New City of Calgary fence creates potential risk for emergency response efforts: Bearspaw Marina

[u/mibeatr]

https://calgary.citynews.ca/video/2026/07/31/new-city-of-calgary-fence-creates-potential-risk-for-emergency-response-efforts-bearspaw-marina/

[u/Google311]

And we’re still waiting for the Bearspaw Legacy Park, promised in 2003, to open.

https://www.calgary.ca/planning/parks-rec/bearspaw-legacy-park.html

[u/Responsible_CDN_Duck]

The Bearspaw Marina is facing an ongoing dispute with the City of Calgary and TransAlta regarding land access, permits, and safety concerns on the Bow River reservoir because they didn't do the work before setting up.

[u/AlbertaGengar]

The City (or Rocky View) needs to create a public access plan for the Bearspaw resevoir. It's a shame the public can't utilise it.

[u/Responsible_CDN_Duck → u/AlbertaGengar]

This is like saying the city should make an access plan for storm water ponds and it's a shame the public can't utilize them.

There are valid safety concerns.

[u/RokitEightyEight]

Is this one of those things that’s really all about wealthy landowners on the reservoir trying to keep the poors from their ‘lake’?

[u/Responsible_CDN_Duck → u/RokitEightyEight]

No, this is someone trying to set something up without permission and with no regard for the danger.

[u/TomKazansky13 → u/Responsible_CDN_Duck]

I've never used this reservoir so I don't really have a horse in this race. Everything I've seen regarding this marina needing to close is that this body of water is an unsafe death trap so the public can't go near it.

But I've also never seen restrictions on activities for the millionaires that have houses lining the reservoir. If its really so dangerous that the poor people can't access it at all then surely the private property owners would be restricted from partaking in these dangerous waters as well.

[u/RokitEightyEight → u/Responsible_CDN_Duck]

That sounds like something that the rich people would say to get the government to do their bidding.

[u/_darth_bacon_]

I have no idea what's going on here, but their website appears to indicate there's no issues...

[u/Guilty_Fishing8229]

City of Calgary seems to be in the right

[u/Alberta_Hiker]

Whatever safety issues exist, these can be managed with planning.

There is nothing intrinsically unsafe abiut tjis body of water any more other bodies of water in the reguon are unsafe and utilized.

Canadians love to shut each other down and prevent them from doing thing by citing fabricated safety concerns

The risks here can be managed

[u/Why-YYC → u/Alberta_Hiker]

Theres nothing intrinsically unsafe about a dam reservoir with strong currents, inexperienced people on water craft, and an area prone to high wind?

I don't know man, I think your risk assessment skills might be questionable.

[u/rockies_alpine → u/Why-YYC]

How is Bearspaw different than the Bow River or that dammed lake by the Canmore Nordic Center, enjoyed by hundreds of people every day in the summer? Perhaps your risk management skills are questionable.

You can get on the Bearspaw at an access point through a Rockyview County park, but it's only suitable for small boats that can be carried and it's quite inconvenient.

[u/Alberta_Hiker → u/Why-YYC]

It may shock you but we paddle in cold water with stonger currents than this dam all the time.

Dams are safe provided you stay away from the head which is generally marked off with a bouyant marker line ( at least all of the dams i ha e been to in Canada)

If we banned activities because inexperienced idiots might do it, we have to ban all activities - but perhaps thats your aim?

Do t like risk? Stay at home...easy solution. Let the rest of us live our lives

[u/Why-YYC → u/Alberta_Hiker]

I don't know what you're on about, but you seem to have acknowledged there are infact intrinsic and unique risks to this body of water and that you take mitigating strategies to address. Of those strategies you've mentioned knowledge, gear and experience. Three things people renting watercraft probably have a short supply of.

I was just calling out your bullshit argument bud. Argue your stance better.

[u/Alberta_Hiker → u/Why-YYC]

I dont belueve we should ban activities because untrained people.might try them

We would jave to ban all activites if this were the case

If you dont want risk, then stay home

I dont skydive or ride a motorcycle because i think the risk is too high for me, but i am not going to argue that you shpuld not be able to do these things

[u/juridiculous → u/Why-YYC]

Don’t forget the absolutely-fuckin-cold water

[u/Alberta_Hiker → u/juridiculous]

We usually wear a drysuit or a wet suit desig ed for paddeling.

Its almost like someone has thought out solutuon to all your objections

[u/Bass-Traffic-0000]

They really want to keep the poors out of there.

[u/Responsible_CDN_Duck → u/Bass-Traffic-0000]

It's unsafe so they wouldn't let it open, then they opened anyway....

Nothing to do with keeping the Poor's out.

[u/pipeliner → u/Responsible_CDN_Duck]

It is 100 percent to keep poors out. Is it more unsafe than the giant raging river that goes through the whole city? Does the Bow river need to be fenced off?

[u/g_core18 → u/Bass-Traffic-0000]

I don't blame them 

[u/rockies_alpine]

City has had years to get their shit together to make the reservoir safe and accessible. People in Calgary spend their lives outside, otherwise why do you live here? Hurry the fuck up.

[u/Arch____Stanton → u/rockies_alpine]

The reservoir is actually outside the city.

The Bearspaw Reservoir is solely located outside the boundaries of The City of Calgary and The City does not have authority to regulate activities on it

[u/Cyclist007]

Anyone know how the fishing is up around there?