Complete Guide: Sick Notes for Jasper Seasonal Workers (2026)
Everything Jasper seasonal workers need to know about getting sick notes — from IEC visa holders to hotel staff to Marmot Basin employees.
## The Complete Guide to Sick Notes for Jasper Seasonal Workers
If you're a seasonal worker in Jasper — whether you arrived last week or you've been here all season — this guide covers everything you need to know about getting a sick note when you can't make it to work.
### Jasper's Seasonal Workforce: A Unique Situation
Jasper's economy is almost entirely dependent on seasonal labour. During peak seasons, the town's working population roughly triples from 5,000 to over 15,000. Most of these workers face the same challenges:
- **No family doctor in Jasper** (most family practices aren't accepting new patients)
- **No Alberta health card** (IEC workers, LMIA workers, and new arrivals from other provinces)
- **No vehicle** (many live in employer-provided staff accommodation)
- **No walk-in clinic** (Seton-Jasper Healthcare Centre is the only option, with 3+ hour waits)
### Your Rights as a Seasonal Worker in Alberta
Regardless of your visa status, country of origin, or how long you've been in Alberta, you have rights:
- **Alberta Employment Standards apply to all workers** in the province, including seasonal and temporary workers
- **Employers can request a medical note** for absences exceeding 3 consecutive days (Section 53.97)
- **Many Jasper employers request notes for shorter absences** during peak season when staffing is critical
- **A sick note from any CPSA-registered physician** satisfies the legal requirement — online or in-person
- **Your employer cannot require you to visit a specific clinic** or use a specific doctor
### Getting a Sick Note Without an Alberta Health Card
If you're on an IEC working holiday visa, an LMIA-based work permit, or you recently moved from another province:
**MedLetter does not bill Alberta Health Services.** Our service is a flat $49 fee regardless of your insurance status. You do not need:
- An Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) card
- A family doctor
- Provincial health insurance from any province
- Travel insurance (though you should have it)
You simply need to be currently residing and working in Alberta.
### How to Get a Sick Note in Jasper (Step by Step)
1. **Go to MedLetter.ca** on your phone or computer
2. **Complete the 5-minute intake form** — basic information about your illness and employer
3. **Pay the $49 flat fee** — credit card, debit, or Apple/Google Pay
4. **A CPSA physician reviews your request** and prepares your official sick note
5. **Your signed sick note arrives in your email** — typically within hours
6. **Forward it to your employer or HR department**
That's it. No clinic visit, no driving to Hinton, no 3-hour hospital wait.
### Specific Guidance by Employer Type
#### Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
The JPL employs hundreds of seasonal workers across housekeeping, food & beverage, front desk, recreation, and maintenance. Their HR department accepts CPSA-issued medical documentation. Forward your MedLetter note to your department manager and HR.
#### Marmot Basin Ski Resort
Marmot Basin operates during ski season (November-May) with seasonal staff in lift operations, ski patrol, rental shop, food services, and guest services. All departments accept online physician notes. Especially useful during peak season when injuries and illness are common.
#### Parks Canada (Jasper National Park)
Parks Canada is a federal employer with its own sick leave policies. CPSA-issued medical documentation meets federal government requirements. Whether you work at the Information Centre, trail maintenance, wildlife management, or park gates, MedLetter notes are accepted.
#### Pursuit (Jasper SkyTram, Maligne Tours, Columbia Icefield)
Pursuit operates multiple tourism attractions in and around Jasper. Their HR department accepts medical documentation from any licensed Alberta physician. Forward your MedLetter note to your supervisor.
#### Sawridge Inn & Other Hotels
All Jasper hotels accept CPSA-issued medical documentation. This includes Sawridge Inn, Crimson Jas