The images of the fiery ruins of the Jasper townsite broke our hearts. Many of us sighed. Some wept. Some choked up with grief, including Premier Danielle Smith at her news conference as she attempted to detail the impact of the wildfire.

Other Alberta forests have burned. Other Alberta towns have been hit hard. But this wildfire hit with unexpected venom and force, burning a searing image into our collective memory. It will last a lifetime, most certainly for Jasper townspeople who still don’t know if they have lost their homes or businesses. But also for outsiders, for any of us who have visited and fallen for Jasper.

Brutal, heart-breaking images coming out from Jasper.

Here's a post with more visuals on what's been lost so far. #yeg #yyc #ableg #cdnpoli
https://t.co/JumttgxUjt pic.twitter.com/ExGNKBi8pn

For a moment, the tragedy even brought together Canada’s politicians, who almost to an elected official united in hoping for the best and relented for a moment on blaming one another for every conceivable ill, even for this fire.

Jasper has that kind of power. Jasper isn’t just a town in the mountains of Alberta. It’s a memory, a vision and a longing.

For northern Albertans who have travel there regularly, it’s warm recollections of childhood trips. It’s snatches of memory of a black bear statue, a real black bear along........

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