The Bow River Chapter
The Bow River Chapter was formed in 1985 by leaders in the Calgary fishing community who were concerned for a sustainable Bow River fishery. The “Blue Ribbon Bow River” was starting to be recognized as one of the leading trout fisheries in North America. The pressure on the river’s ecosystem and fish habitat has increased over recent years with the growth of the City of Calgary. The Bow River Chapter in cooperation with Trout Unlimited Canada, local government and industry support has undertaken a large number of habitat improvement, fish monitoring, education and advocacy projects in the Bow River Basin.
The Bow River Chapter undertook a complete review of the chapter’s operation and generated a Strategic Plan that can be found under the title, A Vision for the Future – Part 1: Plan Mandate and A Vision for the Future – Part 2: Implementation in the News and Reports section of our Website.
Our Directors
Rick has been a Calgary resident for 35 years, and an avid fly fisher and fly tier for 20. A geologist by training and an outdoor enthusiast at heart, he fishes the Bow River, but prefers the solitude of walking Alberta’s mountain streams and spring creeks. Rick also travels extensively with fly rod in hand, exploring the United States, Asia, South America, the Caribbean and south Pacific in search of new scenery and unique fishing adventures. He would like to use his local knowledge and contacts to support and improve the opportunities for fellow Bow River residents and anglers to enjoy their beautiful river.
Jordan graduated from Mount Royal University with a BA in Policy Studies. After graduating Jordan worked at the British Consulate-General in Calgary as the Media and Public Affairs Officer. Jordan left the Consulate in 2014 to take a job as the Chief of Staff for a member of Calgary City Council. His passion for Alberta is evident in his professional and personal life. Jordan grew up fishing for northern pike and walleye with his family in Southern Alberta. Jordan took up fly fishing in 2013 and took an interest in greater advocacy for Alberta’s fisheries. When Jordan isn’t spending his time floating the Bow, you can find him chasing cutthroat and bull trout in the East Slopes or chasing northern pike in lakes across southern Alberta.
Rob is originally from Ottawa and graduated from Cornell University with a B.A. in Chemistry. After spending 12 years teaching in Asia, Rob returned to Canada- settling in Calgary where he currently works in project controls for an oil and gas pipeline construction company. Rob started fly fishing the summer of 2014 and now spends many evenings after work walking and wading the Bow River; it is an escape Rob looks forward to almost every day. Joining the Bow River Chapter of Trout Unlimited was an easy choice for Rob as he endeavors to make a contribution towards preserving this valuable resource so that others can continue to enjoy it as much as he does.
Will is a geochemist and professional environmental scientist, with a passion for almost every form of non-motorized outdoor recreation. Will lives in a household where boats, bikes, and skis all outnumber people. Will was drawn to Trout Unlimited because its fundamental mission, to conserve, protect, and restore Canada’s coldwater ecosystems and resources, is at the heart of what is important to my family . Within the Bow River Chapter Will is mainly focussed on habitat restoration projects, and he is continually amazed by the energy, enthusiasm, and ability of our members. The Bow River Chapter is provides Will with an opportunity to make a material difference within our local community and our regional ecosystem.
Mark was born and raised here in Calgary and spending time on the Bow River watershed, from glacier to grassland, has been a large driver in building the conservation ethic he has today. Mark graduated from The University Of Alberta’s Conservation Biology program in 2015, and have since focused his time on connecting to, and understanding the Bow River through fly fishing, paddling and skiing. Consequently, Mark has seen the river’s ‘natural’ beauty as well as some of the problems people have inflicted upon it. As a frequent user of the Bow River Watershed’s resources, becoming a part of the Bow River Chapter of Trout Unlimited was a way for Mark to connect with a community who values our water resources and actively works to restore them. Mark is excited to learn and participate in a group of river users who understand our impact on the resource and are trying to mitigate that impact.
Cameron was born and raised in the Calgary south-east, not too far from a few great spots on the bow river. In his youth he and his dad would go fly fishing when they could and he developed a love for the outdoors. After graduating from Trinity Western University with a B.Sc in Biology he returned to Calgary to work as a vegetation ecologist in the environmental consulting industry. His passion for the outdoors and comradery with friends is a natural fit with all that angling in this province has to offer.
Marc grew up fishing lakes in the Quebec Laurentians. A few years after moving to Calgary he took up fly fishing and has been fishing the Bow for the past 25 years. Most weekends in the summer he can be found camping and tossing dry flies to westslope cutthroat trout along the forestry trunk road. Since the 2013 floods he took an increased interest in conservation and bank rehabilitation projects on the Bow and its tributaries, which led him to take a role with the Bow River Chapter. Marc also finds it awkward to write about himself in the third person.
Kate grew up on one of Southern Alberta’s reservoirs, fishing for pike and walleye with family. Her interest in fisheries and water resources grew throughout her studies at the University of Lethbridge where she completed her B.Sc. in Environmental Science. An introduction to fly fishing had her even more hooked, establishing her passion for trout streams, and even greater – for the conservation of these ecosystems. Kate has been a committee member with the local watershed organization, the Bow River Basin Council, for four years and is a member of the Calgary Womens Fly Fishing Club. She is excited to become more involved with the Bow River Chapter.