Experience Sikome Lake
Photo Courtesy of Travel Alberta / Alberta Parks
Ask any Calgarian, we do not get a ton of super-hot weather. However, when the temperature soars in summer, the place to be is at a lake. For thousands of Calgarians in the southern portion of the city the go-to lake is Sikome (si-KO-me). How did the lake get that name? In her book, Fish Creek Provincial Park – A Guide to Canada’s Largest Urban Park, the author, Anna Robertson, provides an insight. When John Glenn arrived, the Indigenous people called the creek ‘Siokame’, meaning ‘black fish’. The waterway soon became known as Black Fish Creek and over time, this name was shortened to Fish Creek, which we still use today.
Sikome Lake Fees
Day Season Pass Pass
Family
$10 $100
Persons with disabilities
$2 $25
Adult (18-64)
$5 $50
Senior (65+)
$4 $40
Child (6-17)
$3 $30
Child (0-5)
Free Free
(2 adults and children at the same residence) (aides enter for free)
Season’s passes can be purchased in advance at albertaparks.ca/sikome.
Sikome Aquatic Facility provides great outdoor recreational opportunities. Visitation typically reaches 100,000 people for the season, which, in 2019 runs from Jun 29 - Sept 2. A way to beat the heat, this lake is perfect for young families. However, this is NOT a lifeguarded facility. Use is at your own risk and please become familiar with the rules of use. This venue has many amenities including swimming areas, change rooms, gas-powered BBQs, play areas, and concession stands. And in the past couple of years, Alberta Parks has been working to enhance and modernize the facility. They replaced the sand and renovated a shower building. Other work includes improvements to water treatment, upgrades to paving stones and new tent structures. They’ve even introduced commercial food trucks to the facility. The main entrance is open daily throughout the season, from 10am - 6:30pm, although the entry gates may close due to inclement weather. albertaparks.ca/sikome Thousands of Calgarians will continue to flock to the facility to enjoy those attributes. And on those precious few hot days each summer, Sikome Lake will continue to be the place you want to be. By Andrew Penner & Bob Harris
24 | Enter our Photo Contest
