The Need for a Comprehensive Flood Mitigation Strategy to Protect the Economic Engine of Canada – Calgary, Alberta   By Calgary River Communities Action Group (CRCAG)   A bigger version of the flood overlay map can be viewed here.   Flooding is the most common hazard in Canada that leads to economic loss. Losses from the 2013 southern Alberta floods alone are estimated to be $6 billion – which is […]

Last week the CRCAG sent out a flood questionnaire to all of the candidates running in the Calgary-Elbow by-election. A table providing a side-by-side comparison has been generated with the answers received from each candidate. The CRCAG is a non-partisan organization and the comparison table we are presenting is strictly for information purposes. We encourage all members to keep informed of all by-election issues determined to be of importance. The […]

Members of the CRCAG Board of Directors were present at the Calgary-Elbow debate and were pleased to hear all candidates acknowledge the importance of flood mitigation. The CRCAG was founded, and continues to be led, by homeowners who advocate for the protection of Elbow and Bow River Communities. We are committed to working with all levels of government as a non-partisan organization, seek to maintain the integrity of our established […]

Message from Emma May I am thrilled to accept the position of Executive Director of the Premier’s Office in Southern Alberta and to have the opportunity to work directly with Premier Prentice.  Shortly after the Premier’s announcement on flood mitigation he invited to meet to discuss his vision for transforming McDougall Place into a vital community hub. A place where government and community come together and connect. A place welcome […]

We have the ingredients on the counter and we’re ready to mix our Mint Juleps. After 15 unbelievable months for each of our members and many more in Calgary and southern Alberta, we have finally seen the alignment of an understanding of the realities of Calgary as a river city, and real political leadership. With Premier Prentice’s unequivocal announcement of important mitigation strategies for Calgary, we’re able to exhale just […]

This morning Premier Jim Prentice made commitments to build two mitigation projects. CRCAG attended the Press Conference. The GOA will construct a dry reservoir in the Springbank area to accommodate flood waters from the Elbow River. Cabinet has approved this decision. It is anticipated this project will be complete within 3 years. The Premier also committed to negotiating a long term agreement with Transalta to ensure the Ghost Reservoir will […]

The Alberta Government enacted Bill 27, Flood Recovery and Reconstruction Act, in December 2013, which amends the Municipal Government Act. The Act allows the Cabinet of the Alberta Government to make specific regulations to limit development in a floodway (“Floodway Regulation”), The stated purpose of the Floodway Regulation will be to ensure a consistent minimum level of land use control in flood hazard areas is applied across the Province (though […]

CRCAG members, we have a new provincial government and it is imperative that we reach out to our new leaders and insist that this Premier and his Cabinet make Flood Mitigation a priority. Please share this letter, or your own version thereof with our new government officials, business leaders, your friends and family. We need you to stay engaged on this matter. Your emails and phone calls make a huge […]

Recently Calgary-Centre MP Joan Crockatt wrote an open letter to Jim Prentice urging the Premier-elect to “take some real action” and “step up to the plate” for people in Calgary river communities1. The Calgary River Communities Action Group could not agree more. Many of our members have had their Disaster Recovery Program (DRP) files simply “closed” and are now facing an extended and uncertain appeal process. What is most frustrating […]

Water Collaborative Update -July 17, 2014 The Water Collaborative meets monthly to review and discuss Provincial and Municipal mitigation projects. Update on the Springbank Diversion (SR1) The RFP for SR1 has been issued. The request for a consultancy firm to handle the final engineering and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has gone out and will close early August. To date, there has been significant work done on the environmental impact study […]