'Disneyfication' Jasper? Park lovers cold toward Brewster's Icefieds Parkway plans

 By Stephen A. Nelson 

 People in Jasper used to say that the last thing that wanted was to be like Banff - now they've got something they want even less and fear more

When it comes to exploring the Canadian Rockies, Ben Gadd wrote the book. Literally.

The naturalist and independent master guide has published nine books helping trekkers to go into the wild, including the award-winning Handbook of the Canadian Rockies and The Canadian Hiker's and Backpacker's Handbook.

So when Gadd says that a new tourist attraction in the middle of a UNESCO World Heritage Site is a really bad idea  – in the order of turning Jasper National Park into Disneyland – people listen.

That's why scores of people in Jasper – business owners, residents, students alike – packed a meeting room on Monday night to listen to Gadd. Many of them added their fears and objections to the chorus of opposition, while one or two supporters took turns at singing a solo counterpoint.

The tourist attraction in question is Brewster Travel's proposed Glacier Discovery Walk, a 400-metre-long interpretative trail — bolted to the side of the mountain — and ending with an glass-floored observation deck that extends about 30 metres over the Sunwapta Valley and the river below. 

Brewster says it will draw urbanized, armchair explorers to discover their heritage and give them an enhanced visitor experience. “It’s about connecting Canadians back to their national parks," says Brewster president, Mike Hannan. “We think it will appeal to a broad cross-section of Canadians, young people, the elderly, immigrants."

Ben Gadd

But Gadd says the skywalk at Tangle Ridge — a highway viewpoint along the Jasper's Icefields Parkway – is not only unthinkable, it's unethical.  And far from enhancing the experience, it will offer a commercial artificial thrill in place of a free natural wonder.

"Cutting through the high-sounding talk about... better interpretation at the site, we are left with a ho-hum commercial amusement," that disturbs the wildlife Gadd says. And, he fears, "it might be a commercial amusement with a hidden agenda."

More later...

Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park, the Lawren Harris Group of Seven Way?

When Evening Falls

Photo By Stephen A. Nelson

A view of Maligne Lake, in Jasper National Park, at dusk. 

No special effects, FX, PhotoShop or CGI here.

Except for the boathouse, I imagine this is how Lawren Harris might have seen it when he came here.

I took this photo while leading a Japanese television crew on a tour of the Maligne Valley.

We followed up with dinner at the Kimchi House in Jasper - best Korean food this side of Seoul.

The Importance of Being Erica: Quantum Leap for Generation X needs to be touched by an 'angel'

Those who like it, like a lot... But the show - starring Jasper's own Erin Karpluk - is losing the ratings game to U.S. cop shows

You'd be tempted to call it dramatic irony. For the first time in three years, the time-travelling Erica Strange – heroine of the Being Erica chronicles – is not at a crossroads. There is no Sword of Damocles dangling over her head. Behind the next door there is neither tiger nor princess.

On the other hand, for Erin Karpluk – the elvish actress who gives life to Erica Strange – the opposite is true. Her career is at a crossroads and the network Norns at the CBC have yet to decide her fate. For Erin, the $64 million dollar question is,“Will the CBC renew the show and will she still explore the importance of Being Erica for another season?

Until now, this has been a no-brainer because “Those who like it, like it a lot.”

The made-in-Toronto series has won praise and awards from critics, a fiercely loyal following in Canada and hordes of fans overseas. Three reasons why Being Erica has been around for three seasons – even though those seasons have been truncated by the economic climate change at the CBC.

But does the girl who lives in the past also have a future?

(To be continued when I get an interview..)

http://www.cbc.ca/beingerica/