This slightly south migration of festivities means that while new businesses are able to participate, others have withdrawn.
“We just don’t have the means to be down there,” said Lynn Wannop of Coco’s Cafe. Food can’t be kept warm, nor drinks made and served outside of the business.
She looked into renting a portable expresso bar, but given the $2,000 price tag, the idea didn’t seem realistic. “That’s a lot of coffee to serve.”
Glen Leitch of the Patricia Street Deli echoes similar sentiment and said that the only reason the deli isn’t involved in the street party this year is solely logistical. Food safety and product quality trump participation.
“I’m proud of the product that the deli makes and like to maintain it.”
Wannop and Leitch said that it’s only fair to move the street party, since it has been in the same location for the past few years.
When deciding to move the street party, three main points were considered, said Mary Darling, executive director of business development for Tourism Jasper.
“It was to open up more space for activities, keep it more in a focused area and [have] consideration for businesses that were affected by the street closure in 2012 and didn’t participate.”
The new location “will be more central to the whole street festival this year,” she said. “We’ve got the parking lot now and more of the Visitors Information Centre lawn on the back side that we can use for additional activities.”
The Hockey For Hope tournament will be more central to the street party, plus Parks Canada is putting on more activities. Flashlight art is a new event this year, adds Darling.
“We’ll still have fire pits throughout, First Nations drumming and the ATCO Sound Stage will be there.”
A few businesses on Connaught Drive have voiced their excitement about the move to Darling. “Last year we were receiving comments from some businesses that were on the street festival that didn’t want to participate because they were busy enough as it was.”
A debrief meeting will be held after the event and community input sought. “We’ll assess how it goes this year and take comments and ideas into consideration for the 25th anniversary.
“The one thing that’s really great about Jasper and the community is that people are very open to trying something.”
Wannop expresses well wishes for the street party, regardless of location. “I’m happy if it will be successful for Jasper.
“Moving the street party down Patricia doesn’t make any of those businesses less important,” she adds.
“The deli’s been in [the street party] since its inception,” said Leitch, but he looks forward to enjoying it this year as a patron with his family.
“No one succeeds unless we all succeed,” he said of the location change. “I wholly and totally embrace and believe in it.”
