City Flood Recovery Program Earns Award

The City of Calgary has won an award from the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) for facilitation work supporting our 2013 flood recovery efforts.

The IAF promotes, supports and advances the practice of professional facilitation. The City won Silver in the Association’s Facilitation Impact Awards (FIA), an initiative to recognize facilitation excellence in businesses, governments, and not-for-profit organizations. The City was selected from among 42 submissions from around the world and was the only Canadian municipality and one of three Canadian applicants to make the top 20.

The award program is designed to:

• Promote awareness of the role of facilitation in achieving positive and impactful results;
• Reward the use of facilitation within organizations, communities, and society in general; and
• Recognize excellence in facilitation practices.

Front to back: Kathy Sokolan-Oblak, Recovery Planner; Elaine Wong,
Project Management Consultant;  Erina Possak, Project Management Consultant;
Tom Gosse, Team Lead & Consultant
Missing is Christine Arthurs, Recovery Director

The first ever Recovery Operations Centre (ROC) in Calgary was set up within days of the June 2013 flood to help The City and citizens recover from the worst natural disaster in modern history.

With the help of City facilitators and project management experts, the Recovery Office and staff from across the Corporation played a major role in helping City staff plan, implement and advance flood recovery efforts.

“The City of Calgary has been very successful in flood recovery efforts and that can be directly linked to the numerous facilitated sessions that supported recovery efforts,” said Recovery Planner Kathy Sokolan-Oblak. “Successful facilitation enabled us to move recovery efforts along and has helped us develop and implement ongoing recovery plans and mitigation measures. By engaging citizens, partners and our staff, we not only advanced recovery, we are now better positioned to handle any future disaster, whether it’s a flood or some other type of shock or stressor.”

Facilitation helped the broader recovery team:

• Create a culture of one City team with a common goal and one voice;
• Break down silos and enhance relationships across the organization and with external partners; and
• Build corporate resilience by advancing the knowledge and skills staff developed as they advance recovery efforts for The City and the broader community.

“I’m proud to have been a part of the group of professionals who took on the multiple and varied facilitator roles throughout 18 + months of flood recovery,” said Erina Possak with The City of Calgary’s Corporate Project Management Centre. “To have our work recognized by the IAF just adds to the whole experience.”

Kimberly Bain, Global Chair of the IAF, said the winning entries demonstrate the value facilitation can add to a project or initiative. “I truly believe that facilitation excellence can be a powerful source of change in organizations and communities. This is concrete proof that group facilitation and group process methodologies yield significant results.”

This is the first year the IAF awards program has been selected at a worldwide level; previous years’ awards have been granted by regions. In 2014, The City’s Cultural Transformation Project won a Platinum Award and Calgary Transit won a Gold Award the Facilitation Impact Awards in the Americas Division.

Zoo Flood Mitigation Project – Upcoming information sessions

Calgarians are invited to an open house on Thursday, October 8, to learn more about the Zoo Flood Mitigation project.

The project will protect the zoo against future flooding, preserving one of Calgary’s greatest assets, and ensuring that the zoo will be able to teach and delight Calgarians and visitors for generations to come.

The project includes flood protection measures such as below-ground steel sheets, above-ground berms, and a pumping system.

Construction on the project is anticipated to begin in December, 2015, and will require closing Zoo Road over the next two winters (approx. December 2015 – June 2016 and September 2016 – June 2017). Zoo Road will re-open during the summer months, and the Calgary Zoo will be open and operating as usual throughout construction.

About the Open House
Date: Thursday, October 8
Time: 5-8 p.m.
Location: The Alexandra Centre (922 9 Ave S.E.)
Parking: Street parking and bike racks available

At the open house, citizens will be provided with project details, including:

• Renderings of the planned barriers
• Anticipated construction timelines
• Impacts to traffic and associated detours
• Project alignment with 12 Street S.E. bridge replacement 

Staff from The City of Calgary and the Calgary Zoo will be in attendance to answer questions and address concerns.

For more details on the project or the information session, please visit calgary.ca/ZooFloodProject

Calgary safety codes officers lend a hand after flood waters hit Chestermere

For City of Calgary safety codes officers Michael Kennelly and Vernon Durkee, a typical day at work means inspecting construction projects to ensure safety and compliance with the Alberta Building Code.

But last month, they used their skills and knowledge in a different way to help residents in Chestermere after torrential rain and hail flooded hundreds of homes.

City of Calgary Safety Codes Officer Michael Kennelly

The City of Chestermere offered free safety inspections to residents, and Kennelly and Durkee volunteered to assist - visiting an estimated 40 homes over the course of two days. They were checking the extent of flood damage and offering advice to homeowners, including structural issues, mould, wet drywall and more.

“It felt great to help out a fellow municipality in a time of need,” says Kennelly. “The flooding in Chestermere was traumatic for everyone involved. People were at their most vulnerable point; emotions and fear were running high. It was wonderful to be able to be there and to reassure people about what comes next, and that maybe the damage to their home wasn’t as bad as they feared.”

Durkee and Kennelly said that most of the damage to the homes they inspected was minimal, and their advice included ripping out drenched carpet and replacing drywall.

“We used what others at The City of Calgary learned during our flood and applied it to help people in Chestermere,” says Durkee.

The Safety Codes Council of Alberta granted Kennelly and Durkee temporary designation to assist Chestermere, as normally they are only certified to complete inspections in Calgary. Funding for The City of Calgary to help during an event of this magnitude is typically covered by the Disaster Recovery Program through the province of Alberta.

“Working with The City of Chestermere was fantastic,” says Kennelly. “The gratitude we experienced was immense. It was also amazing for training purposes. I’m a fairly new safety codes officer, and it was great to learn about how other municipalities do things.”

Chestermere Deputy Mayor Christopher Steeves says the storms experienced in July had a massive impact on many residents.

“Our community is very resilient,” Steeves says. “We have been working hard to do everything we can to help our citizens get back on their feet after the flooding. We appreciate the support we received from our neighbours and partners at The City of Calgary during this challenging time and would like to pass on our thanks for their assistance.”

In addition to sending safety inspectors to Chestermere, The City of Calgary also allowed Chestermere to use Calgary landfills for flood-damaged items at a reduced rate through Chestermere’s collection bins.

In the past, The City of Calgary has assisted in many ways with emergency operations during disasters in Slave Lake and High River.

More information about flood recovery:
Calgary: calgary.ca/floodrecovery
Chestermere: chestermere.ca/floodsupport

Liveable Cities Forum: Planning for Resiliency

Since the 2013 floods, The City has been doing a lot of work to restore river banks, study how the river has changed, continue to improve response timing and plan for a flood resilient Calgary. As part of this work, The City of Calgary is hosting the 2015 Livable Cities Forum September 28 to 30,
2015, including a community event that is open to the public (more information will be available closer to the event date).

The Forum brings together municipalities, water management professionals, elected officials and other stakeholders to work together on solutions through the theme of building more flood resilient communities.

“We have built the conference to focus on four things,” said Carolyn Bowen, Program Manager of Flood Resiliency and Mitigation. “Understanding, which focuses on assessing the economic and social impacts of flooding. Planning, which looks at how flood resilience can be incorporated into land use development. Mainstreaming, which is resilience within organizations. Advancing, which highlights natural resiliency measures, climate change considerations, and how to empower people and organizations.”

During the conference, best practices and lessons learned will be shared. Participants will learn how to achieve resiliency through hands-on opportunities and walk away with established networks and partnerships that will continue to advance the understanding and achievement of municipal flood resiliency in Canada. The Forum includes 23 concurrent sessions and study tours of areas in Calgary and High River that were impacted by the 2013 flood. An event, open to the public, is also planned for the Tuesday of the conference.

“The Forum is a great opportunities for people from a variety of municipalities to share their experiences and response to flooding, and what they have done to plan for future events,” says Bowen. “Sharing ideas and experiences makes us better prepared as Canadian municipalities to be more flood resilient.”

The Livable Cities Forum is just one component of The City’s plan for resiliency of water resources. The City continues to plan for drought, utilizing technology to manage water use and irrigation, and maintaining a high standard of water quality as part of its water management program.

For more information on the 2015 Livable Cities Forum, visit livablecitiesforum.com.

Flood Mitigation: taking steps to build resiliency

With recent news stories about the devastating floods in Houston and in Cache Creek, BC, building flood resiliency in Calgary is a timely topic that The City continues to address.  

Elbow River Bridge Construction, Fall 2014

Although almost two years have passed since the June 2013 Flood, for many Calgarians building flood resiliency remains important. Results from the 2014 Citizen Satisfaction Survey indicate that 93 per cent of Calgarians believe that The City should invest more or the same in providing protection from river flooding. And, that is what The City is working towards.  

For Calgary and Calgarians, building flood resiliency means increasing our ability to quickly recover from a flood event, as well as taking preventative measures that will help to mitigate flooding in future. Over the past two years, more than 200 repair or restoration projects have been identified to contribute to Calgary’s flood resiliency.

“The Citizen Satisfaction Survey told us that 85 per cent of Calgarians believe protection from river flooding is important,” says Carolyn Bowen, Program Manager, Flood Resiliency and Mitigation. “We are taking a comprehensive and collaborative approach to implementing the most effective combination of solutions to mitigate the impacts of flooding in our city.”

Some of the key steps The City has taken to improve flood resiliency to date include: 

• Strengthening our understanding of river flooding by improving river monitoring stations, river level forecasting and flood inundation mapping.
• Securing $14.89 million in funding for four projects through the Province’s Alberta Community Resilience Program.
• Restoring and reinforcing 19 critical and high priority areas, including bridges and riverbanks, to make them more resilient to flooding.
• Delivering flood recovery and preparedness presentations to 6,000 citizens and developing flood readiness information and tools, now available at calgary.ca/floodinfo.

In July 2013 The City of Calgary created an Expert Management Panel to steer The City’s River Flood Mitigation Program. The Expert Management Panel developed a report that included 27 recommendations to achieve a safer, more flood resilient city. To view the Panel’s recommendations and the progress The City has made on them, to date, you can download the Flood Resiliency and Mitigation 2014 Annual Report. 

Flood permit grant program extended through 2015

Janet Boyd's home - Before

It's a Christmas present Janet Boyd has been waiting for.

The Calgary senior’s home, is finally rebuilt 18 months after the Alberta floods destroyed it. A permit grant program jointly funded by the Canadian Red Cross and The City of Calgary helped Boyd complete her Mission-area home’s rebuild.

Boyd, 81, left her home with only a suitcase when the flood waters came in June 2013. Her son, Peter, said she lost "a lifetime of memorabilia, pictures, and family mementos” when the water destroyed her ground floor condo unit.

The condo, which represents a valuable asset for the senior on a limited income, has undergone a complete rebuild.

Boyd’s son says his mother will always be grateful to The City and Red Cross for the support offered through the Flood Permit Grant Program.

Peter & Janet Boyd's home - After

The initiative, launched May 1, 2014, covers the costs of new city permits for such things as building, electrical and plumbing work when repairing or rebuilding properties damaged by the 2013 flood. Boyd’s son called the program “a good experience in a bad circumstance.”

Being able to access the joint permit grant program was a huge help. In addition to saving the cost of the permits, Boyd was able to access permits without waiting.

“I don’t know how much time that saved us,” says Peter. “Even if it was an hour, it helped.”

Now that the condo is done, Boyd, who currently lives in a nearby seniors’ residence, is debating whether she will move back into her home or eventually sell it. Regardless of what happens, Boyd is grateful for the flood permit grant program,

The program has been extended through to December 2015 to help those Calgarians who are still trying to rebuild and recover from the flood. Calgarians interested in applying for the permit program can contact the Red Cross at 1-866-696-6484. The Red Cross will work with applicants to discuss and assess their needs.

All three pedestrian bridges are now open

All three pedestrian bridges along the Elbow River destroyed in the June 2013 flood are now open for use.

Councillors Evan Woolley & Gian-Carlo Carra with Grade 4 students
from Rideau Park School at Rideau Park Bridge re-opening

Just 18 months after the flood, Mayor Naheed Nenshi was joined by hundreds of residents to cut the ribbon and officially open the Sandy Beach Bridge November 23. Councillors Evan Woolley and Gian-Carlo Carra cut the ribbon at the Rideau Park Bridge with a Grade 4 class from Rideau Park School on hand November 28 and the Riverdale Avenue Bridge opened at noon the same day.

“When we met with the communities after the flood to talk about replacing these bridges, they told us that these bridges were a vital link in their communities and that they really missed them,” says Project Manager Charmaine Buhler. “We are very proud to have restored these vital community links and we hope everyone enjoys using them again.”

Residents and commuters will be able to use the bridges for a very long time, adds Buhler.

“In addition to being designed to withstand future flooding, they are also built to last for 100 years," she explains.

Sandy Beach Bridge re-opening

Landscaping will be completed in the spring at all three bridges. Permanent panels commemorating the old bridges will also be completed in the spring and will be installed where temporary panels are currently located at the bridge entrances.

To view time lapse sequences of the major components of the re-building process, such as the installation of the towers, suspension cables, and bridge decks, and for other project information, please visit www.calgary.ca/elbowbridges.

The completion of the bridges marks an important milestone in The City's ongoing flood recovery efforts. There are 223 projects on the Municipal Infrastructure Recovery Program list. Of those projects, 99 are reported to be either complete or substantially complete (44 per cent). Another 83 projects (37 per cent) have design work underway or are under construction. A total of 38 projects (17 per cent) are in early planning stages and only three projects (two per cent) have not yet started. These either require further investigation or are scheduled for a later start date.

For a complete list of projects and an interactive map of project locations and status, please visit www.calgary.ca/floodrecovery.

Sandy Beach Bridge ready to open

Eighteen months after the June 2013 flood destroyed three pedestrian bridges located in Calgary’s southwest along the Elbow River, the first of the three bridges will re-open. On Sun., Nov. 23, at 12 noon, Mayor Nenshi will cut a ribbon officially opening the bridge. Calgarians are invited to be part of this opening celebration and be one of the first to cross the new bridge.

“Because they were such an important transportation link in the community, and for all Calgarians, The City of Calgary made it a priority to replace these bridges ,” says His Worship, Mayor Naheed Nenshi. “The re-opening of these bridges represents a very tangible example of how The City, and the communities most affected by the flooding, continues to recover from the 2013 flood.”

In addition to being replaced in record time, the bridges have been built to today’s engineering standards, which are much more stringent than when the original bridges were built (Rideau Park Bridge was the oldest being built in 1934). “Higher engineering standards, combined with flood resistant design features, will help with the bridges’ ability to not only withstand any future floods but, in general, last a long time,“ says project manager Charmaine Buhler. The new bridges have been built to have a 100-year life span.

“For example, the new bridges are higher than the old bridges, which will allow more water to flow through, plus the new bridge decks are above the level of the 2013 flood. The bridge supports can withstand high river flow, and the concrete decks are able to withstand debris impacts,” adds Buhler.

Anyone attending the event is asked to use the west side entrance to Sandy Beach Park. The road leading into the park is at 50 Ave and 14A St. S.W. There is limited parking in the park. People are encouraged to ride bikes and walk to the event. All dogs must be on lea
sh.

The Rideau Roxboro Bridge will open Nov. 28 and The Riverdale Avenue Bridge is expected to open soon after. The landscaping for all three bridges will be finished in the spring/summer of 2015. To view time lapse sequences of the major components of the re-building process, such as the installation of the towers, suspension cables, and bridge decks, and for other project information, please visit www.calgary.ca/elbowbridges.

Another stretch of flood damaged pathway along Elbow River reopened

Approximately one and a half kilometres of damaged pathway along the Elbow River across from the Stampede Grounds has now been restored and reopened to the public after the 2013 flood.

“Entire chunks of the pathway in the area broke away and fell into the river when the flood waters hit,” says Pathway Lead Duane Sutherland, City of Calgary. “The pathway is an important route along the Elbow River for commuters and other users, so it was critical to make the area safe again.”

A combination of traditional techniques such as rip rap boulders, and bioengineered bank stabilization techniques called gabion and crib wall structures were used to restore and stabilize the riverbank so the pathway could be rebuilt. 

A gabion wall structure is made up of several rock baskets stacked together. Soil and natural plant materials, like live willow stakes, are layered between the rocks. A crib wall structure uses interlocked cedar logs further strengthened by live willow stakes.

Live plants are more resilient

“What makes these techniques unique and innovative is the use of live natural plant materials, like

Gabion wall interwoven with live natural willow stakes.

the live willow stakes in combination with the structures,” says Sutherland.

When the live natural plant materials grow out, they grow back into the bank and better reinforce it, making it more resilient and less likely to break away during future high water events. It also provides habitat for fish and other river life. 

Back to their original state

The structures also help create a softer, more natural appearance for the area than when typical rip rap boulder bank armour is only used. The aim is to return natural and green spaces back to their original state as closely as possible so we can continue to enjoy the city’s beautiful rivers and landscapes.

In addition to repairing the pathway and stabilizing the river bank, we also capitalized on the opportunity to widen the damaged pathway from 2.5 to 3.0 metres when it was rebuilt – maximizing the design and construction efforts already mobilized in the area. 

Thanks for your patience

Crib wall with cedar logs and live willow stakes.

“We’re really pleased with the outcome of this project and the opportunity we had to give such an important pathway link back to citizens, not only new but improved,” says Sutherland. 

“Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we worked to rebuild this pathway, and for continued patience and cooperation as we go on to finish up other pathways and riverbanks.”

More information and updates on the flood recovery efforts. 

Submitted by Erin Martinez, Parks

Towers, cables and deck panels are up at Sandy Beach and Rideau Park Bridge!

Sandy Beach deck panels in place and the large crane used to do the job. Photo courtesy The City of Calgary; photographer Wes Raymond.

Work is progressing quickly on the project to replace the three pedestrian bridges on the Elbow River damaged in the flood of 2013. The progress is most evident at Sandy Beach and Rideau Park Bridge where the towers are now up, cables have been strung and a giant crane has installed the deck panels. Crews are currently working on Riverdale Avenue Bridge with deck panel installation starting Tues., Sept. 30.

See tower and deck panel installation
Several online time lapse sequences of bridge piling, tower and deck panel installation bring the work that has been done to life. Visit www.calgary.ca/elbowbridges to view the time lapse sequences plus photos of construction progress and updated construction schedules.

“Although it looks like the bridges are done when the bridge decks are in place, there is still a lot of work to do before the bridges can be safely open for use,” says Project Manager Charmaine Buhler. “We need to fine tune the alignment of the deck panels, fabricate and install bridge railings, construct concrete back walls and approach slabs, and reconstruct the pathways that lead to the bridge.  There is also landscaping and general finishing work to be done.”

Buhler adds, “Everyone also needs to remember that the areas around all three bridges are construction zones and will remain so until the construction is done. However, the project is still on track to have all of the bridges open and ready for use by the end of December.”

Sifton Boulevard closure
Installing the deck panels at Riverdale Avenue Bridge requires the closure of Sifton Boulevard between 7 and 8 Streets S.W. The large crane used to install the deck panels must sit in the middle of the road. The closure will last from Sept. 29 until approximately Oct. 4.

Joint Permit Assistance Program a welcome relief

More than a year after the Alberta flood, a Calgary senior feels hopeful for the first time as rebuilding finally begins on her home.

Janet Boyd says her renewed optimism is due, in part, to the financial support she is receiving from a program jointly funded by the Canadian Red Cross and The City of Calgary. Called the Flood Permit Grant Program, the initiative is being offered to residential property owners in Calgary who are facing financial challenges repairing, restoring or rebuilding their homes after the June 2013 flood.

Photo credit: J. Keith Howie, Canadian Red Cross

Launched on May 1, 2014, the program covers the costs of new City permits for such things as building, electrical and plumbing work required when repairing or rebuilding properties. Up to $7,000 in permit assistance per property is available to eligible home owners.

When the disaster occurred, Boyd evacuated her home with only a suitcase, expecting to be back in a few days. Instead, she lost everything when the Elbow River spilled its banks and filled her ground-floor, two-bedroom suite to within four inches of its ceiling. Since the flood, the feisty senior has had to rent accommodations while also struggling to pay mortgage and condominium fees for her flooded Mission-area home and any additional costs not covered b insurance or the Disaster Recovery Program.

As workers began framing new walls for her suite recently, Boyd explained that it has taken a year to navigate insurance and other challenges.

“It was so overwhelming. I just didn’t know where to start, what to do next. That’s why I am so grateful to the Red Cross because mentally and financially, they have been so wonderful to me.”

The joint permit grant program for flood-impacted homeowners is welcome assistance, said Boyd. The initiative is covering approximately $1,500 in fees for plumbing, electrical and building permits.

“It’s been great, we went straight to the front of the line at city hall and had all her permit costs covered,” said Boyd’s son, Peter, who is helping his mother with the rebuilding process.

Photo credit: J. Keith Howie, Canadian Red Cross

Janet said every dollar helps when people are trying to manage on a budget. “Not everyone has huge savings and we are really very grateful to The City and Red Cross for helping out in this way.”

Now that she has the required permits, Boyd is looking forward to the rebuilding and restoring what few possessions her son was able to retrieve.

“My furniture, my photos and mementoes that I had saved all my life, everything was destroyed,” Boyd recalled recently, picking through two crates of silt-covered belongings that her son, Peter, managed to rescue.

“I just can’t look or I’ll be sniffling,” said Boyd of the crates, which hold a bowl she got from her mother and a teddy bear her son had as a child. “It’s all coated in mud. It’s almost impossible to get that fine dirt off.”

Calgarians interested in applying for the permit program can contact Red Cross at 1-866-696-6484. Red Cross will work with each applicant to discuss and assess their unique situation and needs. The permit program is not retroactive but Red Cross can work with families and individuals struggling to meet other needs.

Read more about Janet Boyd's story on the Canadian Red Cross website.

Pride of Lion’s winners showcase Calgary’s heritage

The Calgary Heritage Authority recognized 16 award recipients last week at the 2014 Lion Awards gala for efforts to preserve Calgary’s heritage.

“There was a tremendous response to this year’s Lion Awards from Calgarians who are helping build and preserve our community heritage” said Scott Jolliffe, Chair of the Calgary Heritage Authority. “I commend these award winners, and all applicants, for their extraordinary efforts which benefit Calgarians both today and in the future.”

The awards were presented at the historic Theatre Junction Grand, winner of a 2006 Lion Award, with over 300 members of the community in attendance, including Mayor Naheed Nenshi.

The gala event featured a special Flood Recovery Award to recognize outstanding efforts in rescuing historic resources from the effects of flood damage. Two winners were selected for the flood recovery award: The Baird/Miller residence in Elbow Park and the National Music Centre.

Despite the monumental task homeowner Cory Miller sought to preserve the 102 year old sandstone house. A focal point of the recovery effort was the repair of the original iron boiler and using unconventional methods to dry the delicate sandstone foundation of the property immediately following the flood.

The National Music Centre’s Custom House collection risked being lost in the flood. However, more than 75 volunteers spent over 2,000 hours evacuating 143 pianos, thousands of electronic parts, radios, schematics, in record time to a safe location where damaged collection items are now under restoration.

Award recipients were selected by a jury made up of five distinguished members of the community.

The Calgary Heritage Authority Lion Awards are held every two years to acknowledge heritage conservation and public awareness efforts taking place across the city and to showcase sites that defined Calgary’s past and contributed to the essence of our city.

See videos of this year's Lion Award winners in the playlist below.



Complete List of 2014 Lion Award Recipients
Resource Conservation
• Findlay Apartment Building Renovation
• National Hotel and East End Livery Barn Restoration
• Nellie McClung House Adaptive Re-use
• Old YWCA Front Porch Restoration
• T-Mac Group “Bank and Baron”

Resource Conservation – Flood Recovery
• Baird/Miller Residence
• National Music Centre

Landscape
• Poppy Plaza Landscape of Memory
• Oliver Quarry Park

Community Vitalization
• Century Homes Calgary
• cSpace King Edward Arts Hub and Incubator

Heritage Tradespeople/Craftspeople
• Rick Janzen
• Russ Heikkinen

Advocacy and Awareness
• Cynthia Klaassen
• Heritage Roundtable
• Let’s talk about... Building ICONOMY

New Design - Honourable mention only*

Honourable mentions:
• Western Canada High School Modernization
• Biscuit Block*
• Equinox Vigil in Union Cemetery
• Heritage Walking Tour of Hextall Homes in Bowness
• Alberta Champions Society in Recognition of Community Enrichment
• Rouleauville: Calgary's French Connection
• Whispering Signs: Ecological Encounters in an Urban Prairie
• History In the Making Volunteer Tradespeople

For more information on The Lion Awards, please visit www.calgary.ca/lionawards

Is your business prepared?

The 2013 flood was a call to action for both the business sector and The City of Calgary. Although insurance and provincial recovery funds provided some relief to business owners as they recovered, the flood highlighted the need and value of disaster preparedness planning for Calgary businesses.

Last week, The City of Calgary’s Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA), in partnership with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce and Calgary Economic Development, released a Business Continuity Handbook to explain the importance of emergency preparedness for the business community.

“The business sector is an important member of the Calgary community,” said Deputy Chief Tom Sampson. “Empowering them with the tools and knowledge they need to prepare, respond, and recover will positively contribute to the overall resiliency of our community.”

Along with the handbook, a template and Business Continuity Reference Guide will provide business owners with tools to develop business continuity strategies and plans. These materials can be customized by the business to meet their specific needs.

While the 2013 flood had a significant economic, physical, and social impact on Calgary, CEMA believes that this exciting new partnership with the business community is a significant step-forward in strengthening the resiliency of our community to future events.

For more information on being prepared and what you can do visit calgary.ca/CEMA.

Stanley Park Outdoor Swimming Pool welcomes Calgarians back

Working together with The City of Calgary, The Calgary Outdoor Swimming Pool Association (COSPA) reopened Stanley Park Outdoor Swimming Pool on Tuesday, July 15. The pool was closed following the June 2013 flood, four days before a grand reopening to debut renovations, including a new wading pool.

“We were really looking forward to getting the crowds back [after the renovations],” says Mike Gavan, Executive Director of COSPA. “It was supposed to be a new beginning, but the flood washed it all away.”

Gavan recounts the shocking impact of the flood and the community’s reaction. “The area was so hard hit – there were bigger priorities than getting the pool going, of course – but people were showing up wanting to help. One day we had 50 people!”

After deciding the damage was too severe to reopen the pool for the 2013 season, COSPA and The City of Calgary set to work on restoring this important community hub.

The scope of work included extensive demolition and rebuilding. All fixtures, lockers, flooring and doors were gutted and replaced. The concession area was torn down and rebuilt with flood resilient materials and mechanical equipment was also replaced.

Contractors worked seven days a week for two and a half months and, while some work is still needed to get the pool to pre-flood conditions, COSPA is pleased to announce the main pool and building are open for the 2014 season.

“The building looks great! We still have a few minor bugs we’re working out. We’re getting the word out and the crowds are starting to come back.”

The wading pool is temporarily out of service due to problems with underground water supply pipes. An inspection scheduled next week will reveal the extent of the damage and the cause.

“We’re trying to get it open this season,” says Gavan, who is hopeful the July 2014 reopening is the beginning of a new era for the flagship pool. “There’s light at the end of this tunnel.”

COSPA and The City of Calgary Recreation continue work to erase the damage caused by the flood.

“We’re very appreciative of the work The City did. It was a big task.”

On Wednesday, Gavan spoke with CTV Calgary about the reopening and Calgary’s network of outdoor pools. Watch the video here.

For up-to-date information about progress at Stanley Park Pool, or for swim schedules, visit calgaryoutdoorpools.ca.

Mayor Nenshi: Moving forward following the one year anniversary of the 2013 flood

High water season in Calgary ends tomorrow. As Mayor Nenshi explains, throughout the past several months The City worked diligently to manage and prepare for short-term risk while simultaneously managing long-term risk.



We had a chance to reflect on the tough times and also celebrate how the community came together during the 2013 flood; however, our work is not done.

Individual preparedness and staying informed are important ways to stay safe. Stay connected with us via our social media channels, apps and website - make sure you know what's happening, so you know what to do.

Find more information at calgary.ca/floodinfo.

Staying safe - preparations matter

River flooding isn't the only type of flooding that can occur, and flooding isn't the only type of emergency to plan for. Deputy Chief Tom Sampson explains what other risks to be prepared for.



Visit calgary.ca/floodprep or calgary.ca/CEMA for more information.

Forewarned & Forearmed: A report on the Calgary Emergency Management Agency & the 2013 June flood

After the June 2013 floods, a number of independent reports were commissioned for various aspects of the City’s response, which are now being called Canada’s costliest natural disaster.

The Conference Board of Canada was commissioned to review the response during the flood of June 2013.

Over 40 representatives from the public and private sectors were interviewed, many of whom worked in the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) during the flood or had critical roles in the response to the flood.

On Wednesday, July 2, 2014 The Conference Board, along with the Calgary Emergency Management Agency, presented the report to the Emergency Management Committee of Council, followed by an update to local media.

For more information on CEMA’s involvement in the 2013 Calgary flood, download the Conference Board of Canada’s third party report here.

Safe Stampeding Tips from Deputy Chief Tom Sampson

Last year, the dedication and hard work of many Calgarians ensured that the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth went on as scheduled.

In the coming weeks, we'll be welcoming visitors again from all over the world. We want to help them enjoy Stampede and our summer attractions. But we also want make sure they're safe in the event of flooding and other summer hazards or crisis.



Working together, we can make sure our visitors have a terrific and safe Calgary experience. Come hell or high water.

Find more information at calgary.ca/floodprep

Bowness Park to completely reopen by end of year

With work well underway, The City of Calgary is anticipating a full reopening of Bowness Park by the end of 2014.

Top: Tea house. Left to right: Pathway work, completed work and picnic site.

The City had anticipated partially reopening the park this summer, but due to the extent of flood damage in the park, a labour shortage and an unusually harsh and long winter, redevelopment has been delayed.

“The park really took a hit last year during the flood,” says Doug Marter, Parks Manager. “It’s been a challenge for us to get the park’s redevelopment back on track after the flood.”

At the time of the flood , about 40-50 per cent of the redevelopment had been done. The flood washed up to five feet of water into the park, scouring out the majority of the pathway system and leaving debris piles more than 2.5 metres tall. In total, the flood caused approximately $3.2 million in damages to the park (more photos).

Redevelopment work helped reduce damage

“The damage could’ve been even worse,” says Marter. “Some of the redevelopment that was completed, such as the berms along the shoreline, helped reduce bank erosion and prevent ripping of the shore.”

Power, gas and potable water have just begun to be restored and without these utilities, the Parks department hasn’t been able to provide washrooms.

Plan to celebrate new features

Once reopened, Calgarians will be able to enjoy a new centralized parking area, renovated picnic sites, a brand new concession facility and gathering space, and better lagoon access for skating and boating. The park’s historic and well-loved mini train will also be back.

To celebrate, The City and the Bowness Community Association are planning a skating party at the park. More details will be available as the weather cools and becomes conducive to skating.

More information about the park’s redevelopment.

Flood preparations: Behind the scenes

Not all the work The City has done for flood preparation is visible to the public. Deputy Chief Tom Sampson gives a glimpse behind the scenes at the work being done across various business units, and partners agencies.



For more information, visit calgary.ca/floodinfo or subscribe to our email newsletter to get the latest flood related information delivered right to your inbox.