Between June 19th and June 21st, Canmore was inundated by heavy rainfall due to three low pressure weather systems colliding over the town at the same time. Combined with melting snowpack, mountain creeks became raging rivers that eventually fed into the Bow River exacerbating downstream damage. Estimations suggest that “some 9 million cubic meters of rain (220 mm) fell on the 43 square kilometre watershed of Cougar Creek over the course of three days” [1]. The result was an incredibly high and fast flowing Cougar Creek carrying debris that contributed to the river’s diversion, bank erosion and subsequent impacts on local property.
While Canmore avoided complete disaster with an effective emergency response regime and no loss of life. Flood damage to private property, businesses, major roadways and utilities was extensive. Clean-up efforts began immediately once flood waters receded and the full extent of the flood damage could be realized. The Mountain Creek Hazard Mitigation Plan was approved on June 23, 2013 to begin immediate analysis of the behaviour of surrounding mountain creeks and expectations for future floods[1]. The plan has proven useful to observing future mitigation measures and understanding the impacts of the 2013 flood and potential future floods.
Moving forward, the town of Canmore is dedicated to better understanding their place in the Rocky Mountains and how flooding has become part of their geography. Residents of the town continue to support one another and participate in developing strategies and plans to move forward.
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Ross has extensive executive experience in Operations, Governance, Information Technology and Strategy at the board and senior management level including Mancal Corporation, Mancal Energy, Highridge Exploration and Atlantis Resources. He has worked in Oil and Gas, Coal, Commercial Real Estate, Portfolio Management, Recreation, Retail and Water and Wastewater Treatment. His experience is also geographically diverse having overseen operations in Canada, the United States, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Additionally, he has been on the board of companies with operations in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Kazakhstan, and Russia. He has served on numerous Public, Private and Not for Profit Boards across a number of industries.
Ross has been active on several industry Boards and committees including the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and The Schulich School of Engineering Industry Advisory Council at the Schulich School of Engineering.
Brian is a seasoned Cleantech entrepreneur with a proven history of successfully bringing complex water technologies to the market. With over 25 years of experience, he has led various organizations to achieve significant milestones in the industry.
Having started as the founding CEO of the Pressure Pipe Inspection Company (PPIC) and later taking the helm at the Water Technology Acceleration Project (WaterTAP), Brian’s entrepreneurial spirit has been instrumental in driving innovation and growth within the sector.
He is an active investor in the cleantech sector and has served on many boards including the Ontario Clean Water Agency.
Actively engaged in industry associations like AWWA, WEF, IWA, and ASCE, Brian enjoys collaborating with fellow professionals to promote advancements in the field.
Brian holds an undergraduate degree and a PhD in Physics from Queen’s University, which has provided him with a solid technical foundation. As a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors, he brings valuable insights to corporate governance.