Anglican Community Reaches Out to Victims of Jasper Wildfire

Updated August 14, 2024

When 500-foot flames leapt toward mountain tops on July 23, there was little more firefighters, first responders, and Parks Canada employees could do to stop the wildfire from roaring through parts of the town of Jasper.

Pictures posted to social media on July 24, showed all that remained of the historic St. Mary and St. George Anglican Church, once a beautiful example of Gothic architecture, was a chimney stack and parts of the stone foundation. A sign on the church property that once welcomed visitors to Sunday worship, stood in stark contrast to its ashen surroundings.

“We are all heartbroken. There are no words,” said Bishop Stephen London in a letter confirming the sad news to the people of the Edmonton diocese. Incredibly, although it was later confirmed the fire had consumed one-third of the town, more than 20,000 residents and visitors had been safely evacuated.

“We are profoundly grateful for the people who put their lives on the line to fight the fire and ensure residents and visitors of the Jasper community were safely evacuated,” said Bishop London. 

Unfortunately, all but three members of the parish lost their homes, including those who resided in the Cabin Creek neighbourhood. Many ecumenical friends of the church, such as Jasper United Church, also lost homes and church buildings.

The Anglican community in Jasper has worshipped together since 1909, whether in a tent, box car, or log church, and, most recently in St. Mary’s and St. George’s church, which housed the local food bank and hosted community events and groups throughout the year.

“Please continue to uphold the community of Jasper and parish of St. Mary and St. George in prayer,” says Bishop London.

A Beloved Community

Today, the Rt. Rev. Julio C. Martin is the diocesan bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Southeastern Mexico, but in the fall of 2010, he had just moved to Jasper with his wife and their two-month-old son. 

“To say we were not impressed by the beauty of the landscape would be a lie. But to say we were overwhelmed by the love and care, and the genuine Christian warmth and welcome of our parishioners in St. Mary and St. George Parish is not an exaggeration,” he says.

“The now destroyed church building was indeed beautiful and, in many ways, unique (it was one of the only churches with the Arthurian legend told in its stained-glass windows), but the hearts of our Jasperites’ siblings in Christ do really harbour God's Kingdom on earth. It was not only my family who experienced being embraced by a Christian community. Every summer visitors from all over Canada and the world were impressed by the welcome they were offered by the small yet enormously devoted and committed group of parishioners who would make sure that Jasper -more than one of the most beautiful places on earth- is a place you can pray and praise in the Anglican tradition with one of the most beautiful families of the body of Christ.”

Retired Bishop Victoria Matthews says Jasper is different from any other town or parish she has known. 

“The memory of the town is dear to my heart, and the parish church of St. Mary and St. George was the parish I chose to attend on my last Sunday in the Edmonton Diocese before leaving for Christchurch, New Zealand. I would even say my initial experience of Jasper had the flavour of discovering Narnia. Now, however, because of the wildfire, much of that exquisite town, especially our beloved Anglican parish church, is gone. What is left is a mountain of memories, and a commitment to rebuild community. I do not doubt that will happen. The new town will be different, of course, but it will be authentically Jasper.

“As I recall the times I spent in Jasper, I especially remember a weekend with teenagers and young adults. We drove out from Edmonton. It was cold, around -30 degrees the whole weekend, yet we hiked, sang, prayed, studied scripture and attended church together. It was a formative time as it helped prepare the group for that summer's pilgrimage to Spain and France to walk the Camino and visit Taizé.

“It is my deep hope and prayer that whatever is built in the future will be as hospitable and welcoming as the Jasper of old. Remember, people are more important than even the most beautiful building, and community will happen wherever there are people of goodwill and a commitment to work together. Let us rebuild Jasper and give God the glory.”

People come from around the world to work in Jasper and many of the evacuees were new to Canada. Jasper Anglican Church parishioners had helped settle several hundred Ukrainian refugees displaced by war. 

Locally, nationally and internationally, there has been an outpouring of support for the Jasper Anglican community. 

“We are all devastated by the loss of St. Mary’s church in Jasper and want to support all those affected by the fire,” says Donna Wilkinson, a member of the “Crew of St. Mary’s Edgerton” (Dayspring Ministry) who, over the August Long Weekend, raised $2,800 for Jasper Anglican Church with their annual Lakeside Bake Sale.

Additionally, the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF) gave $5,000 to the Diocese of Edmonton for the Jasper Employment and Education Centre which is helping temporary foreign workers displaced by the fire. The diocese has also received $25,000 from an Order of the Society of St. John the Evangelist of Massachusetts for St. Mary’s and St. George’s parish.

Among the evacuees bussed to Edmonton were temporary foreign workers new to Canada. They were lodged in a downtown hotel and connected to social support through the Jasper Employment and Education Centre.

Every day, the centre receives between 50 and 100 clients, many of whom have been traumatised. All Saints’ Cathedral clergy heard the centre had a need for more space and offered to share the Cathedral Hall.

“Most temporary foreign workers come to Jasper from the Philippines or India as a pathway into Canada,” says Heidi Veluw, Jasper Employment and Education Centre. 

“This is a traumatised group who drove through hell and don’t know what the future holds. The thought of not being able to go back (because either their homes or livelihoods have been destroyed) to the only place in Canada they know is hard.”

Some employees of the Jasper Employment and Education Centre are temporary foreign workers and Veluw is “extremely grateful” to All Saints’ Cathedral for their hospitality. 

According to an update from Parks Canada earlier in the week, Jasper will be re-opened to its 5,000 residents on Friday, August 16. However, many people do not have homes and/or jobs to return to.

Individuals who would like to donate to the Jasper Anglican parish can do so online at https://edmonton.anglican.ca/ (select “Donate – Jasper Fire Fund”).

Donations in support of the local Jasper community can be made to the Caring Community Fund: www.jaspercommunityteamsociety.ca; or via the Canadian Red Cross: give.redcross.ca