Our 2025 Annual General Meeting took place on the evening of Monday, June 16, 2025. Following association business, speakers from the province, CRCAG board, and city brought us up to speed on the status of upstream and local mitigation efforts, as well as flood mapping.

This recap compilation shares highlights from the event, plus links to resources, speaker slides, and photos from the event.

You can view the 2025 AGM minutes here.

Association Business

CRCAG Co-Presidents Brenda Leeds Binder and Tony Morris hosted CRCAG’s 2025 AGM. Brenda opened the event with a welcome, and Tony delivered the co-president’s message, celebrating the operational status of the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir (SR1) and the many years of dedication it’s taken to reach the milestone.

“It is absolutely right for the Members of this fantastic organization, all of the very many people in the City, Provincial and Federal governments who had any hand in this outcome, and really all Calgarians, to celebrate this incredible achievement and to and give thanks on this day. And that’s principally why we’re here tonight.”

Tony highlighted CRCAG’s work since our last AGM in 2023, including our continued engagement with Alberta Transportation (TEC) and Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (EPA), participation in the “Calgary River Valleys Project” public feedback survey on future floodplain policies and regulations, and our April position statement on Bow River flood mitigation efforts.

Financial Report

CRCAG board member Greg Johnson followed with association business, including the financial report and outlook for 2026. This information can be viewed in CRCAG’s slides.

Board Member Transitions

With SR1 now operational, CRCAG also reaches a major milestone. As our focus shifts to Bow River advocacy, several long-serving board members are stepping down after years of extraordinary service.

CRCAG Board of Directors (effective June 16, 2025)

• Tony Morris, President
• Anna Mravcak, Treasurer
• Steve Forrest
• Charlie Lund
• David Chalack

For their immeasurable contributions over these many years, we offer these brief notes of thanks:

• To Brenda Leeds Binder for 12 years of extraordinary leadership since CRCAG’s founding. Serving as Co-President, her political acumen and steady guidance positioned CRCAG as a respected voice with decision makers. She engaged thoughtfully and successfully on innumerable CRCAG initiatives such as policies regarding rebuilding standards, alterations to land development rules, many open houses and town halls, public surveys, advocacy initiatives, retaining outside experts and critical input and panel participation on SR1 regulatory reviews. Her tireless work was a key driver to the completion of SR1 to protect Calgary communities.

• To Greg Johnson for contributing his financial expertise since 2015. His steady financial stewardship supported CRCAG through years of complex advocacy. Greg’s professionalism and dedication helped ensure CRCAG’s operational strength during its most pivotal years.

• To Simon Geoghegan for providing critical technical and regulatory expertise throughout his board service. With our Regulatory Subcommittee of key volunteer lawyers Lauren Bell and Rachel Kolber, his knowledge helped guide CRCAG through complex environmental and regulatory processes. Simon’s counsel was instrumental in contributing to SR1’s successful delivery.

Interested in joining or supporting the board? Let’s connect! Reach us at info@crcactiongroup.com.
Read our current board members’ bios on our website.

Speakers

Mayor Jyoti Gondek and Calgary-Elbow MLA Samir Kayande both spoke at the top of our speaker session with words of strong support for flood mitigation efforts, both emphasizing a sentiment of interconnectedness. Mayor Gondek reinforced that protecting our City against future flood events is in the interest of all Calgarians, not just those in flood-impacted areas. MLA Kayande added that, not only in the best interests of Calgary and Alberta, but it is truly in the National Interest.

We also heard from John Conrad, who, while representing Agriculture and Irrigation (AGI) at the AGM, was among CRCAG’s first collaborators in 2013.

Brenda acknowledged the additional provincial representatives in attendance and thanked them for their support:

• Cam Lane, Executive Director, Watershed Resilience and Predictions, Environment and Protected Areas
• Kate Rich, Assistant Deputy Minister, Water and Circular Economy, Environment and Protected Areas
• Tom Loo, Assistant Deputy Minister, Construction and Maintenance Division, Transportation and Economic Corridors

Presentations

Presentations from the Province, CRCAG board, and City followed. Highlights included:

Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation
M. Javid Iqbal, P.Eng., Executive Director, Water Infrastructure and Operations Branch, Primary Agriculture Division, Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation (AGI)

• Now operational, SR1 is transitioning from Transportation to AGI’s Water Infrastructure and Operations Branch (WIOB).
• AGI’s WIOB is responsible for the operation of 80+ dams and ~ 350 km of major irrigation throughout Alberta. This infrastructure is used for irrigation, water supply for communities and industry, drought / flood mitigation, rural drainage systems, habitat enhancement and protection, lake stabilization, and power generation (third party). 70% (450,000 ha) of irrigated area in Alberta is directly supplied through AGI infrastructure.
• AGI explained how SR1 will be managed, outlining major project components, project commissioning, general operating philosophy, and the project delivery model—including committees and working groups engaged, dry operations and maintenance, flood operations and monitoring (24/7 during event), and post-flood operations and cleanup.
• Read AGI’s presentation for full details (p. 29-47).
  

CRCAG Position Statement on Bow River options
Charlie Lund, CRCAG Board

• On the Bow River, the Relocated Ghost Dam Option was selected over two others under consideration. The Feasibility Study (Phase 2 of the BRRO) was completed by September 2024. Release of the formal report could occur at any time.
• The Relocated Ghost Dam will have a larger reservoir capacity due to increased area and new low level outlets. We understand that it will protect against a 1:75 flood  (1850 m³/s) with a maximum Calgary flow of ~1230 m³/s.
• Transportation and Economic Corridors (TEC) is ready to take the lead role with Phases 3 and 4 (detailed design and construction) when EPA formally hands over the project. The timeline for the project is ~10+ year estimate with multiple approvals required.
  
• An overview of CRCAG’s position statement on Bow River flood mitigation provided depth and context to each of the five (5) positions (pictured below).
• Read Charlie’s presentation for full details (p. 48-57).

City of Calgary
Frank Frigo, Water Resources Engineer, City of Calgary

• The City’s update was robust, covering updates on its Flood Resilience Plan, SR1, Flood Hazard Mapping, and the Bow River Reservoir.
• By 2025, Calgary has eliminated 71% of its average annual flood damage risk, reducing potential losses from $168M/year to significantly lower levels.
• Updated provincial Flood Hazard Zone maps are now available. Calgary’s updated map reflects completed flood mitigation (including SR1), so there’s lower flood risk for many areas in Calgary. Access at: floods.alberta.ca
• A Calgary River Valleys Groundwater Study will inform a new map and policy overlay to address groundwater-related flood risks in river valleys.
• The updated Land Use Bylaw is coming in 2026. Draft regulations are being developed to align development with new flood hazard data, aiming to protect vulnerable areas, especially basements. Planning public engagement for November. 
• Read Frank’s presentation for full details (p. 58-75).

You can download the 2025 AGM materials from all presenters here:

• 2025 CRCAG AGM All Slides (pdf)

Additional resources:

• 2025 CRCAG AGM package (agenda, speaker bios, links to resources)
• Who is CRCAG?
• Raw Aerial Footage of Calgary, Alberta Flooding – June 21, 2013
• Calgary Floods 2013 21 June Bow River Downtown Center Street and NW Bowmont Park flood flooding
• Flood mapping:
  • Website – Final flood studies and maps
  • View published maps in an easy-to-use application at floods.alberta.ca
• All photos from the event

Q&A Speaker Panel

Following the formal presentations, we invited speakers to participate in a Q&A panel moderated by our co-president, Brenda Leeds Binder.

The panel responded to a range of questions from the audience regarding flood hazard mapping for particular neighborhoods, public access to the SR1 area once fully completed, other possible flood mitigation and water storage options on the Bow River watershed and other details arising from the information provided.

Thank you to the (apx 75) members who attended, the volunteers who orchestrated the event, the elected officials and representatives from administration who joined, and our valued speakers.

If you have any questions or comments for us, please reach out to us at info@crcactiongroup.com.

Thanks,

Your CRCAG Board