Canmore Flooding Doesn't Stand In The Way Of Calgary Couple's Wedding | HuffPost

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LOOK: Canmorites Help Create Wedding Bliss Amidst Flood

Michelle Butterfield— The Huffington Post Alberta

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When Christine Bierman and Mickey Cimolai set off to Canmore last week to begin preparations for their wedding, they were looking forward to a weekend with friends, family and hopefully a bit of sunshine.

"We arrived in town on Tuesday and everything was fine and going according to plan. We were getting ready and pretty excited," said Bierman.

But plans for their dream wedding began to slip away Wednesday evening, when Bierman turned on the television.

"I remember watching the news and seeing that they were calling for 100 millimetres of rain (Wednesday.)

"I kind of had a gut feeling that Canmore was going to flood."

And just as quick as the rain fell, turning nearby Cougar Creek into a raging, muddy torrent, Bierman's dreams were dashed.

"I woke up Thursday to my phone going crazy," said Bierman, of the dozens of text messages and calls from concerned family and friends in their home city of Calgary, wanting to know the status of the weekend nuptials.

After a local state of emergency was called for the quiet mountain town, the couple went for a drive to survey the situation for themselves.

"We brought our binoculars to scope out Cougar Creek. It looked like Niagara Falls going over Highway 1," Bierman remembers.

By Friday morning the saddened, but safe, couple had decided to call off the wedding - that is until local photographer, Crista Lee, called with a game plan.

"Crista told me 'You have to make this happen. We are going to make this happen,'" Bierman recalls.

Lee wasn't going to let water get in her way - nor a closed highway.

The couple had yet to pick up their marriage licence in Banff and flood waters had washed out parts of the Trans-Canada Highway, closing it to commuters between the two towns.

Quick-thinking Lee called the couple's marriage commissioner, who was stuck in Banff, to give the marriage licence to the driver of one of the few transit buses allowed on the highway between Banff and Canmore. The driver brought it to the couple's safety.

Having secured the marriage licence, Lee asked local marriage commissioner Patricia Compton if she could perform the ceremony. Compton, whose own basement was flooding at the time, wanted to take her mind off the situation and agreed to marry the couple.

Saturday morning, the day their 175-guest wedding was supposed to go ahead at the Nordic Centre, Bierman and Cimolai called the only friends in Canmore they knew, asking them to be witnesses.

In their rented condo, without their families - just four friends, the marriage commissioner and the photographer - Bierman slipped into her beautiful white gown and the couple got married.

Story continues after the photo:

(Christine Bierman and Mickey Cimolai drive away through Canmore flood waters surrounding their rented condo.)

"We were so worried that we would be doing something disrespectful," said Bierman.

"But when the locals themselves started to encourage us, that's when we knew it was going to be ok."

Bierman says she and her husband have no regrets about the weekend, the weather or how things went down. When they finally got clearance to leave Canmore and go home to Calgary they were able to surprise their family and friends with the news.

"Everyone was just so happy we went through with it. It was the best thing we could have done for them, and ourselves, under the circumstance," said Bierman, thankful that it was just she and Cimolai who were stranded - and not their wedding guests.

"We just want to thank everyone who went so far above and beyond what they needed to do. So many people helped us get married that didn't need to help us. They are such good, good people."

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Alberta Floods From Above

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A washed out foot bridge lies on the creek bed in Canmore, Alta. Friday, June 21, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

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Flood waters surround the hospital in Canmore, Alta. on Friday, June 21, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

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Flood waters surround buildings in Canmore, Alta. Friday, June 21, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

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Cougar Creek runs through the Trans Canada Highway during heavy floods in Canmore, Alta. Friday, June 21, 2013. (credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

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Cougar Creek runs through the Trans Canada Highway during heavy floods in Canmore, Alta. Friday, June 21, 2013. (credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

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Road damaged is shown looking west along the Trans-Canada Highway in Canmore, Alberta on Friday June 21, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Rocky Mountain Outlook-Craig Douce)

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Heavy equipment operators work to keep up with debris, as Cougar Creek pours over the Trans-Canada Highway near Canmore, Alberta on Friday June 21, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Rocky Mountain Outlook-Craig Douce)

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Cougar Creek runs through the Trans Canada Highway during heavy floods in Canmore, Alta. Friday, June 21, 2013. (credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

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Cars and trucks sit on the road looking east along the Trans-Canada Highway from Canmore, Alberta on Friday June 21, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Rocky Mountain Outlook-Craig Douce)

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The Calgary Stampede grounds are immersed in water during heavy flooding in Calgary, Saturday, June 22, 2013. (credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

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The Calgary Stampede grounds are immersed in water during heavy flooding in Calgary, Saturday, June 22, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

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The Calgary Stampede grounds are immersed in water during heavy flooding in Calgary, Saturday, June 22, 2013. (credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

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A flooded downtown Calgary is seen from a aerial view of the city Saturday, June 22, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

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A flooded downtown Calgary is seen from a aerial view of the city Saturday, June 22, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

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A flooded downtown Calgary is seen from a aerial view of the city Saturday, June 22, 2013. (credit:. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

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A flooded Calgary is seen from a aerial view of the city Saturday, June 22, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

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A flooded downtown Calgary is seen from a aerial view of the city Saturday, June 22, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

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A flooded downtown Calgary is seen from a aerial view of the city Saturday, June 22, 2013. (credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

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A flooded Calgary is seen from a aerial view of the city Saturday, June 22, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

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A flooded Calgary is seen from above, June 22, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

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The Calgary Stampede grounds are immersed in water during heavy flooding in Calgary, Saturday, June 22, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

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In this aerial photo, the flooded Cougar Creek runs through Canmore, Alberta, on Friday June 21, 2013. Communities throughout southern Alberta are dealing with overflowing rivers that have washed out roads and bridges, inundated homes and turned streets into dirt-brown tributaries. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jonathan Hayward) (credit:AP)

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A man rides his bike as another picks his up in the flooded streets of Calgary, Alberta on Friday June 21, 2013. Alberta's largest city was swamped Friday by floodwaters that submerged much of the lower bowl of the Saddledome hockey arena, displaced tens of thousands of people and forced the evacuation of the downtown core. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jonathan Hayward) (credit:AP)

PM tours floods in Alberta(24 of95)

Calgary Flooding: Stephen Harper Visits A Submerged Alberta(25 of95)

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, left, walks to a waiting helicopter with Alberta Premier Alison Redford, right, and Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, for an aerial tour of flooding in Calgary, Alta. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)

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A wall is reserved for messages and missing people at the arena in Blackie, Alberta on Friday June 21, 2013 after the Highwood River, overflowed its banks Thursday. The Red Cross is using the arena to house evacuees of the High River flood. Floodwaters that devastated much of southern Alberta left at least two people dead and forced officials in the western Canadian city of Calgary on Friday to order the evacuation of its entire downtown, as the waters reached the 10th row of the city's hockey arena. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jordan Verlage) (credit:AP)

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Displaced residents sleep on cots at the arena in Blackie, Alberta on Friday June 21, 2013 after the Highwood River, overflowed its banks Thursday. The Red Cross is using the arena to house evacuees of the High River flood. Floodwaters that devastated much of southern Alberta left at least two people dead and forced officials in the western Canadian city of Calgary on Friday to order the evacuation of its entire downtown, as the waters reached the 10th row of the city's hockey arena. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jordan Verlage) (credit:AP)

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Water rushes through what is left of Lions Park as the Sheep River flows through Okotoks, Alberta on Friday June 21, 2013 after the river overflowed its banks Thursday. The town remains on a flood watch. Floodwaters that devastated much of southern Alberta left at least two people dead and forced officials in the western Canadian city of Calgary on Friday to order the evacuation of its entire downtown, as the waters reached the 10th row of the city's hockey arena. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jordan Verlage) (credit:AP)

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A home in the community of Bowness is flooded as up to 100,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in Calgary, Alberta, on Friday, June 21, 2013. Floodwaters that devastated much of southern Alberta left at least two people dead and forced officials in the western Canadian city of Calgary on Friday to order the evacuation of its entire downtown, as the waters reached the 10th row of the city's hockey arena. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette) (credit:AP)

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Resident Cody Chatfield drives his lifted 4x4 through his neighborhood looking at the flooded homes in the community of Bowness as up to 100,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in Calgary, Alberta, on Friday, June 21, 2013. Floodwaters that devastated much of southern Alberta left at least two people dead and forced officials in the western Canadian city of Calgary on Friday to order the evacuation of its entire downtown, as the waters reached the 10th row of the city's hockey arena. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette) (credit:AP)

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Water flows past flooded vehicles in the community of Bowness as up to 100,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in Calgary, Alberta, on Friday, June 21, 2013. Floodwaters that devastated much of southern Alberta left at least two people dead and forced officials in the western Canadian city of Calgary on Friday to order the evacuation of its entire downtown, as the waters reached the 10th row of the city's hockey arena. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette) (credit:AP)

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Vehicles are stranded in the flooded streets of Calgary, Alberta on Friday June 21, 2013. Alberta's largest city was swamped Friday by floodwaters that submerged much of the lower bowl of the Saddledome hockey arena, displaced tens of thousands of people and forced the evacuation of the downtown core. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jonathan Hayward) (credit:AP)

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This aerial photo shows the closed Trans-Canada Highway in Canmore, Alberta, on Friday June 21, 2013. Flooding forced the western Canadian city of Calgary to order the evacuation of the entire downtown area on Friday, as the waters reached the 10th row of the citys hockey arena. Communities throughout southern Alberta are dealing with overflowing rivers that have washed out roads and bridges, inundated homes and turned streets into dirt-brown tributaries. About 350,000 people work in downtown Calgary on a typical day. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jonathan Hayward) (credit:AP)

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Residents in the Eagle Terrace neighborhood of Canmore, Alberta, look out over what was the only road into the area on Friday June 21, 2013, after Cougar Creek flooded. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Rocky Mountain Outlook, Craig Douce) (credit:AP)

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Heavy equipment operators work to keep up with debris, as Cougar Creek pours over the Trans-Canada Highway near Canmore, Alberta on Friday June 21, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Rocky Mountain Outlook, Craig Douce) (credit:AP)

Calgary Flooding: Stephen Harper Visits A Submerged Alberta(36 of95)

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, centre, walks to a waiting helicopter with Alberta Premier Alison Redford, second from right, and Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, for an an aerial tour of flooding in Calgary, Alta. Heavy rains have caused flooding, closed roads, and forced evacuation in Calgary, Alta., Friday, June 21, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)

Calgary Flooding: Stephen Harper Visits A Submerged Alberta(37 of95)

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, centre, boards a helicopter with Alberta Premier Alison Redford, and Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, for an aerial tour of flooding in Calgary, Alta. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Calgary Flooding: Stephen Harper Visits A Submerged Alberta(38 of95)

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, far right, looks at a map of the flooded areas of Calgary with Alberta Premier Alison Redford, centre, and Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, as fire chief Bruce Burrell points out problem sites. Heavy rains have caused flooding, closed roads, and forced evacuation in Calgary, Alta., Friday, June 21, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)

Calgary Flooding: Stephen Harper Visits A Submerged Alberta(39 of95)

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, centre, with Alberta Premier Alison Redford, left, and Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, speak to the media with the Calgary skyline and the flooded Bow river behind them on Friday June 21, 2013. Heavy rains have caused flooding, closed roads, and forced evacuation in Calgary. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)

Emergency Declared In Southern Alberta After Heavy Flooding(40 of95)

Houses damaged along the edge of Cougar Creek are shown June 20, 2013 in Canmore, Alta. Widespread flooding caused by torrential rains washed out bridges and roads prompting the evacuation of thousands. (credit:Getty Images)

Emergency Declared In Southern Alberta After Heavy Flooding(41 of95)

Residents watch flooding along Cougar Creek June 20, 2013 in Canmore, Alta. Widespread flooding caused by torrential rains washed out bridges and roads prompting the evacuation of thousands. (credit:Getty Images)

Emergency Declared In Southern Alberta After Heavy Flooding(42 of95)

Residents watch the flooding Cougar Creek as it takes out Eagle Terrace Road and nears the top of the Elk Run Blvd Bridge June 20, 2013 in Canmore, Alta. Widespread flooding caused by torrential rains washed out bridges and roads prompting the evacuation of thousands. (credit:Getty Images)

Emergency Declared In Southern Alberta After Heavy Flooding(43 of95)

Houses damaged along the edge of Cougar Creek. (credit:Getty)

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A lone truck sits submerged in the flood waters near downtown High River, Alta. on Thursday. (credit:AP)

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Homes along Cougar Creek in Canmore, Alta. barely hang on as the town struggles to deal with flooding Thursday. (credit:AP)

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A front end loader carries residents after they were rescued from the flood waters in High River, Alberta. (credit:AP)

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A kayaker paddles down a flooded street in High River, Alberta on Thursday. (credit:AP)

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Cars are submerged by the flood waters in High River, Alberta on Thursday. (credit:AP)

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Kevan Yaets swims after his cat Momo to safety as the flood waters sweep him downstream after submerging his truck in High River, Alberta on Thursday. (credit:AP)

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A woman is rescued from the flood waters in High River, Alta. on Thursday. (credit:AP)

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Kevan Yaets crawls out the back window of his pick up truck with his cat Momo as the flood waters sweep him downstream after submerging his truck in High River. (credit:AP)

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A helicopter carrying residents lands on a road in High River, Alta., Thursday. (credit:AP)

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Roger Poirier, holds his family's cat, Smartie, as his wife Crystal looks on after rescuing it from their flooded house in High River, Alta., Thursday. (credit:AP)

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Cars and homes are submerged in flood waters in High River. (credit:AP)

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Rescuers looks for stranded residents in High River, Alta. on June 20, 2013 after the Highwood River overflowed its banks. (credit:The Canadian Press/Jordan Verlage)

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A shot of the homes along Cougar Creek. (credit:Lauren Wheeler)

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Semi truck sit idle to the Trans-Canada Highway in Canmore, Alta. on Thursday June 20, 2013. Calgary and most of southern Alberta are being hammered by rain that has washed-out roads and bridges, caused mudslides and closed major highways. (credit:The Canadian Press/John Marriott)

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A flooded residence in High river, Alta. Heavy rains have caused flooding, closed roads, and forced evacuation in High River, Alta., Thursday, June 20, 2013. (credit:The Canadian Press, Jeff McIntosh)

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A front end loader carries people to safety from the flood waters in High River, Alta. on June 20, 2013 after the Highwood River overflowed its banks. (credit:The Canadian Press/Jordan Verlage)

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Kevan Yaets swims after his cat Momo to safety as the flood waters sweep him downstream and submerge the cab in High River, Alberta on June 20, 2013 after the Highwood River overflowed its banks. Hundreds of people have been evacuated with volunteers and emergency crews helping to aid stranded residents. (credit:The Canadian Press/Jordan Verlage)

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A resident is comforted by rescuers as she clutches her dog after being retrieved from the flood waters in High River, Alta. on June 20, 2013 after the Highwood River overflowed its banks. (credit:The Canadian Press/Jordan Verlage)

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A lone truck sits submerged in the flood waters near downtown High River, Alta. on June 20, 2013 after the Highwood River overflowed its banks. (credit:The Canadian Press/Jordan Verlage)

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Krystal Lelond of Black Diamond clutches her cat Pipi after being evacuated from her home after the Sheep River overflowed its banks. (credit:The Canadian Press/Jordan Verlage)

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An elderly woman is rescued from the flood waters in High River, Alta. on June 20, 2013 after the Highwood River overflowed its banks. (credit:The Canadian Press/Jordan Verlage)

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Debris and water pours across the Trans-Canada Highway as Canmore struggles with flooding. (credit:he Canadian Press/ Craig Douce, Rocky Mountain Outlook)

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A woman wades through the flood waters in High River, Alta. on June 20, 2013 after the Highwood River overflowed its banks. (credit:The Canadian Press/Jordan Verlage)

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Flooding in Black Diamond (credit:Twitter: @AlBeks)

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This is the view of the bridge over the Highwood. Normally there is a couple metres clearance below it. (credit:Twitter: @ElectDanielle)

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A kayaker paddles down a flooded street in High River, Alta. on June 20, 2013 after the Highwood River overflowed its banks. (credit:The Canadian Press/ Jordan Verlage)

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One of several rock slides blocking #hwy40 in Kananaskis. No access to Kananaskis village. (credit:Twitter: @Alberta511)

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The Bow river swells over its banks in downtown Calgary, Alta. Heavy rains have caused flooding, closed roads, and forced evacuation in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, June 20, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)

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Look at the flooding in #lethbridge !! This street has been shut down (credit:Twitter: @officialJazyFizz)

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Residents wade through flood waters after an evacuation order following heavy rains caused flooding, closed roads, and forced evacuation in High River. (credit:The Canadian Press/ Jeff McIntosh)

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The Calgary Stampede rodeo grounds are flooded due to the heavy rains have caused flooding, closed roads, and forced evacuation in Calgary, Alta., Friday, June 21, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)

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Calgarians look out over a flooded Calgary Stampede grounds and Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Friday, June 21, 2013. Officials estimated 75,000 people have been displaced in the western Canadian city. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jeff (credit:(The Canadian Press, Jeff McIntosh))

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A photograph of the back yard of a resident as rising water flooding homes in the community of Bowness as up to 100,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in Calgary, Alta., on Friday, June 21, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette)

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Onlookers watch the Bow river swell in downtown Calgary, Alta. Heavy rains have caused flooding, closed roads, and forced evacuation in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, June 20, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)

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A firefighter walks through the rising water in the community of Bowness as up to 100,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in Calgary, Alta., on Friday, June 21, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette)

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A helicopter carrying evacuated residents lands on a road in High river, Alta. Heavy rains have caused flooding, closed roads, and forced evacuation in High River, Alta., Thursday, June 20, 2013. (credit:The Canadian Press/ Jeff McIntosh)

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The Bow river swells over its banks in downtown Calgary, Alta. Heavy rains have caused flooding, closed roads, and forced evacuation in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, June 20, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)

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The Calgary Stampede rodeo grounds are flooded due to the heavy rains have caused flooding, closed roads, and forced evacuation in Calgary, Alta., Friday, June 21, 2013. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)

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