'We don’t want you here': Hefty fines, zero tolerance for trespassing cliff jumpers
Heading west to the Seebe Dam area for a day along the river could take a big bite out of your wallet.
The Municipal District of Bighorn, Stoney Nakoda First Nation, RCMP, TransAlta, ATCO and the Canadian Pacific Police Service have partnered for an initiative designed to thwart illegal activity downstream of the Seebe Dam, approximately 60 kilometres west of Calgary.
Cliff jumping in the area is a popular pastime with adventure seekers, but the cliffs along the Bow River downstream of the Seebe Dam are on Stoney Nakoda land. Getting there requires trespassing on either CP rail lines, or Transalta roads and land. Once there, the land is off limits to anyone but Stoney Nakoda First Nation members. The area has drawn growing crowds over the past few summers and the nation wants it to stop.
“Upwards of 100 people at a time can be out here. Just totally against the law anyway, they're not permitted to be here, they're trespassers," said John Slater, Stoney Nakoda's security manager. “We're fed up with it. We've had enough. We don't want you here.”
Increased enforcement and heftier fines are being introduced to prevent trespassing on the First Nation land or on roads, paths and train tracks that people use to access the area. Fines start at $600.
“In 2018, 2019 there was a lot of education done in the area to try and get people to stay away. But it just didn't work, obviously with the drowning last year and the amount of trespassers has increased tenfold," said Constable Nick Hookenson of the CP Police. “So it's basically an enforcement area now for that $600 at a minimum.”
TRESPASSING
New signs in the area clearly mark that anyone there is trespassing. CTV attended the area Wednesday accompanied by emergency services, and counted a total of 18 no trespassing signs n the 1.3 kilometre walk from the Seebee parking lot to the Bow River. RCMP says there is no reason for anyone to say they were unaware of the rules.
Sign outside the Seebe Dam
“Between the Stoney Nakoda First Nation, and Transalta, there are signs galore," said Cpl Chris Kosack of the Stoney Nakoda RCMP. “I think we're beyond that now, I think we have to just go right into enforcement."
Litter was strewn around the tops of the cliffs where jumpers often launch. Nearby, rocks were smeared with graffiti, some promoting various Instagram and Twitter handles.
Emergency crews said the quest for a good selfie is driving too many people to put themselves at risk.
“The water's real cold. Who knows what's underneath? It's dirty. You know, you can't see if there's a rock or anything," said Rick Lyster director of emergency management for the MD of Bighorn.“People have injured themselves when they hit something under the water. It's usually classified as a drowning.”
In August 2020, 16-year-old Blessing Paul of Calgary was found dead several days after being swept away by the river.
In July 2014, two men died downstream of the dam while attempting to swim across the river to the unsanctioned cliff jumping site.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.