There are opportunities for Jasper to further engage visitors and put them at the heart of tourism, according to two experts who presented an experiential tourism workshop in Jasper last week.

Putting the customer at the heart of tourism guarantees them an authentic experience and positions your business for success, said Nancy Arsenault, who spoke from her Victoria home via video conference.

There was a car crash. The driver was drunk. The passenger was severely injured and the person in the backseat was pronounced dead on the scene.

The driver was arrested. The passenger later died in the hospital.

Jail time for disqualified driving

Doulton Nachtegaele received a 30-day jail sentence and a $3,450 fine for driving while disqualified. The Edmonton resident was stopped outside the Athabasca Hotel on March 14. He did not have a driver’s license and failed a roadside screening device test.  Nachtegaele is also prohibited from driving in Canada for three years. The 23-year-old has two previous driving convictions, including one in 2012 for dangerous operation of a vehicle in North Battleford, Sask.

Stand up against homophobia

Under the newly raised pride flag waving over town to celebrate International Day Against Homophobia, OUT Jasper is hosting its fifth annual barbecue on May 17.

Pedal happy cyclists at auction

Patrons pedaled away happy after the Lions Club’s 39th annual bike auction on Saturday, May 11.

Stark to scale Great Wall marathon

Local runner Kim Stark will climb 5,164 steps into history this weekend when she competes in China’s Great Wall marathon. 

A triumphant return

Greg Van Tighem was scheduled to arrive home from his 2,700 km solo bike ride yesterday, May 15.

Recent changes to the temporary foreign worker program could negatively affect Jasper’s businesses. Like, the Other Paw and Bear’s Paw bakeries, which both depend heavily on the program for reliable employees.

“Plain and simple my business would not exist or survive if I did not have foreign workers,” said owner Kim Stark. “I honestly, truly try my best to recruit Canadians for jobs at my store, but Canadians do not apply. They do not want to work as a night shift baker, nor as a full-time, year-round barista.”