shared memories of their family cabin on Edith Lake. He still doesn't know if it made it through the fire, and if they'll be allowed to rebuild if it didn't.

"Marvellous memories. It's a beautiful place. It's so beautiful because it hasn't become this huge city ...that's what I love about Jasper," said Valerie Tootoosis Bull, who was born in Medicine Hat and was listening to the radio show from Saskatchewan. She also fell in love with Jasper when she worked in a hotelas a student.

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When people talk about why they love Jasper, they talk about it's massive trees andpristine lakes, the hiking, skiingand gorgeous mountain views. They talk about way the feel when they are out surrounded by all that beauty.

But they also talk about the community in the town itself, and the history of the place as seen through its buildings an impressionnot so straightforward to rebuild.

That's what Calgary resident Jenn Pole is worried about. She grew up in Grande Prairie and married her husband David in Jasper at Tekarra Lodge in 2008. They stayed in the old cabins andhad an outdoor ceremony thattheir dogtook part in. Every year in September on their anniversary, they return to the town.

"The people are so friendly. It's the sense of community.Even if you weren'tfrom there,the locals always made you feel like you were part of Jasper. You would go out to the club or a restaurant, and you were part of the community. You never felt like an outsider," she said.

"You just woke up and there were these beautiful views. There's no drive-thrus. You walk past theselittle wooden shops, and homemade croissants and all these different smells."

Later on Friday, Pole saw a Instagrampost from Tekarra Lodge confirming some of the cabins andthemain building were lost in the flames.

"It was a certain kind of feeling when you [stayed in]those old cabins," she said. "And you can't rebuild the feeling of the old trees as you sit by the river. You can get that back overnight."

That said, Pole added she and her husband plan to return to the lodgewhen its reopened.

The Canadian Red Cross and others are raising money to help evacuees. OnAlberta at Noon, Red Cross senior manager Melissa Fougere said the easiest way for someone to give is to text ABFIRESto45678 and they'll automatically give a $10 donation.

People can also call 1-800-418-1111or donate online at redcross.ca.

Frequent caller and Edmonton resident PrakashMullick reached out to say he donated because he wanted to help in some way.He's 84 and has fond memories of visiting the park. He feels a strong connection to the people affected by the wildfire.

"We are all part of the Canadian family and if one is hurting, it's hurting all Canadians," he said. "If a family member is in difficulty, it's our duty to help. We should forget about our differences. The fire doesn't discriminate."