In the wake of the devastating wildfire that swept through Jasper in July 2024, which reshaped both the landscape and the lives of residents, the community of Jasper is coming together in a remarkable expression of healing, reflection, and renewal. Voices from Jasper is part of Stories of Resilience, a signature program of The Resilience Institute, dedicated to amplifying community voices and exploring what it means to be resilient in a changing climate. Through this program, we unite people in dialogue and creativity to reflect on resilience – recognizing that while a single story can change hearts and minds, our collective stories have the power to shape the future. An opening reception will be held on July 25, 2025 from 6:30-8:30pm, marking one year since the wildfire reached Jasper. The exhibition will remain open until August 16, 2025, a date that commemorates the community’s return after evacuation.
Opening Event
July 25, 2025, 6:30 – 8:30PM
The evening will feature light refreshments, a short program, and the opportunity to connect with fellow community members. All are welcome.
Exhibition Details
Date: July 25 – August 16, 2025
Location: Jasper Art Gallery (Lower Gallery)
Admission: Free, with interactive elements
Since February 2025, a group of ten diverse Jasper residents – including local painters, writers, Indigenous community members, and long-standing locals – have participated in reflective workshops exploring the recovery of self, community, and the land. Through storytelling, artistic expression, and thoughtful dialogue, these residents have explored their experiences of the July 2024 wildfire, capturing their journeys through their own moving narratives, art, and photography.
“What does resilience even mean? For me, it’s about being able to sit with loss and still find hope.”
– Paulette Blanchette-Dubé, Stories of Resilience – Voices of Jasper participant
The participants’ reflections have yielded insights that are relevant not only to Jasper but also to any community navigating similar challenges due to climate change. By engaging in open dialogue about their experiences, participants have crafted written stories and visual artworks that communicate the nuances and complexities of resilience, healing, and transformation. As participant Katie Potter writes in her story, “On these fire-ravaged canvases I painted fireweed… These paintings symbolized that there is beauty in resilience, that even a burnt crisp canvas could be brought back to life and be beautiful again.”
Stories of Resilience – Voices from Jasper contributes to a growing collection of stories curated by The Resilience Institute – a testament to our shared understanding of the climate crisis. Audiences see, hear, and feel reflections of themselves in the narratives and artwork. They discover echoes of their own lives in communities like theirs, as the program brings people together in dialogue and creativity to reflect on resilience — recognizing that while a single story can change hearts and minds, our collective stories have the power to shape the future.
The Stories of Resilience program is a signature program of The Resilience Institute that engages citizens in thematic learning and creative expression to explore themes of healing, change, and resilience in the context of climate change.
To explore the journeys of other Stories of Resilience communities accross the globe, click here.
