The Jasper re-entry on Friday will now be for residents only, officials announced Wednesday.
Previously, the incident management team had said there was no way to keep non-residents from returning to town on Friday.
They have now walked that statement back.
“Re-entry on Aug. 16 is for residents only,” Parks Canada said in a post on its website on Wednesday.
“Resident security concerns have been heard. Your safe return is our priority. We are in this together.”
Why would anyone want to go right now?
That’s like “let’s visit New Orleans” a week after Katrina.
Obviously less sad/awful/catastrophic than Katrina, but it’s a town of people grieving their loss of their homes, businesses, environment, while having to navigate a complicated web of insurance and government contracts with Parks Canada.