Jasper. For many Canadians, this mountain town holds a special place in our hearts. We’ve cherished countless memories there: ski trips, road trips, camping adventures, even weddings and engagements. It’s been a particularly special place for our Alair Alberta team, spending many a late night fostering friendships and sipping Old Fashioned’s by the fire, and many mornings with a JPL Caesar in hand during our Partner retreats.
When the wildfires devastated Jasper earlier this summer, time stood still. Nothing compares to the shock and tragedy that Jasperites experienced as they fled their homes – where their own memories were made – with few belongings and those that matter most: their families.
The BILD Awards in November sparked a sense of renewal, hope, and energy in the Alberta construction community, as we came together as a collective industry in Jasper at the historic Jasper Park Lodge, a magical place largely spared from the events just a few short months before. As a team, and as an industry, we began to make new memories in a town that has been the creator of so many for all of us. Like walking lakeside with a steaming cup of coffee after the first snowfall of the season. For many of us – located in Edmonton, Red Deer, and Calgary – that first snowfall is magical, and nothing compares to enjoying it surrounded by the majestic Rocky Mountains that make us feel so small in comparison.
Walking lakeside, we realized that as builders, it’s impossible to think of Jasper without drawing upon the uncanny similarities between the Rockies and our industry.
Both a carefully constructed, architecturally-designed home, and the Rockies evoke a sense of awe, wonder, and significance. A majestic cathedral, like the recently restored Notre Dame in Paris, are just as majestic and impressive as towering Mount Edith Cavell. And both draw a sense of optimism and hope for what’s to come.
The mountains significantly impact their surroundings: shaping local climate, creating valleys and rivers, and influencing plant and animal life. Similarly, the beautifully crafted homes showcased at the BILD awards shape urban landscapes, influences social interactions, and impacts the environment – offering a cohesive and harmonic marriage of form and function.
Though the Rockies seem to be trapped in a moment in time that supercedes us, they’re constantly being shaped by weather, tectonic activity, and erosion. While more static, architecture and construction too, is constantly evolving with new technologies, materials, and design philosophies that innovate, challenge, and inspire our work.
The Rockies serve as a source of inspiration to artists, photographers, writers, and thinkers – the grandeur of the mountains serving as inspiration for countless pieces of art, while innovative buildings and architecture push the boundaries of human creativity – creating ART in their own communities. And, like the fire that nearly destroyed the Notre Dame Cathedral five years ago, from devastation comes community, and from community – artistry and collaboration are born.
As Jasper begins the painstaking process of rebuilding, as builders, we are fueled by the perseverance, dedication, and heartwarming hospitality of the people of Jasper, who are steadfast in their commitment to rebuilding their town and the national park so many of us hold close to our hearts. The message from the municipality of Jasper was loud and clear: Jasper is open and ready to welcome you this winter season, to inject hope, joy, and to create lasting new memories with your family and friends. We’ll see you there.
The post The Unforgettable Spirit of Jasper: A Tribute to Resilience & Renewal appeared first on Edmonton.