Every unit at Cavell Apartments, the largest staff accommodation housing complex in Jasper, is being treated for bed bugs after news that the insects have infected rooms there.

Cavell building manager Barry Gilbert said that the non-toxic desiccant treatment (desiccants kill bugs by sucking the moisture out of their bodies) was done as a preventative measure primarily, not as a way to kill off a large number of bugs.

“We have heard that there is a problem in Jasper and we wanted to do something to prevent it,” said Gilbert.

Despite the blanket spraying, he said the problems at Cavell had not reached infestation levels and were not substantial.

“This is the first time this has happened here,” said Gilbert when asked if the entire building had ever been treated in such a large scale fashion before. He said several years ago, one room in the complex was treated several times for bed bugs, but this is the first time in his history that the whole building has been treated.

“No units will be exempt from the treatment process,” stated a notice about bed bugs handed out by Cavell Management to residents there.

Gilbert said the actual spraying of the desiccant only takes about 10 to 15 minutes. While people probably won’t want to be in their apartments while it’s being used, people can return to their rooms as soon as the sprayers are out. Some however, chose to find other accommodation.

The chemical treatment should be completed by May 20, he said, and is being done by a professional exterminator and in-house staff.

He said the desiccant was non-toxic and should not harm people. It will hopefully kill the bugs and stop any spreading, he said.

The concern about bed bugs has prompted buildings near Cavell to take steps against the insects.

The newly opened MPL Place, the affordable housing complex across the street from Cavell, has also recently laid down preventative desiccants to fight off bed bugs. Exterminators doused furniture (particularly old looking furniture) and mattresses with the desiccant in the hopes of keeping the bugs out. Senior managers at Mountain Park Lodge are concerned that the problems at Cavell are so bad, they could spread to the new building.

Several residents of Cavell Apartments said on Monday (May 17) that while they knew about the spraying, they did not know anyone in the complex who had bed bugs.

Other residents at the building said that while the desiccant had coated their belongings somewhat with a fine white powder, overall, the process had not been an incredible burden.

Residents were given between 24 and 48 hours notice prior to the spraying at the Cavell Apartments. Some said  they had not been given adequate notice about the desiccant and were more angry that their apartments had been gone through on such short notice.

Gilbert said that planning for the desiccant spray went very quickly.

“I was really notified of this at the last minute. A lot of this went forwards with out me having anything to do with it. In part, that’s what happened,” said Gilbert.

Cavell Apartments is used as a staff accommodation housing for numerous hotels and restaurants around town. Turnover at the building is particularly high at the beginning of the winter and summer. 

Bed bugs, once thought to be eradicated, have made a resurgence in North America. They are reddish brown insects the size of a pencil erasure. While many don’t notice the bites, there are reports of individuals developing an allergic reaction to them, according to Alberta Health Services. Across the province, bed bugs have been found everywhere from five-star hotels to homeless shelters, and are difficult to remove once they reach infestation levels.