A stone’s throw from Marmot Lodge on Connaught Drive sits Evil Dave’s Grill. Serving up “wicked food” since 2006, the Jasper mainstay was purchased in 2007 by Mike Day and his wife, Cyndi. Since then, Day has helped develop the globally inspired, locally sourced fare that the restaurant is known for. Delicious food and warm welcomes are why this spot is a favourite for residents and visitors alike.
In 1986, then-Torontonian Day visited Jasper for the first time. After returning in 1989, he stayed for good. “I moved out west then and just fell in love with the community," he recalls.
When the 2024 wildfire swept over Jasper National Park, Evil Dave’s Grill remained standing in its corner of town. Day's home, however, was lost to the flames. Still, once the fire was contained, Day and his family — some of whom had also lost homes — all returned to Jasper.
Even in the most difficult times, Day says the sense of community in town shone through.
“Everyone knew someone who had lost something,” he says. “There were lots of jokes, lots of laughs, lots of crying, lots of hugging. You didn't have to say much to understand each other.”
During the evacuation, Day grabbed anything sentimental he could bring in the car, including his prize Martin guitar to help pass time. The rest of his guitar collection stayed at the restaurant, which remained intact, while his other possessions were lost with his house. “At that point, I had six guitars and three pairs of socks,” he says. “It’s a little thing, but it left me feeling like we dodged one. There’s a silver lining here.”
More than 35 years after Day first visited Jasper, the town has been forever changed by the fire — but the welcoming spirit, according to Day, perseveres.
“I felt like I was home,” Day says of the return. “Even though I didn't have a house, I was home.”
And Evil Dave’s Grill? Open for business once again.
“Even though it was only 51 days, for some reason, it felt like it was the first day we'd ever opened a restaurant,” says Day. “We’re returning to that sense of normalcy, even though it’s a new normal. That, I think, is a positive for the entire community.”
Join us in Jasper and support the incredible people that make the town what it is. Book a Jasper Strong Package and bundle your Marmot Lodge or Forest Park Hotel stay with a $200 gift card to Evil Dave's Grill, plus a $50 donation to recovery efforts.
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