Photos by Mark Bradley - The Jasper Community Team

Photos by Mark Bradley

New Beginnings for Jasper, and for me, too
By Tracey Jackson
Ye s , n e w
beginnings
c a n b e
e x c i t i n g
and are a
part of all
our lives at some point.
This last weekend Jasper
experienced a new beginning
with the raising of the Two
Brothers Totem Pole to replace
the Raven Totem Pole that left
town last summer. I know that
more than a few of our seniors
i n t o w n m a d e a s t r o n g
connection with the former pole
and I’m sure this new totem pole
and its new story will be an
attraction enjoyed by locals and
tourists alike for many years to
come.
As you may or may not have
heard, I too, am about to embark
upon new beginnings of my
own. I am leaving Jasper for
Parksville, on Vancouver Island. I
w i l l b e w o r k i n g w i t h a n
organization called Society of
Organized Services as the Child,
Yo u t h a n d Fa m i l y C e n t re
The Elder Skinny is a program of The Jasper Community Team.
We aim to help connect Jasper’s senior population by highlighting
opportunities to get involved, featuring views, art & perspectives
unique to this population & showcasing
locals who are doing amazing things with
their lives.
Issue 9
contributors:
Ursula Winkler
Irene Cardinal
Lori Dowling
Dr. Randy Glover
Pat Wilson
Janet Barker
Page 2
780 852-6537
627 Patricia St.
The Two Brothers Totem Pole represents new beginnings for Jasper.
Mark Bradley photo
Coordinator, so although I will
not be working with seniors
directly, I will be in a similar field
as that of COS. I hope I will find
the community as welcoming as
Jasper has been.
Living in Jasper has been a
wonderful experience for me.
I’ve never lived in the mountains
before and I have certainly
enjoyed the beauty of nature
that surrounds us here. However,
the call of the coast is very
strong for me and when I was
given the opportunity to move
Printed
at Tekarra Color
Editor:
Bob Covey
Cover Design:
Nicole Gaboury
Managing editor:
Tracey Jackson
tjackson@town.jasper.ab.ca
The Elder Skinny: Issue #9
there I knew in my heart I had to
take it. I’m very excited about
living near the ocean again.
One of the aspects of Jasper that
I have enjoyed most, certainly,
has been working at Community
Outreach Services as the Seniors
Outreach Worker. I’ve had the
pleasure of working with and
getting to know many seniors in
Jasper over the last 14 months.
These seniors have taught me a
lot, about the history of Jasper,
about what it takes to engage a
demographic of active, learned
people and how to stay young in
one’s advanced years. I’ve
enjoyed attending Seniors
Society events as well as being
involved with activities at both
Alpine Summit and Pine Grove.
It’s been a wonderful experience,
from trips to the Palisades and
Spring Flings to Elder Skinny
folding parties.
May life be good to you all…it’s
been an honour working with
you…thanks for the great
memories and please help
welcome the next Seniors
Outreach Worker as you so
graciously did with me.
July/August 011
Community Announcements
The Elder Skinny
needs you! We are
looking for Jasper
seniors to be a part of
our planning for future
editions of The Elder
Skinny. If you or
someone you know
have an idea for an
article, a talent to share
or a story to tell please
come along to our
monthly meeting at the
Seniors’ Lounge at 10:30
a.m. on the first Tuesday
of the month or contact
COS at 780-852-2100.
National Film Board
Screening
Thursday July 21, 7 p.m.
at Habitat for the Arts.
Documentary: The
Lumberfros. Contact the
library for more details,
780 852-3652.
Secret Garden Tour
Saturday July 23. Tickets
are $20 and available at
the Jasper Library and
Elysion Flowers. Call 780
852-3652 for more
details.
Habitat for the Arts
The Village: Exhibition
on multiculturalism in
the Peoples Gallery, July
4 to 24
Seniors Bocce Ball
Any interested seniors
come along and enjoy
the fun! No experience
or equipment required.
Meet at 1 p.m. at Pine
Grove Manor. For more
info call Arlene, 780
852-3088 or Norma, 780
852-3649
Jasper Food Bank
For seniors looking for
food bank help, phone
Patrick, 780-852-6542
July/August 011
Hockey Stories and
Photos Wanted
On September 9, Jasper
will host a Commemorative
Classic hockey game btwn
the Edmonton Oil Kings and
the Prince George Cougars.
Organizers are looking for
Jasper hockey stories and
photos to fill the event’s
accompanying book.
Contact Bob Covey,
852-9474, to share your
memories.
Wilderness Access
Program
If you or someone you
know are interested in
using the Trail Rider to
access trails you would be
otherwise unable to use,
please get in touch with
the Jasper Community
Team’s Wilderness Access
Program at 780 931-6036
or accessjasper@gmail.com
The Community 5K
Walk/Run
Every Tuesday at 5:30
p.m. starting at the
parking lot across from
Jasper Shell. Walk takes
participants to the train
bridge on the NE side of
town and back.
Participants receive a
water bottle from
WildMountain/The
Northface. More info,
call COS, 852-2100
Shuttle to Medical
Appointments
Sun Dog Tour’s Shuttle
from Jasper to
Edmonton can help you
get to your
appointment. Return trip
includes sedan ride from
West Edmonton Mall to
your appointment. $95.
Must book through Sun
Dog Tours, 852-4056.
The Elder Skinny: Issue #9
Museum Activities
Museum Mini
Outings Mini Outings
take place at 10:30 a.m.
on the 3rd Tuesday of
each month, May-
September. Bring your
own mug, coffee and
goodies provided.
August 16 - Meet on the
Info Centre lawn at the
corner of Patricia St. and
Miette Ave - across from
Smitty’s - to learn about
Dinny Hogan, GTP and
CNoR railway
construction contractor.
September 20 - Project
Habbakuk - Meet at the
parking lot overlooking
Patricia Lake. We will
walk to the site from
there.
For more details call the
museum, 780 852-3013.
In the Showcase
Gallery at the
Museum
Running until Sept 25,
David Thompson: A
Legacy of Art.
The David Thompson
bicentennials project
has inspired artists to
create a legacy of
paintings detailing his
explorations. Featuring
artists Joseph Cross,
Don McMaster and the
Valley Piecemaker’s
Quilt Guild.
Reproductions of
Thompsons’ sketches
and more!
Got an Event that
Jasper Seniors
should know about?
Tell us about it! Contact
Community Outreach
Services, 780 852-2100,
jaspercommunityteam@g
mail.com
The Jasper Seniors
Volunteer
board
Attention Jasper seniors
Now that summer is here would
you be interested in assistance with
gardening and yard work?
Community Outreach Services is
pleased to offer you assistance with
these tasks through our volunteer
program.
Please call Community Outreach
Services at 780-852-2100 to find
out how to access this program.
Volunteer opportunity
Community Outreach Services is
looking for people interested in
volunteering to assist seniors with
gardening and yard work.
If you have some time and would
like to volunteer with these
valuable members of our
community, call Community
Outreach Services at
780-852-2100.
Computer help for seniors
Some seniors have expressed an
interest in learning more about their
computers. If you’re a senior with
computer skills who is willing to
share knowledge with others, call
COS, 852-2100 to connect you.
Warm Fuzzies
To Tracey Jackson, what a pleasure it’s
been to have you in the office and
working with our seniors. Thank you
for being so adaptable and congrats
on helping launch The Elder Skinny,
not to mention other great seniors
programs. We will keep you in our
minds as we continue our journey! BC
Page 7

Adding flowers to one’s garden helps feed the soul, while the vegetables help nourish the body. Bob Covey photo
Edible plants: nourish the body, feed the soul
M a y L o n g
Weekend has long
come and gone,
s o h a s t h e
church's plant sale, but Jasper's
air, soil and nights have been
cool and as a result, our growing
season appears to be late.
We are all keen to catch up with
some colour in our gardens, but
so are the elk and deer! These
rascals carefully cruise front
streets and alleys during the
early morning hours to scout out
where some feasts may be
happening soon.
It seems these creatures see
most plants as fair game,
however it's a bit different for us
humans. This article will help
you make your planters and
baskets beautiful but also give
you some ideas for growing a
garden that you, and not the
critters, can eat from.
Page 6
By Ursula Winkler
Snapdragons and marigolds are
very colourful plants that,
interspersed with spinach, spring
greens or some nasturtiums,
allow your planters or baskets to
double as a healthy component
of your diet.
Chefs at upscale restaurants
know that the flowers, leaves
and seeds of nasturtiums are
edible. These have a nice little
spice to them and compliment
salads and pastas. Surprise your
guests and give your food some
flower power!
Bachelor buttons and borage will
provide blue highlights to your
garden. These are easily grown
from seed and their little petals
can also be used as a culinary
delight. Both varietals stand up
well in our climate and as a
bonus, have little interest to the
elk and deer.
Strawberries do well interplanted
with some lettuce, and
brighten up your salad in colour
and flavour.
The Elder Skinny: Issue #9
Petunias are resilient and
colourful and furry enough that
the critters don’t much care for
them. However, prices for
seedlings have most certainly
jumped upward! I suggest to
start growing a combination of
all of the above mentioned
flowers. I like to say the colour
helps feed our souls while the
edible plants helps nourish our
bodies. For my money, the initial
monetary expense has a positive
kickback.
To reach a nice full look, one
needs to be sure to water the
pots well and regularly. Add a
little compost from time to time.
In my containers, I find that it is
vital to plant reasonably close
together. Keeping them tight
helps the plants retain moisture.
Like close neighbours, these
plans support each other!
Enjoy the sun, the rain and the
growing in every aspect.
Ursula Winkler is the President of
the Jasper Local Food Society
July/August 011
Raising Expectations: a new legacy
Many Jasperites have fond memories of the former Raven totem pole. Parks Canada’s Lori Dowling
looks back and reflects on the identity that the structure helped give to Jasper businesses.
As a young child
growing up in
Jasper, my parents
owned and operated a
drug store at the corner
of Connaught Drive and
M i e t t e A v e n u e . I t
sported a large neon
pink sign that read
“DRUGS” and it was
locally known as the
“Round” Drug Store.
I started helping my
parents in the drug
store at a very young
age (as children did
back then) and I have
f o n d m e m o r i e s o f
working there many
Sundays with my dad.
Across the street from
the drug store, adjacent
to the CNR station was
a very fine totem pole.
We sold postcards,
bottle openers, key
chains, tea spoons and
sterling silver charms
with the totem pole
image on them. We also
sold “Boma” totem poles
that were made in
Canada and were very
fragile. I hated dusting
the shelf with these
totem poles on them as
I was always concerned
about breaking them.
My defining moment
with the totem pole
occurred when, as a
young school child I
was given a copy of a
brochure that explained
all the animals on the
totem pole. I could
hardly wait to go down
July/August 011
to the train station after
school, look at the
raven totem pole and
figure it all out..
In my teens I started
working for Rowed and
O ’ N e i l l ( t h e y p a i d
better). Their store was
located just down the
street in a building with
a big fibreglass totem
pole on the outside.
They also had a store at
J a s p e r Pa r k L o d g e
where there were (and
still are) lots of totem
poles on the well kept
grounds. Two other
businesses that sported
spiffy totem poles were
Baxter’s and of course
Totem Men’s Wear.
I suppose I didn’t really
think a lot about totem
poles in Jasper again
until 2009, when I
heard that the Jasper
Raven Totem Pole had
been taken down and
w a s g o i n g t o b e
repatriated back to its
birthplace on Haida
Gwaii.
For 93 years it had
s t o o d p r o u d l y i n
Jasper and now it was
gone. I knew that this
unique and historic
landmark would never
be forgotten and that its
absence in the Jasper
landscape would be felt
by many.
We were promised that
the old totem pole
would be replaced by a
new carving and now
P a r k s C a n a d a h a s
The Elder Skinny: Issue #9
Jasper Museum and Archives Photo.
d e l i v e r e d o n t h a t
p r o m i s e . T h e Tw o
Brothers Totem Pole
with its new story was
raised on July 16, 2011
a n d m a r k s t h e
beginning of a new
legacy for Jasper.
I, for one am very
happy to have a proper
totem pole back in
town.
Lori Dowling is the
Totem Pole Project
Manager for Jasper
National Park
Page 3

Chomp! Dental care for seniors
By Dr. Randal Glover
People over the age of 65 make
up a growing percentage of the
population. As we continue to
live longer, the need for proper
oral care is vital to maintain
natural teeth and enhance our
quality of life. Currently, over 60
per cent of the population over
65 have some or all of their
natural teeth.
M a n y p e o p l e t h i n k t h a t
conditions such as toothaches,
tooth loss and dry mouth
happen naturally as we age. The
truth is most of these conditions
result from diseases of the teeth
such as periodontal disease and
dental caries or side effects of
medications. We can all keep our
teeth longer by maintaining
good oral health.
It should be noted that certain
m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n s a n d
medications can increase the
risks associated with some
dental procedures. To ensure
that problems and pain can be
dealt with in a safe and timely
manner, it is important to follow
the guidelines below.
What problems most affect the
dental health of seniors?
Page 4
• S i d e e ff e c t s o f o t h e r
diseases and medications
• Recurrent decay around
older fillings
• Decay at the gum line
where gums have receded
• Gum (periodontal) disease
• Oral cancers
• Poor diet
• Lack of appreciation of oral
health
What can I do to maintain my
oral health?
• See a dentist regularly
• D r i n k w a t e r a n d u s e
toothpastes and rinses that
have fluoride in them
• Brush at least twice a day
and floss daily
• Get an electric toothbrush
and flosser or use handles
or other adaptations to
make brushing and flossing
easier
• Clean dentures regularly
and remove at night
• D o n ’ t s m o k e o r u s e
smokeless tobacco products
and limit alcohol intake
• Check for side effects of
medicines and report them
to your doctor/dentist
Culinary Corner featuring your recipes
Dry Ingredients:
3/4 cup w.w. flour
3/4 wheat bran
1/2 cup wheat germ
3/4 cup brown sugar (or less)
1 tsp. BS - pinch salt
1 cup berries, all cranberries
or all blueberries or a
combination of both
Rind of one orange,
1/2 cup raisins
Wet Ingredients:
1 egg
2/3 cup yogurt (you can use
buttermilk or sour cream
1/4 cup oil
The Elder Skinny: Issue #9
• Make sure to get dental care
before having surgery or
treatment that may cause
problems with your oral
health
• Any changes in dental
health and overall health
should be reported to both
your dentist and primary
care doctor.
For some, following these
guidelines can be difficult, due to
reduced mobility and dexterity.
In these instances it is important
for caregivers to learn how to
take care of the teeth of those
who are not able and to seek
easy access dental facilities. Here
in Jasper there is a dental care
facility available in Seton
Hospital which allows access to
routine dental care for those of
limited mobility.
Good oral health is essential to
maintaining our overall health as
we age. Besides direct benefits
such as improved nutrition and
quality of life, numerous studies
have shown possible benefits in
controlling and preventing other
problems like heart disease..
Dr. Randal Glover practices at
the Jasper Dental Clinic
Do you have a recipe? Call The
Elder Skinny, 780 852-6537
Cranberry or Blueberry Muffins This muffin recipe came to me when I lived in Prince Albert
National Park and we had an abundance of cranberries and blueberries one summer. By Pat Wilson.
Method
1. Mix the dry
ingredients together
2. Mix wet
ingredients together
3. Add the wet to
the dry ingredients,
mixing lightly.
4. Bake at 400
degrees for 15 or 20
minutes.
July/August 011
Seniors Snapshots
Bill Thompson, Pat Wilson, Margaret
Richardson, Agnes Hisey and Heather
Wilkinson at Maligne Lake.
July/August 011
The Elder Skinny: Issue #9
Mary Hilworth, president of the Jasper
Seniors Society, accepts a cheque worth
$20,000 from MLA Robin Campbell. The
cheque, awarded from the Community
Incentives Program, will help fund
operations for the Seniors Society’s bus.
One senior’s expression of gratitude
By Janet Barker
As long time resident of
Jasper I would like to
express my sincere
appreciation for the
marvelous healthcare
available in our small
community. Over the
last year I’ve had vast
experience of nearly
e v e r y a s p e c t o f
h e a l t h c a re h e re i n
Jasper and have been
impressed with the care
I have received.
At the Cottage Medical
Clinic I have always
found the administration
staff to be helpful and
sincere from the first
time you make contact
with them. The medical
staff are wonderful. I
have always noticed the
f r i e n d l i n e s s a n d
cooperation between
all the doctors in Jasper.
They bond together so
well and support each
other to give the best
care to their patients.
Heather and Doris from Alpine
Summit enjoying the Canada Day
parade.
What other small town
in the province is lucky
enough to have six
medical doctors?
T h e S e t o n J a s p e r
Healthcare Centre, or
t h e S e t o n G e n e ra l
Hospital, as it will always
be known by long time
residents, under the
administration of Lorna
C h i s h o l m , g i v e s
outstanding care to all
i t s p a t i e n t s . E v e r y
d e p a r t m e n t o f t h e
hospital has exceptional
staff, something we are
very fortunate to have.
The kitchen staff is very
obliging and happily
looked after my special
dietary needs every day
with a smile. In my
experience the level of
care provided by the
nurses is outstanding.
They saw me through
some difficult times in
the last year, always
with a smile and a hug.
I feel indebted to them
Images from Elder Events and Senior Successes
around the community.
for the wonderful care
they gave me.
U n f o r t u n a t e l y t h e
administrations for
many of the hospital
d e p a r t m e n t s a r e
located in other parts of
the province. This can
cause issues to go
unsolved which in turn
causes problems for the
people working here in
Jasper. I believe things
need to return to all
administration being
local, like it used to be.
F o r t h e p a s t f e w
months I have been
l i v i n g i n t h e D A L
(Designated Assisted
Living) facility. Once
again all the staff is
exceptional from the
cleaners to the nursing
staff. It has been a
challenging time in my
life and the staff havs
been understanding
a n d s u p p o r t i v e i n
helping me get through
it.
While living in DAL I
have been having meals
with the Alpine Summit
Seniors Lodge Assisted
Living residents. Over
the last few years I’ve
heard stories about life
at Alpine, but now that I
h ave h a d fi r s thand
experience I can say
with confidence that
the care and service
p r o v i d e d h e r e i s
exceptional. The staff is
caring and if you wish
to participate there are
many activities offered.
I’d like to finish by
t h a n k i n g a l l m y
caregivers, especially
my fa m i l y a n d D r.
Murphy who have been
a wonderful support
t h r o u g h o u t t h e
challenging times over
the last year. They have
always been there for
me. Thank you.
Janet Barker is a long
time local resident and
healthcare advocate.
Page 5