One year after feeder main break, Mayoral Candidate Sonya Sharp and Ward 7 Candidate Terry Wong call for strategic planning in Calgary’s water infrastructure
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 5, 2025
CALGARY – One year after the catastrophic Bearspaw South Feeder Main break, Mayoral Candidate and current Ward 1 Councillor Sonya Sharp gathered with residents and community leaders in Bowness and Montgomery to reflect on the crisis that shook the city, and to call for a serious commitment to modernizing Calgary’s aging water infrastructure.
“One year ago, near this very spot, Calgary experienced one of the worst infrastructure failures in the city’s history,” said Councillor Sharp. “One piece of pipe burst and triggered a city-wide emergency. One and a half million Calgarians were placed under water restrictions for months.
“What concerns me is that we still haven’t seen a full, costed plan to restore the integrity of our water system, or public confidence in how it’s managed,” she said. “It’s not just about fixing one pipe. This was a failure in how the system has been managed over decades, by successive Councils.”
From boil water advisories to empty grocery store shelves, the impact of the break rippled across Calgary. But no neighbourhood was hit harder than Bowness.
“I’ll never forget seeing a mother pushing a stroller; not with her child, but with water jugs to make her baby’s formula. That image stays with me,” Sharp added. “It was a moment that revealed both the vulnerabilities in our system and the extraordinary strength of Calgarians.”
That strength was echoed by Bowness resident Christina Pilarski, who emphasized the importance of leadership in crisis:
“As a lifelong Calgarian and Bowness resident, I can say with full confidence that Councillor Sonya Sharp was the only City official who consistently showed up for our community during and after the feedermain break. She wasn’t just present—she was active, visible, and determined to get us answers. While others offered empty reassurances, Sonya rolled up her sleeves and stayed grounded in the reality we were living through, especially on 33rd Ave where the impact was most severe.”
The need to move towards resiliency was echoed by Sharp’s Communities First colleagues, including Ward 7 Candidate and Councillor Terry Wong.
“It has been 12 months since the water feedermain break and speaking with the residents and merchants in the Montgomery community most directly affected, they are appreciative of our immediate engagement and the resultant recovery work,” said Wong. “The Montgomery small business merchants along Bowness Road are particularly happy for resolution to the traffic congestion problems with a new two-hour free parking zone that will free up on-street parking for more customers.
Sharp highlighted that Calgary loses over 20 per cent of its treated water due to leaky infrastructure; one of the highest rates in Canada.
“Imagine throwing 20 per cent of your water bill into the street. That’s what we’re doing —wasting precious water and taxpayer dollars,” she said. “We don’t even fully understand the scale of the problem. And Council still hasn’t received a plan to fix it.”
She pointed to repeated delays and vague responses from City Administration, and a Council majority unwilling to push for firm timelines or accountability.
“Every time we ask for answers, we hear: ‘We’re working on it. We’ve got it under control.’ And every time we raise it with Council, we hear: ‘Let’s move on.’ That needs to change,” she said. “And it will change if Calgarians elect a Communities First majority in October.”
Sharp reaffirmed her commitment to long-term infrastructure renewal:
“When I’m elected mayor, my colleagues and I will direct Administration to deliver a full water infrastructure plan, including budgets and timelines, so it can be built into the next four-year budget. No more excuses. No more finger-pointing. It’s our job to fix this.”
She added that fixing Calgary’s water loss problem could delay the need for a new water treatment plant, potentially saving the city billions over the next decade.
Kellie Freeman, Executive Director of the Bowness Business Improvement Area, noted the resilience of the business community and the importance of continued advocacy.
“Last year’s water feeder main break in Bowness brought serious disruption to residents and businesses, many of whom faced unexpected closures, revenue loss and uncertainty,” said Freeman.
“Councillor Sharp and the community of Bowness showed their resiliency by rallying together to ensure water reached seniors, families and anyone in need. Through open communication and tireless advocacy, Councillor Sharp helped ensure the needs of Bowness were heard at every level. Even now, months later, road closures and ongoing maintenance serve as a reminder of the incident. Concerns of aging infrastructure within Bowness remain, and the community would like to see meaningful improvements be made in the very near future. Not just to repair, but to strengthen Bowness moving forward.”
To celebrate that resilience and unity, Sharp and Freeman invited all Calgarians to the MainStreet Bowness Night Market on June 20, a chance to reconnect, support local businesses, and reflect on the strength the community has shown over the past year.
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