Rainy weather in Calgary is leaving a visible mark on seasonal businesses, especially those built around outdoor activities. The persistent precipitation over the past week has brought cooler temperatures, grey skies, and economic challenges to parts of the city that typically thrive during July’s peak season.
Lazy Day Raft Rentals, a familiar presence on the Bow River, has experienced a near-total drop in bookings. Arlin Friesen, the owner, called the situation “devastating”, citing a dramatic fall in demand.
“We had one booking yesterday,” said Friesen, “and when I told them to check the forecast, they immediately asked to reschedule.” With 200 rafts usually booked well in advance, the company now has just a fraction reserved for the coming days, and even those are likely to be cancelled.
“Normally by Saturday, we’d be completely full,” he added. “This week we’ve got 60 boats reserved, but I don’t expect all of them to go out.”
Riverside Rafting, another outfitter along the Bow River, has also been impacted. Owner Mohamad Atoui reported a 20 to 25 per cent decline in clients. Though less dramatic than Lazy Day’s losses, the business was closed altogether on Thursday, a rare move in peak season.
Still, Atoui pointed out a complex trade-off: while rain interrupts daily operations, it also helps maintain safe water levels in the rivers. During drier stretches, the water can drop so low that it puts equipment at risk.
“It still affects business significantly,” he said, acknowledging that any immediate benefit to river levels does not compensate for the reduced customer traffic.
On the streets, the downturn is visible.
Along 17th Avenue Southwest, typically a buzzing commercial strip in the heart of summer, shops stood mostly empty. A handful of pedestrians, many wearing rain gear, shuffled past shuttered doors and unoccupied patios.
Environment Canada meteorologist Christi Climenhaga confirmed that the showery pattern will persist through the weekend, fuelled by atmospheric instability at upper levels. Although precipitation this July is above average, overall moisture levels since January are close to normal, due to a notably dry winter earlier in the year.
The forecast calls for continued instability until at least early next week. There is potential for rising temperatures toward the end of July, though long-term projections remain uncertain.
Still, not all Calgary businesses see the weather as a burden.
At AQ Outdoors, which sells gear and hosts rafting classes, the rain has been good for business. Manager Brian Casey said the store remains open, even with poor conditions.
“We’ve got full equipment for clients to outfit them for such conditions,” he said. “Rain is fine—we just avoid thunder, lightning, and high winds.”
According to Casey, interest in gear suited for colder and wetter weather actually increases during these patterns, giving shops like his a mid-season boost, even as other sectors stall.
As Calgary’s July skies remain unsettled, the city’s summer economy continues to face disruptions, with some businesses paddling against the current, and others finding new ways to stay afloat.
