The Canmore Public Library and the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley are co-hosting a community discussion on wildfire preparedness on Monday, April 20, 2026. The event, titled After the Fire: What We’ve Learned from the 2024 Jasper Wildfire, will take place in the library’s Friends Program Room from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The panel session will feature six speakers who will share insights from the 2024 Jasper wildfire, a disaster that burned approximately 39,000 hectares, destroyed 358 structures in the townsite, and resulted in $880 million in insurance claims. The discussion aims to help Bow Valley residents understand wildfire risks and the local programs available to improve safety.
The panel includes Jasper Town Councillor Wendy Hall and Brooklyn Rushton from the Resilience Institute, who will provide first-hand perspectives on the wildfire and subsequent recovery efforts. They will be joined by Town of Banff FireSmart Coordinator Chris Pottie, as well as Town of Canmore representatives Jason Lyon, the Deputy Chief of Community Risk Reduction, and FireSmart Coordinator Simon Bagshaw. The session will be moderated by Gareth Thomson of the Biosphere Institute.
Registration for the event is required for in-person attendance, and a virtual option via Zoom is available for those who cannot attend in person. Admission is free, though donations are accepted. As of April 7, 2026, there are limited spaces remaining for those planning to attend at the library.
