July 2025

12 Month Update

As we mark one year since the Jasper Wildfire Complex, the Jasper Community Team Society (JCTS) is reflecting on a year of transformation, resilience, and community connection. Since receiving an outpouring of support from across the country and beyond, the Society has taken deliberate steps to ensure every dollar entrusted to us supports long-term community recovery and well-being.

Financial Stewardship & Fund Distribution

Following the wildfire, the JCTS Board developed a three-year funding strategy, implemented at the beginning of 2025, to guide the responsible allocation of donated funds. As of this update, over $400,000 has been released to Community Outreach Services (COS), with distribution ongoing. In keeping with our guiding principle—support as a last resort when all other avenues are exhausted—these funds are helping those who continue to face barriers in the wake of the wildfire.

Since September 2024, COS has distributed nearly $500,000 from the Banff Canmore Rocky Mountain Community Relief Fund and over $80,000 from the Rural Development Network to address housing challenges. In fall 2025, the JCTS, in partnership with COS and the Jasper Recovery Coordination Committee (JRCC), will review and refine its funding strategy to ensure ongoing alignment with community needs.

Board Transitions

The JCTS Board has also undergone significant renewal. At our Annual General Meeting in May, we said farewell—and extended heartfelt gratitude—to outgoing members: Brooke Ereth, Chelsea McBride, Christina Richards, Erin Toop, Jayde Melendez-Duke, Kevin Russell, and Nancy Robbins. These individuals played a pivotal role in our wildfire response, often while managing their own personal challenges.

We are pleased to welcome new Board members: Alex Monk, Magda Mahler and Nadine McIsaac. We are also grateful that Ashley Kliewer, Brooklyn Rushton, Lindsey Gartner and Pamela Clarke have remained with us. This newly formed team brings a broad range of skills and experiences to guide the JCTS forward. Their current priorities include strategic planning, responding to emerging community needs, and completing a financial audit in compliance with CRA requirements.

Operational Capacity & Programming

In March, JCTS welcomed its first Executive Director, Tristan Tomkins. Tristan brings local knowledge, professional experience, and compassionate leadership to the organization. He has hit the ground running—meeting with partners, representing JCTS at local fundraisers and events, and helping to shape organizational priorities.

Working closely with long-time administrator Julie Des Becquets, Tristan has supported several community initiatives, including:

  • Cinnamon Bear Picnic

  • Yoga in the Park

  • JCTS Jasper Recovery Grants

Partnership Highlights

Banff Canmore Foundation – JCTS Jasper Recovery Grants

We are deeply grateful to our partners at the Banff Canmore Foundation, whose collaboration has been instrumental in supporting the Jasper Community Team Society during this time of significant change.

In partnership with the JCTS, through the Rocky mountain Community Relief Fund, BCF has released over $500,000.

The collaborative spirit of wildfire recovery is reflected in our partnerships through the Jasper Tourism Recovery and Prosperity Fund, resulting in several marquee initiatives:

Rocky Mountaineer – Outdoor Classroom

The JCTS and Rocky Mountaineer is partnered to contribute $85,000, towards a project that will help local schools build an outdoor classroom—a safe, inclusive space for healing, learning, and connection. It will support emotional recovery and strengthen the school community’s sense of stability.

Pursuit – Pathfinders Program

The JCTS was excited to recommend to our partners at Pursuit the Pathfinders project. Created by the JRCC, Pathfinders is a peer-led mental wellness network that provides community members with training in areas such as Mental Health First Aid and suicide prevention to support recovery.

The JCTS remains committed to evolving with the needs of our community. Recovery is not linear, and our role is to provide stability, flexibility, and responsive support as Jasper continues to rebuild and thrive.

We are deeply grateful to every partner, donor, and supporter who has contributed to this journey—from local residents and organizations to those who’ve been touched by Jasper’s beauty from afar.

We look forward to continuing this work, guided by our values and powered by our community. Thank you for your continued support of the Jasper Community Team Society. 

Looking Ahead

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The Jasper Community Team Society (JCTS) is a registered charity in Jasper, Alberta, dedicated to raising funds to help residents overcome challenges to their well-being. Since 2004, the JCTS has provided direct financial support to Jasper residents through the Caring Community Fund, which is available through Community Outreach Services. Residents searching for support can access these funds by visiting Community Outreach Services. Click here, for more information about our vision and mission.

  • Through a strong partnership, the JCTS and Community Outreach Services work together towards a shared goal of ensuring that Jasper residents can access support to overcome barriers to their well-being. The JCTS focuses on fundraising and making funds available, while Community Outreach Services serves as the central place for social support in the community to distribute funds directly to Jasper residents. 

    When a Jasper resident faces challenges, Community Outreach Services employees help individuals explore available resources, including government aid, insurance, and support from organizations like the Canadian Red Cross. The JCTS funds are only accessed when all other funding sources have been exhausted.

  • In the days after the wildfire, the JCTS’s volunteer board quickly launched a fundraising effort to assist the community’s long-term recovery beyond immediate relief efforts. Since then, the JCTS has raised over $1.7 million to directly support residents in overcoming challenges to their well-being through Community Outreach Services. Now, as a dedicated local advocate and registered charitable organization, the JCTS continues to focus on fundraising to support Jasper’s long-term recovery, ensuring support remains available for years to come. 

  • Recovery after a wildfire is a long-term process. The JCTS is committed to ongoing support, helping residents navigate challenges long after immediate relief efforts and insurance payments have ended. The JCTS will continue to advocate for community needs, raise funds, and provide resources to support Jasper’s recovery for years to come.

  • Community Outreach Services will help you understand your options through organizations such as the Government of Alberta, the Canadian Red Cross, and the Banff Canmore Foundation. These organizations provided immediate relief after the wildfire and continue to do so.

    To learn more about immediate relief support available, please click here.

  • If you are in immediate emergency healthcare need, call 911. For housing, financial aid, mental health, and crisis support, you can find additional resources on the Municipality of Jasper website.

  • To date, the JCTS has raised over $1.7 million and released $504,717.14 to support wildfire recovery efforts in Jasper.

    The JCTS remains committed to continually fundraising to ensure ongoing support for the community's long-term recovery.

  • To access funds, please schedule an appointment with Community Outreach Services.

    Support is available through:

    • Visit: Community Outreach Services located at 627 Patricia Street or visit the Activity Centre at 303 Bonhomme Street.

  • The JCTS is legally required to distribute funds through qualified organizations that align with our mission, like Community Outreach Services. As a registered charity, the JCTS cannot provide funds directly to individuals but ensures support reaches those in need through our partnership with Community Outreach Services.

  • The JCTS serves as a secondary advisor for these funds. Fund distribution follows a formal process led by the Banff Canmore Foundation and the donors themselves, which is still being developed based on community needs. The JCTS continues to work with these organizations, and further updates will be shared once available. You can read more about these funds here.