Wildfire Relief for Al Hadden and Laura Coulson in Jasper

What started out as an annual summer vacation for Laura and Al, has quickly turned into the most tragic and devastating event of their lives.

On July 24th, the town of Jasper was hit by devastating wildfires, damaging and destroying houses and businesses of those that called it their home. While much of the town remains intact, Laura and Al heartbreakingly lost their home and everything they owned. Laura and Al poured every ounce of their love and personalities into their home, which was regularly opened to family, friends, and guests from around the world. What we hope to accomplish with this campaign is to provide Laura and Al the much needed assistance to start their long journey of recovery.

Laura and Al met in Vancouver in 2011. Pursuing a career with CN Rail, Al made the difficult decision to move to Edson, Alberta. Not wanting to stay put in Vancouver and be apart from her new found love, Laura made the move to Edson in 2013. Shortly after that, they moved to the nearby town of Jasper, quickly falling in love with the national park and the community. Al transferred to Jasper with CN Rail, and over the years, made his climb from Conductor to Engineer. Laura initially began a career with the local newspaper, then Parks Canada, before taking a leap into entrepreneurship as Alberta marriage commissioner. Growing Behitched by Laura and wanting to share the beauty of Jasper with more couples, Laura opened Jasper Park Elopements in 2024 with her business partner, Ashley. Laura and Al also operated an AirBnB from their home called ‘The Bird’s Hollow’, welcoming guests from around the world to partake in the beauty and charm of their town in the mountains.

Laura and Al’s traumatic journey began with an annual trip to a friend's cottage. However, Al received the news that his grandmother was in dire condition on Vancouver Island. Laura and Al didn’t hesitate to change plans and began their journey west. Later that night, while stopped over in Vancouver, they received the news that the community of Jasper was being evacuated. They had no option but to continue their journey with only the possessions they had with them for a short trip, and wait with bated breath for any information about the fate of their home. It was a mere 48 hours that they received the news that their home, belongings, and means of income, were destroyed by the intense blaze. As if that weren't enough, the day after learning of the destruction of their home, Al's grandmother passed away. The heartbreak is insurmountable.

Although Al and Laura will receive some financial assistance from insurance and community relief efforts, their main sources of income have been disrupted. Laura's wedding businesses in Jasper, Al's train operations out of Jasper, and their Airbnb, which was lost in the fire, are no longer viable. With the uncertainty of when it will be safe to return to Jasper, this fundraiser hopes to provide additional support to help them cope with the complete loss of their income.

Currently, Laura and Al are displaced and staying in Al’s late grandmother’s home, with friends who also lost everything. The hours seem like days, and days seem like weeks, as they fight to comprehend what to do, and how to move forward. With uncertainty of when or where their next source of income will come from - they are in immediate assistance of funds to assist with food, clothing and other necessities as they work to rebuild their lives and livelihoods. Every cent counts, but we understand not everyone is in a position to be able to donate - so we ask that you still please share this message. It’s a small world! You might be surprised at who you may know that would want to help!

A MESSAGE FROM LAURA:

“Al and I built our home in Jasper over the last 9.5 years in a community unlike any other. Where you can't walk down the street without seeing a familiar face. Where we can walk and bike anywhere in our little town and our commute to work is 4 blocks. Where you can go outside everyday and gasp at the beauty of the national park. Where I've been able to pursue my passion and build three amazing businesses that let me do what I love every single day. Where friends have become family. The loss that our town and community are experiencing is unfathomable. As the smoke clears and we receive the news that Jasper still stands, we have hope. Hope that there is something to go back to, a place to rebuild our home and our businesses. Hope that we will once again host friends and family around our dinner table. Jasper is a place where we call home, with a community that cares for one another. Together, we will rebuild.”

My name is Sherwood Taylor Coulson, and I live in Calgary, Alberta. Laura Coulson is my sister, Al Hadden is my brother-in-law. Jasper is a second home to me. This fundraiser was put together through a collaborative effort including Laura Coulson (sister), Al Hadden (brother-in-law), Alex Coulson (brother), Nicole Larosa (sister-in-law) and Alex Coolich (partner). We are all extremely devastated by the loss of Al and Laura's home and livelihood and want to do everything possible to help them. We feel this fundraiser will allow those that can not help directly to contribute to the rebuilding effort. All proceeds are going directly to Laura Coulson and Al Hadden to assist them on this journey. Thank you to all that donate and/or share this message.