Another Jasperite is feeling the sting of Parks Canada’s eligible residency requirements.
Kyle Darroch grew up in Jasper, won a handful of prestigious awards and scholarships for his contributions to his community, obtained a degree in education and six years ago came back to his hometown with the hope he could find full time work in his field.
When he finally landed a teaching job, however, it was in Hinton. Darroch kept his part time serving jobs in Jasper, but when he tried to get a mortgage for a house on Connaught Drive, Parks Canada officials stepped in, saying his primary employment in another community meant he no longer met eligible residency requirements here.
For Darroch, even though he knows the rules, he figured his family history, his track record of volunteerism and his pulling shifts at various businesses would count for something.
“[Parks Canada] said I could buy the house but I couldn’t live there,” Darroch said. “Even though I have all these ties in town.”
Eligible residency requirements ensure a broad supply of housing is available for those who work and raise families in the community, according to Parks Canada. Eligible residents must have primary employment within the park, or have worked in the park for five consecutive years before retirement.
“Each case is evaluated in a fair, consistent and compassionate matter with the best interests of the national park and community in mind,” communications officer Steve Young wrote to The Jasper Local in January.
Darroch isn’t so sure about that. He feels like he’s being punished for growing up.
“I feel like I’m being penalized for going to school, trying to get a job in my hometown and trying to buy a condo here,” he said.
Darroch, who sits on two different community boards in Jasper, wishes there was a way for administrators to show a bit of discretion in unique cases such as his—in the same way a home business owner in Jasper has had her rental agreement ratified even though she doesn’t technically meet the prerequisites (home based businesses do not quality as primary sources of employment).
“I feel like it’s different rules for everyone,” Darroch said. “I get the need to reside [clause], I understand why it’s here. [But] it needs to be updated.”
Jasperite Stef Dolan can relate. For the past six weeks, Dolan has been jumping through various hoops to resolve her own residency issues. Dolan, who also works in Hinton but who since 1985 worked in Jasper for nearly two decades and raised a daughter here with her ex-husband, was denied her lease renewal after Parks Canada administrators told her she was not an eligible resident. Since then, she has transferred the home’s lease to her 18-year-old daughter and attempted to qualify for residency as her daughter’s caretaker (doctors have advised that her daughter live with family).
However, since her daughter isn’t employed, she doesn’t qualify as an eligible resident, either. Dolan is hopeful that officials will see her role as her daughter’s caretaker as superseding her daughter’s need for employment.
“The more I think of how absurd all this is the more I want to go knocking on doors in Ottawa,” Dolan said.
MP Jim Eglinski has heard Dolan’s case. He said he believes there’s good will on both sides and that a solution should be imminent. However, he also figured the rules ought to be reviewed. He suggested there be an out for special situations such as these.
“Sometimes in unique circumstances I think there should be a clause where one-off situations are dealt with on an individual basis,” Eglinski said.
As for Darroch, he’s “done with Parks Canada.” He and his partner have rented an apartment in Hinton and are starting fresh.
“It’s not doomsday for me, but it makes me mad because it’s not my choice,” he said. “It just drives me crazy that there’s a double standard.”
Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com
