Calgary’s Bearspaw Marina not backing down amidst pushback from TransAlta, city

The Bearspaw Marina, full of motorboats, rowboats, canoes, and kayaks, is now set up in a new location.

Last month, the City of Calgary removed access to the marina’s previous location by Haskayne Legacy Park in the northwest, citing a lack of emergency response available in case of water emergencies.

However, some staff at the marina don’t agree with the decision.

The province is in charge of emergency services, not the city. We are not in the city,” said partner Lance Males. “We have had offers from Rocky View County in the event of an emergency that they would be on spot.

The city says the marina’s new location is on TransAlta land.

TransAlta has previously said the marina didn’t get approval to cross the land that is owned by the company, and it hasn’t got the permits and approvals to operate their business.

Marina owner Rick Skauge says his business did nothing wrong.

“What they have is the license from the province. What that license does, is it gives them the right to flood the area up to a certain altitude equal to where the dam is. It also precludes them from having any right to use that land,” Skauge said.

He adds he will keep his business running until a potential lawsuit surfaces to keep the marina off the Bearspaw Reservoir.

“If you want to sue me, I’m fine with that. Go ahead and try,” Skauge said. “But from all the work we’ve done, you don’t have any legs for that lawsuit.”

CityNews has reached out to the City of Calgary and TransAlta for comment.