motorboat on whitemud creek

• Submit a News Tip

Video surfaces of high speed jet boat narrowly missing people on narrow creek

By laurakrause

Posted June 29, 2023 3:27 pm.

Last Updated June 30, 2023 10:12 am.

A video has surfaced of a motorized boat driving down the narrow creek at a fast speed, narrowly missing people in a canoe that managed to pull off to the side.

No sound because I was actively on the phone reporting these guys and apparently my phone doesn't like to multitask. They didn't know we were here: if we hadn't pulled off just the moment earlier when we heard them coming, we probably would've been crushed. pic.twitter.com/D3l2HbtQeH — Chris On A Bike (@ChrisOnABikeYEG) June 24, 2023

“When I saw that video, I couldn’t believe how close the jetboat actually came to the single canoeist,” said Wayne Oakes, photographer.

Wayne Oakes spends a lot of time in the Whitemud Creek capturing not only photos of birds and wildlife. But has captured other jetboats ripping through the creek at fast speeds.

“A small creek like this, in my humble opinion, is not a place for that kind of opinion,” he explained. “This portion of the creek is deceiving in that it is very wide, the water is quite deep because of the high level of the North Saskatchewan River. But the further you go up the creek, it gets way more narrow and the volume diminishes significantly.

“When you’re going really fast in a narrow, winding creek, that has the potential of also having canoers, kayakers, paddleboarders on it, there is recipe for significant disaster.”

He says he, alongside the Sierra Club, made a motion for the City of Edmonton to restrict or ban motorized vessels in the Whitemud Creek back in 2017. But it went nowhere.

“I don’t know if anything ever followed through on that application process, how far it got, if it went anywhere,” said Oakes.

Boats are still allowed on the creek today. The City says they did install multiple signs that are clearly visible for anyone entering the creek, and say this is something the City will monitor and enforce.

Raquel Feroe has also witnessed a motorized boat driving fast. She believes it ran over a flock of ducklings.

“When I saw the video, it also sort of re-traumatized me because when I was canoeing a few weeks ago, I saw a boat coming upstream, and downstream I could see a duck trying to bring her ducklings across the river. I sort of watched as this accident was happening,” Feroe explained.

She’s unsure what happened to the ducklings, but hopes boaters will educate themselves on the impacts boating can have on marine life.

“The River valley is hugely important to both people and wildlife and we all have to learn a better relationship with each other. And particularly the Whitemud, that is an important spawning area.

“It was really an act of violence, and I think with some education they would see it was an act of violence. I think they didn’t realize the ecosystem, or understand the effects of what they were doing,” said Feroe. “Really, there should not be jetboats, end of story in the Whitemud Creek. Any boater should stay out of there if they have a motor.”

Oakes added, “The adults might be able to take off and fly away in time, but the youngsters don’t have the ability to fly. All they can do is desperately try to scramble to the shoreline.”

The City says its Park Ranger Marine Unit and the Edmonton Police Service Marine Units are investigating, saying this incident is very serious due to overall concerns about river safety.

Top Stories

Edmonton police say a 53-year-old woman is dead after being hit by a vehicle on Ellerslie Road near 66 Street Saturday night.

Parks Canada says a weekend drenching of rain on parts of Jasper National Park is doing a lot to quell fire activity, but the wet weather also comes with a warning. In a daily update on the local wildfire...

One person has been killed in a two-vehicle crash north of Airdrie that also left two injured Sunday, emergency crews say.

The economic fallout of the country's rail shutdown is set to come into focus this week as shippers and producers take stock of cargo delays and financial losses. A work stoppage that began early Thursday...

Most Watched Today

The Edmonton Fringe Festival is approaching its final days. Some artists are curious about the festival's future as they face financial struggles. Our Leo Cruzat has more

Elliott Knopp catches up with Metallica fans who say the price of admission was just out of reach, even in the nosebleeds.

Allison Lang will represent Team Canada in sitting volleyball next week at the Paris Paralympics, and she’s taking the world along with her on her journey. Bianca Millions has her story.

What is it about heavy metal legends Metallica that have fans in Edmonton literally lined up around the block for merchandise?

A man has gone viral on reddit, alleging that he was drugged with methamphetamine at the Edmonton Marathon on Sunday. Edmonton Police have responded to his allegations on Thursday, detailing his arrest.

Adjust preferences

With your consent we may collect cookies and information to enhance our service, and improve your experience.

These cookies and data are essential for browsing our website and allowing services. Examples include, session, authentication, and security cookies.

These cookies and data enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalized content.

These cookies and data inform us which pages are most informative and engaging via analytics.

These cookies may track data across websites for marketing and interest-based advertising to provide personalized content, offers, and advertisements.

Accused driver of speeding Whitemud Creek motorboat facing criminal charge

Colton Goodkey is charged with one count of dangerous operation of a conveyance

You can save this article by registering for free here . Or sign-in if you have an account.

Article content

The driver of a boat police claim was speeding dangerously through Whitemud Creek earlier this summer is now facing a criminal charge.

On June 24, a powerboat narrowly missed colliding with several canoes while it was travelling through the narrow and shallow water at a high rate of speed, according to the Edmonton Police Service (EPS).

The boat was forced ashore after it hit a downed tree, police state, after which the four occupants shifted the boat free before continuing down the creek.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

• Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters.
• Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account.
• Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
• Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.
• Support local journalism.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

• Access articles from across Canada with one account.
• Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
• Enjoy additional articles per month.
• Get email updates from your favourite authors.

Sign In or Create an Account

No one was hurt in the incidents.

Police say they began investigating 11 days later after receiving video of the speeding boat.

“We are grateful for those who provided video of this incident as it really put the level of danger into perspective,” EPS acting detective Ben Davis stated in a news release.

“The risk of serious injury or death to those who were out on the water at the time was a real possibility and totally unnecessary.”

Video posted to social media the afternoon of June 24 showed a boat speeding through the creek, though it’s not confirmed to be the same boat.

Colton Goodkey, 26, was identified by police as the driver of the boat and was charged Aug. 30 with one criminal count of dangerous operation of a conveyance.

The charge means police believe Goodkey operated the boat “in a manner … that endangers the public.” It carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison.

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.

Can Mr. Excitement make a difference in nets for Edmonton Oilers one day?

Review: metallica circles its loud legacy in first of two raucous nights at commonwealth stadium, assigning some blame for the edmonton oilers losing broberg, holloway: 9 things, 'our society is not stepping up': mom of daughter struggling with homelessness speaks out, edmonton fringe festival wraps up with strong ticket numbers, but falls short of $300,000 fundraising goal.

This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here . By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy .

You've reached the 20 article limit.

You can manage saved articles in your account.

and save up to 100 articles!

Looks like you've reached your saved article limit!

You can manage your saved articles in your account and clicking the X located at the bottom right of the article.

videoPlayer

• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• News Videos
• Entertainment

Video shows reckless boaters blasting up creek in Edmonton

An Edmonton man is asking motorboat drivers to stay away from Whitemud Creek. Miriam Valdes-Carletti explains.

Subscribe to CTV News to watch more videos:

Connect with CTV News: For the latest news visit: For a full video offering visit the CTV News Network:

CTV News on Facebook: CTV News on TikTok: CTV News on Twitter: CTV News on Instagram: CTV News on Reddit:

— CTV News is Canada’s most-watched news organization both locally and nationally, and has a network of national, international, and local news operations.

Accused driver of speeding Whitemud Creek motorboat facing criminal charge

Police say the boat was speeding through the shallow water, came close to hitting several canoes, and had to be freed after running ashore.

Coverage Details

Bias distribution.

• 100 % of the sources lean Right

To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium

To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage

Similar News Topics