Partners collaborate to search Bow River for missing persons
Searchers from the Calgary area are once again coming together to search the Bow River, and the surrounding banks, for any signs of people who may have gone missing.
This year’s search will begin at 9 a.m., on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, and will start at the Fish Creek Provincial Park Boat Launch, located at the south end of the city.
So far this year, 3,572 people have been reported missing in Calgary. And while a significant majority have been safely located, approximately 0.17 per cent remain unaccounted for. Unfortunately, it is a tragic reality that some of our outstanding missing persons may have entered our city’s waterway. As a police service, we have incredibly skilled investigators and searchers, and we are committed to using our resources to find answers for a missing person’s family.
During this year’s search, approximately 75 searchers from the Calgary Police Service (CPS), the Calgary Fire Department (CFD), the RCMP, Calgary Search and Rescue Association (CALSARA), Cochrane Fire Services (CFS), Alberta Forestry and Parks and Community Safety Peace Officers (CS) will team up to search the Bow River. TransAlta is also supporting the initiative by monitoring and adjusting the river’s flow rate to aid in the search.
CPS will be using HAWCS, as well as remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) to conduct an aerial search, while CPS, CFD, CFS, CALSARA, RCMP and CS conduct ground and water searches of the Bow River and surrounding banks. The RCMP and Alberta Forestry and Parks will be assisting with searches outside the Calgary city limits.
Over the years, this search has continued to grow in scale, and we now have eight individual partner agencies who have dedicated dozens of resources to this effort. Thank you to each of our partners for recognizing the importance of this initiative and dedicating their time, equipment and resources.
Although CPS and CFD routinely monitor the river throughout the year, water conditions are currently at their lowest and clearest, making it conducive to a more thorough largescale search.
The Alberta RCMP recognizes the benefits this initiative brings to unsolved missing person investigations and we value the partnerships that make it possible.
In the event weather does not permit aerial search efforts, the ground and water searches will still be conducted. Should remains be located during the search, the CPS, or the RCMP if outside of city limits, will work with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to determine the identity of the individual and ensure no criminal offence has been committed.