Peter Shokeir | [email protected]
A Canadian icon has reached its 75th birthday, and the town of Jasper has already begun to celebrate this landmark occasion.
Created by cartoonist James Simpkins, Jasper the Bear first appeared in 1948 as a nameless panel in Maclean’s magazine.
Jasper the Bear was later adopted as the mascot of Jasper National Park in 1962.
“Since James’s passing, we have had control of respecting and ensuring the legacy of Jasper the Bear and James’s work as the copyright owner of that image,” said Pattie Pavlov, executive director of the Jasper Park Chamber of Commerce.
“So, we work really hard to make sure that James’s work is respected and yet at the same time that people enjoy Jasper the Bear for who he is.”
As for why this mascot has remained so popular after all these years, Pavlov speculated that his playful nature might have something to do with it.
“He is always up to some kind of shenanigans, and at the same time, he’s generally making statements about [the] environment and how important it is to preserve the environment,” she said.
“He was one of the very first environmentalists, in that sense, wanting to protect the park, the flora, the fauna, all of that.”
A statue of Jasper the Bear can be found near the Visitor Information Centre. Due to the constant freeze and thaw of the seasons, the statue will soon be due for a replacement.
The original statue was located near the rail station, but after it was vandalized, it was moved up to the Jasper SkyTram.
Children of all ages and even some adults with fond memories of the mascot from years back often go get their photos taken in front of one of these statues and learn to associate the character with Jasper National Park.
Many local stores carry merchandise featuring the character, and Jasper the Bear himself is often booked to make an appearance at events ranging from the Jasper Pride Festival to Jasper Curling Club tournaments.
“He skis, he snowboards, hangs out at the tram, hangs out at the lodge, he horseback rides . . . he’s all over the place,” Pavlov added.
Birthday celebrations are already underway, with one notable event being an open-entry community art exhibit that ran in March at the Jasper Art Gallery.
As the copyright owner, the chamber had granted authority to the artists so they could offer their own unique take of Jasper the Bear and sell their artwork at the gallery.
The exhibit received over 40 submissions, with Pavlov describing it as “highly successful and highly visited.”
Jasper the Bear’s community birthday party is scheduled for July 7 at Commemoration Park.
The family-oriented event will feature games, face painting, storytelling, dancing and Jasper the Bear’s mascot friends will be there as well.
Over 300 people attended his 65th birthday party over a decade ago, and the chamber is accepting a similar turnout.
As more people participate in events and book Jasper the Bear for appearances, it is clear that people are latching on to his 75th birthday.
“But I think it has also awakened the spirit of Jasper the Bear, too,” Pavlov said.
“His whole legacy, what he stands for and how he is our community mascot, I think people have woken up to that now, and the birthday was kind of that catalyst, so I expect him to be an even busier bear than usual for the rest of this year and into next.”
This article originally appeared in Peak Jasper, the Fitzhugh’s annual business magazine. Check out the digital version online, or request your own copies for your home or business at [email protected]
