So unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably know about the flooding in Southern Alberta. Or as we Calgarians refer to it: #yycflood.
A thing like this — a natural disaster on such a scale — it changes everything, even if you’re one of the many lucky people like me whose house remains high and dry. Everything from the way you greet coworkers on the first day back on the job: “How is your house? Are you dry? Were you evacuated? Are you taking people in?” instead of, “Hey…how was your weekend?” to the way people come together to support each other in the crisis.
Like any struggle, a flood is a crucible: it brings out the best in some people:
photo credit: City of Calgary (www.calgary.ca)
(7,000 volunteers turning up at McMahon stadium on Monday – ten times as many as were expected)
…and the worst in others:
(the ill-advised canoeists Mayor Nenshi refers to in his now-famous “Darwin Law” clip).
But despite the few fools who will insist on competing for this year’s Darwin Awards, Calgary has long been famous for its spirit of volunteerism, and more recently for our lovable Mayor Nenshi. And the last six days have proved the awesomeness of both. I won’t wax eloquent about Nenshi now (others, like my pal Leanne Shirtliffe, have done it better than I could), but allow me to share a few images that have struck me. Because a picture speaks a thousand words, and right now, I have none.
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- Photo credit: Julie Van Rosendaal
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- Photo credit: Julie Van Rosendaal (dinnerwithjulie.com)
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- Photo credit: the Calgary Flames (flames.nhl.com)
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- Photo credit: Julie Van Rosendaal (dinnerwithjulie.com)
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- Photo credit: Julie Van Rosendaal (dinnerwithjulie.com)
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- Photo credit: Julie Van Rosendaal (dinnerwithjulie.com)
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- Photo credit: Julie Van Rosendaal (dinnerwithjulie.com)
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- Photo credit: Julie Van Rosendaal (dinnerwithjulie.com)
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- Photo credit: City of Calgary (calgary.ca)
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- Photo credit: Julie Van Rosendaal (dinnerwithjulie.com)
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- photo credit: City of Calgary (calgary.ca)
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- Photo credit: Julie Van Rosendaal (dinnerwithjulie.com)
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- Photo credit: Julie Van Rosendaal (dinnerwithjulie.com)
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- Photo credit: Julie Van Rosendaal (dinnerwithjulie.com)
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- Photo credit: Julie Van Rosendaal (dinnerwithjulie.com)
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- Photo credit: Julie Van Rosendaal (dinnerwithjulie.com)
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- Photo Credit: Tye Carson
Thanks especially to my friend Julie Van Rosendaal of CBC and also Dinner With Julie, who has been out tirelessly documenting, organizing, rescuing, salvaging, mucking out and generally being awesome throughout this disaster. Because the pictures I used are, like, basically all hers.
Wow. You should be so proud to be a Calgarian! Other than a few silly people, most of the news has been about the amazing community support and response. Btw, can Toronto steal your mayor??
I know. Nenshi is awesome. Happy I voted for him the first time and plan on doing it again this fall!
Rob Ford? Yeeeesh…
glad to hear you’re dry. nenshi rocks! you have no idea how badly we in the big smoke covet your mayor….
I know, Julie. But you can’t have him. He’s ours, and we won’t give our Nenshi away!
I still can’t get over these images… wow. And I’m so glad to know that you and yours are still dry, lady. I think of you every day. xox
Thanks Tracey. It’s surreal here, my friend.
hard to believe – all of it so hard to believe Kath- sending xox
Thanks Nancy. It amazes me that a week later and I can drive over the bridge on my way home (we are VERY close to the Bow River but high up on a hill) and the water level is still crazy-high. It looks like it could easily flood again given a bit more rain.