Closure Alert: Due to summer wildfires, several Pursuit attractions and hotels in Jasper National Park are currently closed. For more information, please visit the Pursuit Jasper Wildfire information page.
At Pursuit, we believe in the power of spectacular places — both as reminders of the wonders the world has to offer and as escapes during life’s difficult moments.
In 2022, we continued to create connections with those who may not have been able to experience the joys of Pursuit attractions otherwise through special visits and community-focused events.
As Russian invasion forced Ukrainians out of their homes this past year, many Canadians were looking for ways to help. That’s why in March 2022, Pursuit’s Jasper team collaborated with local volunteers to lend a hand.
The entire Jasper community rallied around initiatives to help recently arrived Ukrainians find housing, secure local employment, gain access to health services and organize applications for things like bank accounts and social insurance numbers. Pursuit has now employed 40 newcomers and counting, many of whom have joined teams in our various restaurants and hotels in Jasper.
New Jasperites are finding their own place in their new home, and even beginning to pay generosity forward. “Our Ukrainian team members are keen to settle in and create a sense of belonging, giving back to the community through volunteering for team and community events,” says Gillian Thompson, Pursuit’s director of People and Community.
Throughout 2022, around 250 Ukrainian immigrants were invited to see their new home in a fascinating way at FlyOver Canada in Vancouver.
In partnership with locals helping in the resettlement process, FlyOver welcomed Ukrainian immigrants to explore from coast to coast aboard the flagship Canada show at no charge. Through the process, two newcomers were inspired to join the FlyOver team, with hopes of more hiring to come.
“Getting to meet these people with amazing stories of courage is inspiring and provides perspective,” says JP McLoughlin, guest experience manager at FlyOver Canada. “If we can provide a welcome-to-Canada moment — provide a positive experience and leave them with lasting memories — it’s more than worth it.”
This past December, Brewster Sightseeing buses once again transported 40 newly arrived immigrants on a snowy tour to some favorite spots in the Canadian Rockies through an ongoing partnership with the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS). Starting in Calgary, the visitors — most of whom were originally from Afghanistan — enjoyed lunch at Elk + Avenue, fun in the snow at Lake Minnewanka and an afternoon atop Sulphur Mountain at the Banff Gondola.
The newcomers are part of a group of more than 2,000 who have taken similar trips through Banff National Park over the past several years through Pursuit and CCIS’s partnership.
To celebrate Foster Care Awareness month and to help bring attention to the care system in Nevada, FlyOver partnered with Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth (SAFY) to provide families with a special experience in May 2022.
“With tight family budgets, it can be a challenge for some parents to get the opportunity to take their entire families for a fun night out,” says Chelsea Hancock, who helped organize the visit as FlyOver in Las Vegas’ marketing and brand experience manager. “We wanted a unique way to thank foster care parents and provide a one-of-a-kind experience for families and children at SAFY.”
More than 50 family members involved with SAFY visited FlyOver in Las Vegas for a welcoming event on May 25, 2022, complete with treats and unlimited flight rides. The partnership with SAFY connected the team with a resilient, caring and selfless community who provide resources to older foster youth and foster parents throughout southern Nevada.
We are building a team of passionate people determined to make a difference in the places we love. Every effort counts. Meet more of them here and discover how Promise to Place is the real deal.
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