Canada on Fire: The catastrophic and escalating effects of wildfires on lives and communities

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Report of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry

June 2026

This month, the Senate of Canada’s Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry issued the report of a long-term study of wildfires in Canada and their effects on forestry and agriculture industries, as well as on rural and Indigenous communities, across the country. 

The Committee heard evidence from experts across sectors, including from John Pomeroy, about the relevance of water science to wildfires. The Canadian government relies on experts and academics to inform key decisions and support the development of national flood, drought, and wildfire prevention programs. 

“The years 2023 and 2024 were the hottest years on the planet in 120,000 years, by many estimates. This warmed our snow, melted it early, thawed our permafrost, burned our forest, and intensified rainfall and drought outside of conditions to which nature and our population have evolved. It is hurtling us into a dangerous and unfamiliar world where our experience in traditional approaches to forest and water management no longer provide adequate guidance for preserving our environment, building our prosperity, looking after each other, and living in safe, healthy communities.” John Pomeroy

See more from John Pomeroy on pages 20, 85, 91, and 105.

Read the full report

High river flows may signal end to multi-year Saskatchewan drought

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650 CKOM

June 7, 2026

After years of drought, low river levels and sand buildup along the South Saskatchewan River, a surge of mountain runoff could bring some long-awaited relief to Saskatchewan.

John Pomeroy, a professor at the University of Saskatchewan and director of the Global Water Futures Observatories Project, said parts of Saskatchewan and Alberta may be seeing a turning point after nearly a decade of dry conditions.

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Bow River no longer rising in Banff

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Rocky Mountain Outlook

June 2, 2026

BOW VALLEY – The surging Bow River is no longer rising in the Banff townsite.

However, a high streamflow advisory was still in force for the Bow River from Banff to the Ghost Reservoir on Tuesday (June 2) because the river is still moving much faster than normal, with submerged logs and debris.

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Alberta Faces Heavy Rainfall, Rising River Levels, and Local Flooding

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Alberta has been facing a surge of heavy rainfall and rapidly rising river levels, leading to localized flooding, campground closures, and growing concerns across several communities.

June 1

Some streets are flooding in Canmore, but it’s nothing like 2013: experts

CTV News

While water is spilling onto streets in downtown Canmore, experts say the mountain town isn’t expecting flooding similar to what it saw in 2013. John Pomeroy, a University of Saskatchewan professor and director of Global Water Futures Observatories, is based in Canmore, and he and his team monitor water levels year-round.

 

High river levels across Alberta

CBC Listen

We get the latest on river flows after a hot week was followed by a rainy weekend.

 

Heavy rainfall pummels Calgary as river levels rise in Alberta

CBC News

Calgarians are being warned about heavy rainfall and flooded roadways amid an Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) rainfall warning.

 

River flooding causes campground closure in Bow Valley

Rocky Mountain Outlook

As heavy rain continues to pound the region, the Three Sisters Campground at Dead Man’s Flats in Bow Valley Provincial Park closed Sunday afternoon (May 31), while sections of Bow River Campground east of Canmore were cordoned off as water poured over the banks.

USask PhD candidate Alana Muenchrath receives the D.M. Gray Award for Best Student Paper in Hydrology

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Centre for Hydrology

June 1

The D.M. Gray Award for Best Student Paper in Hydrology is a prestigious annual prize presented by the Hydrology Section of the Canadian Geophysical Union (CGU). It recognizes a student who delivers an outstanding oral presentation and paper based on original, high-significance hydrological research.

This year, it was awarded to Alana Muenchrath, a PhD candidate in the School of Environment and Sustainability at the University of Saskatchewan, for her research focusing on understanding how a warming climate is driving permafrost thaw in the Northwest Territories.

“Permafrost landscapes are incredibly diverse across the North, so it’s important to understand how thaw processes differ across environments.” 

Alana’s recent research examines how hydrological processes and soil moisture influence permafrost thaw.

“Hydrology and permafrost are inextricably linked. To understand permafrost systems, we must also understand the role of water.”

Her work demonstrates how water movement can transfer energy through landscapes and influence patterns of permafrost thaw. By improving the representation of hydrological processes in permafrost models, her research will support more accurate projections of permafrost change and its implications for northern ecosystems, water resources, and communities. Alana works with Dr. Andrew Ireson and Dr. Chris Spence at the Global Institute for Water Security.