Calgary is a city that cherishes its water.
Calgarians build their own lakes, float on the rivers and even treat the city’s storm ponds like oceanfront views. However, the region has been struggling with drought, and residents are being asked to cut back.
On May 29, the Calgary Eyeopener is taking its show on the road — or rather, on the pathways and sidewalks that line the city’s largest river.
CBC Radio hosts and producers will stroll along the Bow River before heading into Queensland, where the team will gather at the neighbourhood’s community association hall.
Education and celebration
Josh Pagé, senior producer of the Calgary Eyeopener and the creator behind the walking show, says this style of show is a unique challenge for the team to program.
“The most challenging parts of these shows is the path and route itself. It’s a tricky little manoeuvre to create a route that is relatively flat, has natural stopping points and where every destination serves a point to your theme … We’re a slow strolling caravan of cables, papers and microphones,” said Pagé.
“But the payoff, I hope, is the audience can press play from 6 to 8:30 a.m. and have their questions answered about water, while also celebrating it.”
This special edition of the Calgary Eyeopener is both an ode to Calgary’s love of water and an exploration of why Calgarians are worried about one of nature’s most valuable resources.
Listeners can tune in to 99.1 FM in Calgary, on CBC Listen, or live on cbc.ca/calgary.