Brianna & Ryan Bray - Jasper Wild Fire Disaster Relief

Help Brianna and Ryan Rebuild After Devastating Loss

Imagine losing everything overnight. In the blink of an eye that has been what has happened to many of the citizens of Jasper. This unimaginable reality has struck Ryan and Brianna, a devoted young couple from Jasper, Alberta. Their lives were upended when a fierce wildfire swept through their community, leaving them with nothing but a few clothes and the companionship of their beloved dogs.

Ryan and Bri are safe due to the timely evacuation orders, but their cherished home was reduced to ashes. This home was not just a place; it was a dream realized through years of hard work and dedication. They poured their hearts into creating a warm, welcoming space, even opening an Airbnb, The Fox Den Suite, to share their love for nature, their community, and hospitality with guests from around the world.

Their journey to homeownership was marked by perseverance and sacrifice. In 2017, after countless hours of working second jobs and enduring long separations due to work assignments, they finally purchased their dream home at 719 Miette. This historic house, built in 1930, and passed to them from a beloved long term resident Helga. It was their sanctuary, a place where they envisioned a future filled with memories of tending the garden, hosting friends, and savoring quiet mornings with coffee in hand.

Ryan, a renowned Parks Canada photographer, had already faced significant challenges, including a brain injury in 2017 that ended his career. Despite this, one of his photographs was proudly featured on a 2019 Canadian stamp, a testament to his resilience and talent. Bri fell in love with Jasper after coming out to work for one summer, and decided it was home. She continues to work for Parks Canada being able to work for an organization that helps protect special places like Jasper. She loves giving back to her community by volunteering for friends of Jasper and others. Jasper is the place where they met on a mountainside, fell in love, got married, and found their forever home.

Today, Ryan and Brianna are seeking solace on Vancouver Island with friends who have also been displaced. They face immediate needs for food and clothing and can’t even comprehend the things they will need going forward as they grapple with the overwhelming loss of their home and possessions. While insurance will provide some relief, the road to recovery is long and fraught with obstacles.

Ryan’s words capture the essence of their heartbreak and hope: “We officially had to say goodbye to our little home as did many of our friends, neighbors, and community members due to the wildfire. However, we will never say goodbye to what we promised Helga we would do…live a beautiful life at 719 Miette and continue to create memories that will last a lifetime.”

Despite the tremendous stress and tragedy they are experiencing, Ryan and Bri remain positive, have hope that their beloved town can rebuild, and express gratitude for the support they’ve received and the community efforts to save Jasper’s infrastructure. They are an extraordinary couple who have already faced many obstacles and learned to move forward. They have given so much to their community and now need our help to rebuild their lives.

Your support can make a profound difference in helping Ryan and Brianna find stability and begin the arduous process of rebuilding. Please consider donating to their GoFundMe campaign and sharing their story. Together, we can help them rise from the ashes and create new memories in the place they’ve always called home.

*GoFundMe Organizer; I'm Sarah Thompson (Bray), one of Ryan's big sisters, and very lucky to have Bri as a sister-in-law. This gofundme account was set up collabratively with both Ryan & Bri, all funds raised will go directly to them.