By Peter Shokeir, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Jasper Fitzhugh The Village of Valemount is accusing the British Columbia government of \u201cinaction\u201d for failing to provide financial relief for businesses impacted by the 2024 Jasper wildfire. Valemount Mayor Owen Torgerson described his experience lobbying his provincial government as \u201cfrustrating\u201d and emphasized how dire the economic situation was for his community. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen closures, whether that\u2019s temporary or permanent,\u201d Torgerson said. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen curtailment of hours. We\u2019re hearing of layoffs, so it\u2019s a mix [of situations]. The business community, regardless of what sector you\u2019re in, has been impacted immensely.\u201d Last summer, the Jasper wildfire forced thousands to evacuate to Valemount and closed regional highways. To mitigate the indirect impacts of the wildfire on local businesses, the Village is now seeking $1.5 million… <\/p>\n
By Peter Shokeir, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Jasper Fitzhugh The Village of Valemount is accusing the British Columbia government of \u201cinaction\u201d for failing to provide financial relief for businesses impacted by the 2024 Jasper wildfire. Valemount Mayor Owen Torgerson described his experience lobbying his provincial government as \u201cfrustrating\u201d and emphasized how dire the economic situation was for his community. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen closures, whether that\u2019s temporary or permanent,\u201d Torgerson said. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen curtailment of hours. We\u2019re hearing of layoffs, so it\u2019s a mix [of situations]. The business community, regardless of what sector you\u2019re in, has been impacted immensely.\u201d Last summer, the Jasper wildfire forced thousands to evacuate to Valemount and closed regional highways. To mitigate the indirect impacts of the wildfire on local businesses, the Village is now seeking $1.5 million... <\/p>\n