Rising: Stories of the 2013 Alberta Flood

The only literary journalism book to come out of one of the largest natural disasters in Canadian history tells the story as never before: through the eyes of the people it directly affected. Using multiple compelling narratives, informative historical context for the events, and a scientific explanation for the disaster, Rising puts a human face on the massive flood that affected thousands of people and caused at least $6 billion in damage.

The stories are unknown but familiar, commonplace yet extraordinary: an elderly woman and her son forced to flee as their High River home gives way to the water; a homeless man searching the dark empty streets of Calgary for shelter; Siksika First Nation’s emergency responders using boats to pluck residents from half-submerged houses. The remarkable community spirit of Bowness; the Calgary Highlanders reserve forces unit working to save Inglewood, the original settlement of Calgary, from erosion. These and other stories come together to form a glimpse of the remarkable time when Calgary and southern Alberta fell to their knees and found a way to rise up again.