Recreation Membership – How it works.

Thank you for your interest in a Calgary Canoe Club (CCC) Recreation Membership. If you have any further questions, please email us at: calgarycanoeclubinfo@gmail.com

Note that specific details may vary based on a number of situations.

In 2024 we plan to open May 1 (weather permitting)

The City of Calgary manages the Reservoir and determines the opening date and other closures based on weather and other factors (all ice must be off the reservoir). The primary purpose of the Reservoir is flood mitigation therefore during the typical flood season, late May to late June, we may be closed if heavy rainfall requires draining a large amount of water from the reservoir. The upgraded damn project affords us much more latitude in this area now. Specific information on the Glenmore Reservoir can be found on the City of Calgary website:  Glenmore Reservoir (calgary.ca) 

Boat patrol staff, employed by the City of Calgary, are based out of the South side at the Sailing Club and operate during our business hours to provide safety and enforce the various bylaws.

Hours of Operation - please go here

Poor weather conditions
In the event of poor weather, such as high winds and lightning the boat patrol and/or the CCC staff may close the Club and cancel your boat booking. We will do our best to contact you prior to arrival if you are booked on the app. Recheck your app booking and email prior to arrival with poor weather conditions. Please stay closer to the Clubhouse during poor weather conditions so you can get off quickly if necessary, or directed to do so by boat patrol.

Registration Procedures and general information
Please sign up and pay on the website with our online payment method. The membership form needs to be filled in. Once we receive payment and your form, we will send you additional information, including access to the app and your sign in information.

Membership is open to anyone interested in paddle sports, no experience is required.
Staff will take you through a dryland orientation to review check in and check out procedures, equipment, protocol around dock use, areas to avoid paddling (the race course), and basics on getting in and out. This is NOT an onwater lesson.
Private lessons for members can be booked based on availability and must be booked in advance by emailing us.
There is no limit to the number of times a member can come down to paddle.
All bookings must be prebooked using the app to ensure boat availability. There may be odd occasions when we reserve boats for a daycamp and group bookings. Remaining boats will be listed on the app.
Sorry, we are NOT open daytime hours in spring and fall. Boats are booked up for school board programs. Check the website for our hours.
Boats can be prebooked typically a week in advance, we ask members to cancel their booking if their plans change.
Boat bay staff are available to help you carry your boats to and from the dock (you may have to wait if they are busy with customers)
You are responsible for emptying your boat of any water after your paddle (sponges are available). Please leave your boat dry for the next user.

Guest policies
We do encourage members to bring guests with them to paddle. Guests pay a fee of $20 per boat for a booked session. You may stay out longer than one app booking with guests, as long as all kayaks are not booked for the next block. More info provided with membership app info.

Paddling conditions

Do check the weather so you are prepared for your paddle. Appropriate clothing is recommended. We suggest loose fitting athletic clothing. Jeans are not appropriate in kayaks as you will always get a little wet with water dripping off your paddle. You do not want be restricted in the boat in the event you capsize.
You do not require any special equipment, we provide the boat, paddle, and a PFD. We do encourage all regular members to purchase their own PFD (for comfort and cleanliness purposes).
We recommend a drybag that floats for valuables such as keys and phone. YES, boats can tip over and losing your phone is terrible. A number of phones were lost last season. We have more canoes tip over than kayaks (also due to inexperienced public canoe renters). A change of clothes in your car is a great idea.

Safety considerations

We recommend all members paddle closer to shore. If you tip you must self rescue, which means swimming your boat to shore.
Place all of your items in a drybag in the event of tipping. Avoid having numerous items scattered in the canoe (water bottle, clothing, food etc)
Do check the weather before you come, and also once at the reservoir. We always recommend to avoid the wind when possible or paddle upwind to start. The wind can be very strong on the reservoir hence making it very difficult to get back to the Club safely if you paddle downwind too far. Cancel your session if you feel wind conditions may be too challenging for you.
Keep any eye on changing conditions throughout your session and plan to start your return early if the wind has come up.
The boat patrol cannot access the further areas of weaselhead, you must take full responsibility for rescuing yourself if you go into the weaselhead area. We suggest members DO NOT go further than the walking bridge.
If you do need rescuing you may call boat patrol. If they are unable to rescue you, they will call 911 for the Fire Department (not ideal).

Bylaws and other Glenmore User Etiquette

The Reservoir is open to all pubic recreation craft therefore it can be very busy during prime time hours when the weather is nice. We ask all recreation users stay OFF the race course at all times, the competitive paddlers and rowers move much faster and the boats are easily damaged if they run into a recreation boat, not to mention the potential of injuries. Regardless of where you are on the reservoir never be shy to yell ‘Heads up’ if you feel another boat is headed in your direction and you may collide.

Staff will review dock use with all new members. Please be courteous and limit your time on the dock. Do take your time getting in and out safely, this is typically where we see the greatest number of boats tipping over. We realize novice paddlers do not have great steering control, again just give a heads up to other craft if you are in the path and let them know you are trying to avoid them.

Key bylaws to adhere to:

You must wear a DOT approved PFD (personal flotation device), inflatables are not allowed for recreation boats (competitive athletes do have permission to wear these). Having the PFD in the boat is not acceptable, it must be on your body at all times.
City bylaw officers were on the water with boat patrol on numerous occasions last season, they handed out many $500 fines.
No dogs allowed. Sorry but you cannot bring your pets out in the boats.
No swimming. Fines will be issued, we do understand tipping over may occur, that doesn’t apply here.
No landing your boats on the shoreline, other than the 3 designated City docks.