Recovery efforts continue after canoe capsizes on Upper Kananaskis Lake

The search continues in the mountains southwest of Calgary, after four people capsized in a canoe.

Alberta RCMP say the search for a missing man and woman will resume Thursday after a canoe capsized on Upper Kananaskis Lake on Tuesday.

Four people were in the canoe when it capsized at 4 p.m.

RCMP confirm none of them were wearing life jackets.

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Bystanders were able to use boats and paddleboards to rescue two of the people — a 30-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman.

A 34-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman remain missing. RCMP say the four were part of a larger group of international visitors who were in the area on vacation.

Emergency crews were searching for them on Wednesday but had to suspend their efforts due to high winds.

RCMP spokesperson Troy Savinkoff says a dive team is headed out to the Upper Kananaskis Lake Thursday to conduct a sonar search.

“There’s an RCMP boat heading out, as well as a dog with Parks Canada who’s going to be assisting with searches,” he said. “So, we’ll have a pretty significant amount of people out there.”

The canoe itself has yet to be recovered, Savinkoff said. He noted it’s similarly tragic circumstances to an incident in Kananaskis Country a week ago, where two people drowned after a canoe capsized in Barrier Lake.

“It just really reinforces that water safety aspect in the Kananaskis area,” he said. “Those are all glacier-fed lakes and are extremely cold. Even if you’re a strong swimmer, you hit that water and that extreme cold; it’s going to put everyone to their limits.”

“We have to ensure that not only are we wearing life jackets, but they’re done up properly, not just thrown over your shoulders,” he said.

“Tragedy can strike at any moment; it’s hard to predict.”

Brian Geislinger, a spokesperson for Blue Cross, says unfortunately, tragedies of this kind happen every summer in Alberta.

“Anyone can drown, but no one should,” he said. “A lot of fundamental safety measures should be taken when in and around water, and certainly first and foremost is wearing life jackets.”

“More than two-thirds of water-related deaths are related to capsizing or falling overboard from boats or canoes, and lifejackets are like seatbelts – they only work if you’re wearing them.”