Calgary's rainy summer getting mixed reaction from businesses, agriculture sector
It's been a wet summer so far in Calgary and the surrounding areas, with lots of rain and cooler temperatures.
Those two things are putting a damper on business for places like Calgary restaurant Porch, which relies on its patio to bring in patrons during the summer.
“It is unfortunate," Porch bartender Yianni Kounougeris said. "We have been a little bit slower now because of this."
The patio isn’t the restaurant’s only outdoor feature. It also has a roof over half of its dining space and part of the bar that can fully open, giving customers a chance to soak in the summer weather.
"It really does provide that great patio atmosphere … almost to provide you with an escape, as if you were on vacation, like in Mexico or Hawaii," Kounougeris said.
However, that patio stays closed when it rains.
"Hopefully later in July, come Stampede, we’ll have nicer weather have somewhat of a summer," Kounougeris said.
Yianni Kounougeris is a bartender at Calgary restaurant Porch. Over at Inglewood Golf and Curling Club, the wet weather is keeping people from hitting the links.
"We are down in rounds about 18 per cent compared to last year at this time," said Jason Stanier, general manager of Inglewood Golf and Curling Club.
"In comparison for example, we’ve had about six complete rain out days this year, while at this time last year we didn’t have any.
"It was a drought last year, we needed some rain, it’s good we got a little bit of rain, now we’re ready for summer to kick in.”
The rain is being received a lot differently by the province’s agriculture sector after last year’s extreme heat and droughts.
"It relieves some of the pressure and concern for moisture but we still need more moisture as we go forward for the rest of the year," said Lynn Jacobson, president of the Alberta Federation of Agriculture.
"You think you got it figured out, and the next year it throws a curve at you, and you might as well start from zero again."
Jacobson expects crops will turn out better this year because of the extra moisture.
Quazi Hassan, professor in the Department of Geomatics and Environmental Engineering at the University of Calgary, says Calgary and Lethbridge have seen 30 per cent of the typical rainfall expected for July already in the first three days of the month.
"That might be attributed to global climate change, land use changes and also the way we set up various things and are doing our business across the world," he said.
Hassan said the added moisture will help lower the risk of grass fires and other types of fire in the area.
Rain is still in the forecast for this week and over the weekend.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won't play in Game 2
The Vancouver Canucks will be without all-star goalie Thatcher Demko when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.