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In her seven years travelling the South Saskatchewan River on the Prairie Lily, Joan Steckhan remembers some close calls with others on the water that left her heart pounding in her throat.

Now, the co-owner of the 120-passenger ship that regularly travels the South Saskatchewan River is reminding river users to share the waterway. Recent bad behaviour around the boat has resulted in a plea to the public for more responsible river usage.

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“Some of the close calls that we’ve had, sometimes the other river users truly don’t understand how close they came to dying,” she said. “We’re a big, beautiful ship. And there’s beautiful views, but underneath that ship, it’s very dangerous … And if you get too close, you can get pulled under.”

Steckhan said for her and her crew, the thought of the Prairie Lily having that effect on a person’s life and family is “very devastating.”

“There’s space for everyone,” she said. “We just have to be aware of each other, share the space and know the dangers.”