Campfires are old hat for Jasper. Some folks here can even spark a flame by striking flint onto tinder. On a bigger scale, Parks conducts controlled burns on wide swaths of land.
But fire is a dangerous element. If left untended it can easily burn out of control. The same is true of the passions that ignite around an election.
It鈥檚 not easy to stay impartial. Determining how to vote and where you stand on the issues is a delicate balancing act, guided between the head and the heart. Strike rashly and you can set dry tinder afire.
All the more reason, then, that media present balanced reporting that enables voters to consider all the facts and reach their own conclusions. A key role of media in a democracy is to act as a check against abuses of power or position in the execution of civic duties and in all public matters. As such, the Canadian Association of Journalists enshrines a code of ethics for us to follow, which states:
鈥淎s fair and impartial observers, we must be free to comment on the activities of any publicly elected body or special interest group. But we cannot do this without an apparent conflict of interest if we are active members of an organization we are covering.鈥�
In small town community journalism鈥攚here, like in Cheers, everybody knows your name (and you theirs)鈥攕tanding back from the blaze is challenging. But if you can鈥檛 see where that dividing line is you can do as much harm as good.
So we knew we had to cover the election properly, with fair opportunity for all candidates to weigh in on municipal issues, focusing on the issues and questions that matter to Jasper, without bias.
What we didn鈥檛 expect was just how gargantuan the task would be. Clearly, there are many other people who are passionate about this town as well. That was certainly evident when the nominations were in and 25 candidates had put their names to the ballot鈥攖he largest slate to date for an election in Jasper.
It鈥檚 been rewarding to play our role in this election, but it鈥檚 been even more rewarding to see how Jasperites have performed theirs鈥攂y giving generously of their time and energy to support an informed electorate, and seeking ways to get informed and do their part as voters.
For all of that, Jasper, you should be proud. Mark your ballot as you may on Oct. 21, you can take comfort in knowing this town is engaged. Freely expressed opinions and ideas, debated publicly and fairly, can stir emotions and kindle heated opposition, but they often lead to new and constructive approaches.
When it鈥檚 all over, we hope that the fires will have been kept in check, igniting passion where needed, but never brimming over. For with fire, comes renewal.
