Jasper seniors trying to save longtime lounge from becoming offices

The Municipality of Jasper is searching for new office space to accommodate newly-hired staff and contractors working on the town's rebuilding efforts after this summer's wildfire.

A lack of space has been a problem for years, according to Jasper's chief administrative officer. The issue is now more pressing and potential solutions have been brought to the attention of town council.

"In the activity centre and our finance department, we have three people sharing one office and two desks, including our director of finance and administration," said CAO Bill Given at a council meeting last week.

"The two boardrooms have been committed to being offices for another eight people. We also have agencies like Service Canada and Red Cross that pop in from time to time and use offices."

Those are just some of the examples Given listed at the meeting.

Repurposing seniors' lounge one option on the table

Administration is considering converting a lounge room in the local activity centre into town offices. The lounge has been leased out by the Jasper Seniors Society from the municipality for a fee of one dollar per year since 1976, according to the society's president Janis Marks.

The society does not currently have a lease for the room, as its renewal was put on hold because of the wildfire.

The Jasper Seniors Society does not want to give up the lounge. Marks says before the wildfire, the room was used nearly every day for activities, including regular meetings, bridge games and social events for the society's 175 members.

The Red Cross took over the room for the month of September. It has been vacant since then, but Marks says seniors are ready to start using it again, including some who lost their homes in the fire.

"I think we need to try and encourage more socializing, more social programs, more mental well-being support. And hopefully that's something we can offer," said Marks. 

"It doesn't have to be something that's scheduled. That's why we want our own space, where if we choose or if there's some vulnerable individuals, that on the spur of the moment, we can bring them in here and have a cup of coffee, have a chat, give them support to the best of our ability."

Christopher Read is Jasper's director of community development. He is part of the town's team looking for alternative locations, aside from the seniors' lounge, for new office space.

"We've been pushing for every office space we can find, given that many organizations are starting fresh. Some organizations were in facilities that did burn," he said.

Sharing the lounge between the society and the municipality has been discussed, but no concrete decisions have been made.

Jasper's town council has asked administration to continue researching office space possibilities before making any final decisions about the future of the lounge.