Boating on Calgary rivers? Officials urge safety precautions this summer
Calgary will see record water activity this summer. Police warn that falling in cold water can kill — life jackets are critical.
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Calgary is bracing for an unprecedented level of water activity on its rivers this summer, and officials are urging residents to take serious safety precautions before heading out on the water.
"A day on the water can turn from fun to tragic," Calgary police Staff Sgt. Andy Woodward said during a news conference Friday at Harvie Passage, a water recreational spot that opened eight years ago after the 2013 floods. "Falling in the water can potentially kill you."
The effort, led by the city's Aquatic Safety department, included Calgary Fire Department, Emergency Management & Community Safety, and Calgary 9-1-1.
Most of the city's rescue operations happen on the Bow River between the Shouldice Boat Ramp and Harvie Passage, affecting the communities of Montgomery and Inglewood most. In the last 10 years, the city has recorded 30 deaths from drowning, one in 2026 and three last year. Most rescues occur in July, which averages 50 operations.
Woodward said impairment, exposure to cold water, and the absence of a life jacket are three factors behind most fatalities. Those on a watercraft without a life jacket will be fined up to $500 and be required to make a court appearance.
Officials advised people to visit the City of Calgary's website for any hazards on a waterway, assess dangerous conditions before leaving, check for high-flow advisories, and ensure a suitable watercraft with appropriate weight capacity and adequate safety equipment, including life jackets, paddles, boards and ankle leashes.
Calgary Fire also recorded seven aquatic rescue incidents involving paddleboards and individuals falling off them. One incident involved a person being tied to a paddleboard and subsequently dragged downriver.
The city issued an advisory on May 29 urging people to avoid boating on the river due to higher flow rates from melting snowpacks and heavy rainfall. The advisory was lifted, but officials cautioned that conditions remain unpredictable and can change without warning.