How to stay safe on Calgary’s waterways during the long weekend

With the Bow and Elbow rivers a part of Calgary’s playground, officials are once again urging residents to be water safe during this extended holiday weekend.

It’s a message doesn’t seem to be sticking with some. Remi works along the Bow collecting rafts and paddleboards for Lazy Day Rafts and has seen it all.

“People sailing down without lifejackets, sailing down with drinks, with the rafts tied together,” he says. “We see rafts going down with way too many people on them.”

Calgary Fire Department spokesperson Carol Henke says 2024 saw water safe trends moving in the wrong direction.

“Last year we saw the second greatest numbers at Harvie Passage since 2016,” says Henke. “These incidents are considered serious considering the flow and difficulty of the Bow river in this area.”

With an anticipated rise in water activities beginning over the long weekend, Calgary police safety officer Mark Smith is reminding Calgarians that water safety messaging is not just picking out the negative things, but also reinforcing the positive behaviours like wearing a life jacket, removing the ankle strap from your paddle board, and refraining from drinking alcohol.

“When we see a kid doing something positive, we tend to give out junior peace officer badges,” says Smith.

Partners in Aquatic Safety is a collaborative effort between CFD, Calgary Police Service (CPS) and Calgary Community Safety (CCS). The group is out with the following water safety tips:

• Know before you go and make a plan: check weather and water conditions, be aware of any potential hazards specific to the waterway. Calgarians can check calgary.ca/watersafety for boating advisory updates.
• Assess the danger level: evaluate the swimming and paddling skills of your group, monitor conditions closely and avoid the rivers during high-flow advisories. Always make the safety of yourself and others a priority.
• Select the proper watercraft and bring the right safety equipment: ensure your watercraft is suitable for the chosen waterway and meets weight capacity requirements.
  • Carry a boat safety kit and have proper paddles or oars to maintain control and navigate around bridge pillars.
  • Always wear a life-jacket or personal flotation device (PFD) – check the size and weight restrictions and ensure the life-jacket fits properly, remember to zip up all zippers, click all buckles and pull straps to properly tighten.
• Never tie watercraft together on the river.
• Standup paddleboards are increasingly popular on Calgary’s waterways. Most paddleboards come with an ankle leash which are not safe for use on Calgary’s rivers, which have resulted in two fatalities in recent years and several serious incidents.
  • There is a high risk of being pulled under water or getting the leash entangled which can trap someone under water as there is no way to detach the leash during an emergency.
  • Do not use the ankle leash while paddleboarding on the river. If you’re worried about losing your board if you fall off, consider putting your phone number on the board. Using anchors on moving water poses a similar risk.
• And remember: the top three factors in water-related fatalities are not wearing a life jacket, being impaired and being exposed to water with frigid temperatures. 

More information can be found here.