Pattison Food Group supporting Jasper community after wildfire, Nesters Market remains intact

In the aftermath of a historic wildfire in Jasper, Alta., Pattison Food Group (PFG) says it supports the community and is assessing the damage to its Nesters Market store.

“Our hearts go out to all Jasperites — our team members and customers — impacted by this fire,” says Sam Corea, chief operations officer at Buy-Low Foods and Nesters Markets. “We have confirmed that our Jasper Nesters store is still standing. While it was not damaged by the fire, the store was subject to a swift mandatory evacuation and remains without power.”

Corea says that his team received “special permission” to enter the store on July 29 to assess the extent of the damage. Additionally, Pattison Food Group stores in the province will participate in the Alberta Day of Caring on July 31 to match all donations at its tills for those in need.

“Our store has been a cornerstone in the Jasper community for years and will be a critical part of the townsite’s reopening,” Corea says. “The safety of our teams is our top priority and we have personally contacted all team members to ensure they are safe, keep them updated on the situation and supply them with information on resources available to them during this emergency. Our management and resource protection teams have done an amazing job of supporting our team members and our company.”

Disaster relief fund supporting residents

Over 20,000 residents were evacuated as the wildfire spread. Parks Canada has reported that 30 per cent of the town’s structures were damaged, with 358 out of 1,113 buildings destroyed, including the well-known Maligne Lodge, according to the Canadian Press.

Pattison Food Group says Banff Nesters Market and its sister company, Save-On-Foods, have enacted a disaster relief fund supporting the Canadian Red Cross to deliver emergency relief to those impacted by the Alberta wildfires. PFG is encouraging customers to support through cash or More Rewards points at Save-On-Foods locations.

“Our response team also delivered a truckload of most needed supplies, including fresh fruit, vegetables, protein bars, bottled water and energy drinks, to the Jasper Emergency Centre on July 29 to ensure the emergency personnel who remain in town are fuelled. We are so appreciative of the efforts of all emergency personnel involved. We are so proud to be part of an incredibly strong community in Jasper and we will get through to together,” says Corea.