The top weather story in 2005 was extreme flooding in Alberta that washed out roads and bridges, wrecked buildings and devastated many lives in many different ways.
With over $400 million in losses, it was one of Alberta’s costliest natural disasters.
At the time, such severe flooding was predicted to occur only once every 200 years or so. In view of recent events forecasters may want to revise that estimate.
Because now, just eight years later, an even worse disaster is unfolding in and around Calgary.
Like many Thunder Bay families, we have relatives and friends out west and when we saw an entire house being swept under a bridge, we were all a little concerned.
At first we couldn’t reach them but as we followed the news coverage we began to feel more reassured. It appeared that the situation was being effectively managed.
It was all due to the actions of Calgary’s slightly geeky but very likable mayor who rose to the occasion, keeping his city safe and secure.
Lately, some city mayors in Canada have been slammed for their questionable behaviour and lack of effective leadership.
But Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi is not one of those. He has raised the bar for municipal politicians in all Canadian cities.
Elected officials at the provincial and federal levels should also take note. Canadians respond well to strong leadership if it is combined with understanding and compassion.
During his interviews Mayor Nenshi spoke calmly, directly and without alarm to the people of Calgary and concerned Canadians everywhere who were worried about loved ones.
He answered questions directly, intelligently and without any political mumbo-jumbo or grandstanding.
He seemed to care as much about the citizens of Calgary as we did about our own family members. Their safety and security was his sincere concern. We felt relieved.
Mayor Nenshi was quick to praise the efforts of medical and emergency personnel and took none of the credit himself.
Speaking as a true Canadian, he used self-deprecating humour to lighten the mood when appropriate. However, he appeared confident and in control of the situation at all times.
And what a situation it was.
Seeing that house tumble down a swollen creek into a steel bridge was depressing enough but the saddest sight was the pathetic, submerged NHL hockey rink in the Saddledome.
The one-time home of the Stanley Cup champion Calgary Flames was quiet and dark and full of Elbow River water eight or 10 rows up.
Next door, the Stampede Grounds flooded to the top of the chuck wagon canopies.
In spite of Mayor Nenshi’s optimism, it’s hard to imagine the Stampede opening in less than two weeks time.
Not much was learned from the flood of 2005. Nobody will say if any of the 18 recommendations, finally released last year, were ever implemented.
What’s your guess?
It remains to be seen what can be learned from the great Calgary flood of 2013. But here is what we already know.
When disaster strikes it brings out the best in Canadians. Mayor Nenshi, leading by example, has shown that strong, effective and thoughtful political leadership still exists in this country.
We also know that the severe weather and devastating floods predicted by scientists for decades are very real and very tragic. Expect more.
But mainly, we learned that Mother Nature doesn’t play favourites. She doesn’t care about the Stampede or the Stanley Cup.
And as we continue to ignore her warnings she will respond.
It’s nothing personal – that’s just the way she rolls.
Like it or not, for the foreseeable future that is the weather report.
