Jasper benefit: New author Amanda Skwarok turns lost dog moment into kids’ book, fundraiser

Almost a year after the fires that devastated Jasper in July 2024, the story of one little white dog and one big adventure has sparked a fundraiser, thanks to Edmonton youth psychologist and author Amanda Skwarok.

She wrote and illustrated “Jasper in Jasper: A True Canadian Tail.” For all its 62 colourfully illustrated pages, the little book packs a punch about the collective efforts of people coming together.

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“It’s not just about the bond between a pet and their owner or the beloved mountains — which many can also resonate with in this book — but it’s also about the power of community and the lengths we will go to for a neighbour in need,” Skwarok said.

Jasper was her miniature American Eskimo-Bichon Frise cross, the centre of her Edmonton home and universe — sweet, with a lovable demeanour and a perpetual pink-tongued grin.

Inseparable, she and Jasper visited the Jasper townsite every Canada Day.

But in 2008, something went wrong.

“This particular year, there was something about the fireworks or it just it spooked him, and he ended up breaking free from his collar. We were in Centennial Park, and he ran off into the crowd of people, and he ended up sneaking under the fence,” she recalled.

For dogs on the loose, a fight-or-flight instinct often kicks in where their fear leads them to evade capture — and that happened with Jasper.

“I spent the whole night reaching out to all the cab companies and running around to people asking if they’ve seen this dog. And we had to spend the night apart because I didn’t find him, and I didn’t know that he had run so far,” she said.

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Eventually, Skwarok learned his path — he ran from Centennial Park all the way to Whistler’s campground (where Skwarok’s family usually stayed).

“Not a lot of dogs running kind of wild in the mountains make it,” Skwarok said.

“There were several times where I was so close to him, but couldn’t get him.”

Like a dual memoir, her book follow’s Jasper’s side of the story, his perils and adventures with wildlife and Whistler’s Mountain, and then shifts to Skwarok’s perspective, searching and putting up lost-dog posters.

“The whole town actually came together to help me search for Jasper. They put out two search and rescue teams. People were calling me and texting me, and it was just such a beautiful journey. And even the Parks people came and helped, and they got me an animal trap, and it was just it was amazing to see how the community came together,” she said.

Finally, with the help of a safe animal trap, the little escapee was reunited with his best friend, tail a-wag and liquid brown eyes bright, despite being a bit worse for wear.

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“We went back in following years, and he was kind of famous in the town for a little bit. Everyone kind of knew who he was,” she recalled.

Jasper crossed the rainbow bridge in 2016 after 11 years of squeezing as much joy as possible into each day.

“I felt very grateful towards the town. They did something so big for me, and were so supportive and loving, this was kind of a way to to pay it forward,” she said.

“When the wildfires hit, I just like I felt very compelled to find a way to give back. I thought about writing the book just in his kind of legacy. And then when the fires happened, I thought, ‘Oh, my goodness, this is just a push to finish this book and use it as a way to gather donations,’ ” she said.

“It was a very big passion project.”

A child and teen psychologist, Skwarok was previously an elementary teacher, and her training tells her storytelling is a way to get a lot done.

“There’s such an importance with, you know, storytelling and community connection and bringing people together. I wanted to create something that would not only support the town, but also to bring this idea of literacy and community and connection, all in one piece,” she said.

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While geared to younger children, Jasper in Jasper engages readers at all levels.

“I think parents would even connect with it too, and that’s kind of the feedback I’ve been getting,” she said.

Donations for the book go to the Jasper Community Team Society, which helps assess and distribute funds where they are needed most.

“As the town rebuilds and tourism ramps up, donations will help with the towns overall recovery. Sometimes, right after a disaster, people rally together to raise awareness, but a year later, it can be forgotten about. So I want to reignite that sense of community and generosity,” Skwarok said.

“Seeing the way people resonate with the book and this cause reinforces why community matters so much.”

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