'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
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States.