Partners in Aquatic Safety remind Calgarians to stay safe on Calgary’s waterways this summer

With Canada Day approaching and above-average temperatures forecasted for the summer, The City of Calgary's Partners in Aquatic Safety are urging Calgarians to prioritize safety while enjoying water activities.

Partners in Aquatic Safety is a collaborative effort of the Calgary Fire Department (CFD), Calgary Police Service (CPS) and Calgary Community Safety (CCS). The group officially launched the water recreation season today with a strong message emphasizing the importance of being cautious and prepared when venturing onto Calgary’s waterways.

With more Calgarians than ever expected to be enjoying our City’s lakes and rivers, the Partners emphasized that “where there's water, there's risk,” and that good safety practices can prevent trouble not only on fast-moving water like the Bow River, but also on calm waters like community lakes.

“Our City’s waterways are wild places that are seeing a growing number of preventable incidents,” says Carol Henke, Calgary Fire Department Public Information Officer. “Last year saw a 31 per cent increase in aquatic rescues over 2023 and an above average number of fatalities. Based on trends in river use, the Calgary Fire Department estimates a potential all-time peak in water rescues for 2025.”

Throughout the summer, Calgary Fire Department’s aquatic crews patrol the Bow and Elbow rivers and respond to incidents on all bodies of water within Calgary. Law enforcement officials from CPS and CCS will also patrol Calgary’s waterways, pathways and riverbanks to enforce municipal bylaws and provincial statutes.

“The water is a popular destination for Calgarians during the summer months,” says Inspector Kurt Jacobs of the Calgary Police Service. “Whether you’re floating, kayaking, paddle boarding or boating, we’re reminding everyone to wear a life jacket, carry the proper safety equipment, and never operate a watercraft while impaired. Impaired operation on the water is considered impaired driving and is a chargeable offence.”

Calgarians are reminded that not wearing a life jacket or PFD on Calgary’s waterways can result in a fine up to $500 and a mandatory court appearance.

“Wearing a lifejacket or personal flotation device is not just a choice; it’s the law,” says Inspector Sue Wall, Calgary Community Safety. “Bylaw and CPS officers are dedicated to enforcing water safety bylaws, so let’s protect ourselves and avoid fines while enjoying Calgary rivers and lakes.”

To ensure a safe experience on Calgary’s waterways, the Partners in Aquatic Safety recommended the following:

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.

Visit calgary.ca/watersafety for more information.

Additional information & incident trends:

Current incident tracking and modelling from the Calgary Fire Department (CFD) project a potential all-time peak in water rescues for 2025. See “Aquatic Rescues Monthly Trend” graph.
The greatest number of water rescues occur in July, averaging 52 rescues that month since 2016.
Geographically, Calgary Fire sees the greatest number of water rescues on the Bow River between the Shouldice Boat Ramp downstream to Harvie Passage. The communities of Montgomery and Inglewood, at either end of this float, see the greatest number of aquatic rescues in the waters adjacent to their communities.
Lakes and ponds across Calgary also see notable aquatic rescue incidents, including popular locations around the Glenmore Reservoir, community lakes and smaller bodies of water, including the Saddle Ridge storm water pond.
In 2024, the second greatest number of rescues were recorded at Harvie Passage since 2016, a popular white-water destination that requires appropriate water craft, skill and water safety equipment. These incidents are considered serious, considering the flow and difficulty of the Bow River in that area.
In 2024, Calgary Fire recorded seven aquatic rescue incidents involving paddleboards and individuals falling off them. One of these incidents involved a person being tied to a paddleboard and subsequently dragged downriver.
Calgary Fire has attended a total of 29 fatalities related to aquatic rescue calls since 2016, including four in 2024. Since 2016, the yearly average number of fatalities has been three. However, in 2024, the number of deaths exceeded the average.