Calgary water crisis risks 'loss of life territory'

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Good morning !

We hope you had some time to rest and recharge over the holidays. As Calgary settles back into routine this week, the city faces ongoing water conservation challenges while crews work around the clock to repair the Bearspaw feeder main. On a brighter note, two Alberta families rang in the new year with special arrivals, and there's plenty happening around town to kick off 2026. Here's what's going on.

👀 In today's edition:

• Calgary water usage pushes city toward emergency territory

• Alberta's first babies of 2026 arrive simultaneously

• Unofficial Canmore trails face major overhaul

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Calgary water crisis risks 'loss of life territory' as usage climbs above safe levels

Calgary's second major water main break in less than two years has pushed the city into what Mayor Jeromy Farkas calls a "new normal" for water conservation. The Bearspaw South Feeder Main, which supplies treated water to about 1.5 million people across Calgary and surrounding communities, broke last Tuesday in the northwest, leading to Stage 4 water restrictions that remain in effect even after a boil water advisory was lifted Sunday for affected neighbourhoods.

Water usage climbed to 510 million litres on Sunday, well above the city's sustainable threshold of 485 million litres. In a post on X Monday morning, Farkas warned that without changes to water use habits, the city will enter "loss-of-life territory" where firefighting and emergency response may be compromised.

The mayor told CBC News that the aging feeder main is at end-of-life and that short-term fixes won't restore reliable service, calling the infrastructure underneath Calgary's streets a "ticking time bomb." A replacement project is scheduled to begin this spring and run until late 2028.

Crews working around the clock have made progress at the break site along 16 Avenue NW, successfully removing the damaged pipe and beginning retrieval of fiber optic cables. According to a city news release, a single eastbound lane on 16 Avenue east of Sarcee Trail reopened ahead of Monday morning's commute, though westbound traffic between 49 Street and Sarcee Trail remains closed.

CityNews reported that officials are urging residents returning to work and school this week to maintain conservation efforts by running dishwashers and laundry only when full, limiting showers to under three minutes, and flushing toilets only when necessary.

Need to know

🐻 Alberta proposes shutting down 275 kilometres of unofficial hiking and biking trails around Canmore to protect wildlife corridors, replacing them with 200 kilometres of purpose-built routes that group pathways together and leave larger habitat areas undisturbed.

🚗 A high-speed rollover on Deerfoot Trail near Memorial Drive early Saturday morning left five young people with serious injuries, including one girl ejected from the vehicle who wasn't wearing a seatbelt.

🏘️ A Calgary developer is transforming century-old single-family homes along Marda Loop's 34th Avenue into boutique retail spaces, creating over 30 shop locations since 2018 while preserving the neighbourhood's Edwardian character and quaint atmosphere.

📉 Canadian oil majors saw shares drop up to seven per cent following upheaval in Venezuela, though analysts suggest markets may be overreacting since rebuilding the country's energy infrastructure will likely take years before production increases significantly.

🚒 A man was taken to hospital as a precaution after his motorhome caught fire on Falworth Way NE Monday morning, with injuries described as non-life-threatening.

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Alberta's New Year's babies arrive minutes into 2026

Six days into the New Year, two Alberta families are sure to count it as one of their most memorable. At exactly 12:03 a.m. on January 1, Alberta welcomed its first babies of 2026 simultaneously at Grey Nuns Community Hospital in Edmonton and South Health Campus in Calgary.

At Grey Nuns Community Hospital in Edmonton, parents Stephanie Fernandez and Elrick Obligar celebrated the arrival of their baby boy, who weighed six pounds, four ounces. At South Health Campus in Calgary, Sara and Sebastian Stewart welcomed baby Theodore, tipping the scales at eight pounds, six ounces.

Acute Care Alberta, the provincial health agency overseeing acute care services, extended congratulations to all families welcoming new additions on the first day of the year.

Where to eat and drink

🍴 Good Cheer Brewing: North America's only brewery dedicated to recreating historical beers and cocktails invites all ages to its Victorian pub-meets-Canadian frontier taproom, where you can taste centuries of brewing tradition in a glass. 1220 20 Ave SE, open Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-midnight.

🍴 Paradigm Spark: Specialty coffee roasters and creators push the industry forward with unique collaborations, classes, and experiences, including their current dessert-themed tasting menu designed to deliver warmth and comfort through interesting flavour combinations. 422 11 Ave SE, open daily 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Have a food or drink suggestion? Message us and we might share it!

Things to do

🎟️ Penguin Walk: Watch up to thirteen king penguins waddle through the Calgary Zoo grounds on their daily winter promenade, with favourites like Diana, Grace, and Napoleon choosing whether to participate each day (weather permitting, cancelled if temperatures drop below -25°C or warm above 5°C). January 10-March 15, 10:30 a.m. daily at Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, included with day admission.

🎟️ Southwood Winterfest: Southwood's annual winter celebration returns with horse-drawn wagon rides, free skate rentals from KidSport Calgary, face painting, live music, hot chocolate, and crafts for the whole family. Saturday, January 10, 1-4 p.m. at 11 Sackville Dr SW, free admission.

Have an event suggestion? Message us and we might share it!

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