Jasper approaches two-year claims deadline, gives recovery update

Interim housing at Marmot Meadows, south of the Jasper townsite. 738 individuals are currently in the interim housing program, according to the Jasper Recovery Coordination Centre./Photo courtesy of The Canadian Press

The Municipality of Jasper, Alta., says it will work to ensure residents are aware of the looming deadline to file any insurance claims for wildfire damages.

Under the Alberta Insurance Act, policyholders have two years to file insurance claims after known losses occur — in this case, July 24, 2026, the two-year anniversary of the wildfire, although this deadline may vary between policyholders.

The Municipality reached out to provincial authorities and the Insurance Bureau of Canada but was told a blanket extension was not possible.

Coun. Laurie Rodger said while the Municipality cannot be responsible for contacting insurance companies on behalf of residents, he advocated that efforts be made to make it known to everyone that the deadline is coming up.

“Just by statistics, the number of people involved here, there is a very good chance that someone misses it,” Rodger said. “[But] I do not want anyone to think that the town is going to contact their insurer for them.”
Council directed administration to undertake public awareness efforts about the upcoming deadline, how to meet the deadline and the potential consequences of missing it.

Recovery updates

Fifty-seven per cent of wildfire-affected leaseholders have begun the permitting process with Parks Canada, according to the Jasper Recovery Coordination Centre (JRCC).

Of these properties, 85 are still in the application process, 32 have permits approved but haven’t poured foundations, 77 have construction underway, and 18 have achieved occupancy. No permits have been filed for 162 properties.

Doug Olthof, Jasper’s newly-appointed Directory of Recovery, said Parks Canada is seeing a steady increase in permit applications as the spring construction season approaches.

Parks Canada processed development permits applications in 19 business days, on average, over the last six months, provided they were complete and conforming. Olthof said Jasper was outperforming comparable municipalities in this area.

Interim housing

Seven hundred and thirty-eight individuals are currently in the interim housing program, and residents have begun to move into units at the Patricia Circle and the United Church sites.

All interim housing units within the townsite remain fully occupied or allocated, with 161 applicant households having not yet received an offer. Olthof said 34 businesses have applied to house staff at Marmot Meadows dorms, and five offers have been made and accepted.