Palisades Centre

Jasper National Park

Portions of Jasper National Park remain closed due to impacts from the Jasper Wildfire Complex. Please check for up to date information.

The Palisades Centre remains closed for the foreseeable future.

Palisades Centre update

The Palisades Stewardship and Education Centre (or Palisades Centre) in Jasper National Park was one of the first areas to be impacted by what we initially called the North Wildfire. This wildfire started on July 22 near the Jasper Transfer Station.

Located just 3 kilometres away, the Palisades Centre suffered significant damages as the wildfire moved north. Nine buildings were destroyed, many of them Recognized Federal Heritage Buildings dating from 1936. Bridges, power and water facilities are also damaged. Significant assessments and restoration will be needed before Parks Canada can reopen this area to the public.

The Palisades Centre is situated in the Athabasca Valley in the shadow of sheer cliffs called the Palisades. At one time, the top of the Palisades was the site of a wildfire lookout where Fire Wardens could scan the Athabasca Valley for wildfires.

The history of the Palisades area is deeply connected to the Indigenous people who lived and travelled in the lands that would become Jasper National Park, the Anishinabe, Aseniwuche Winewak, Dene-zaa, Nêhiyawak, Secwépemc, Stoney Nakoda, Mountain Métis and Métis. There are culturally significant sites in this area, including gravesites, and many Indigenous partners have ties to the families that homesteaded in the area before the park was established.

The Palisades Centre was originally a homestead established by Lewis Swift and Suzette Chalifoux in 1895. The homestead was well known to travelers who passed through the Athabasca Valley. The property was purchased by Arnold C. Wilby in 1935, who invested in landscaping and constructing most of the present buildings. The property was sold to Gordon F. Bried in 1951. Bried named the buildings according to their original function and converted them into accommodations.

In 1962, the Government of Canada purchased the private property, and it became a National Training Centre for national park employees. Since then, the Palisades Centre has continued to serve as a place for people to meet, learn, practice stewardship and connect with nature, culture and history. The Palisades Centre is an important meeting place for Indigenous partners and Jasper National Park staff. It has been the site of countless weddings, family reunions, retreats and workshops. Thousands of student and youth groups have participated in both in-person and virtual education programs. More recently, visitors have been able to book overnight stays in the historic buildings. Many songs, stories and laughs have been shared around the campfire and in the tipi.

The surviving structures, the tipi still standing, and the hardy ancient Douglas-fir trees keeping watch on the Palisades Centre give us hope for the future. We hope to sit around the campfire with you soon.