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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

It's colder than where?! Arctic blast can't defeat Winnipeggers

By: Cameron MacLean

15/01/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

JOE BRYKSA/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Local-(Standup photo) Alvin Sana a ground crew worker for Continental Airlines heads for warmth after loading up a plane bound for Denver Colorado at the James Armstrong Richardson International Airport- Wind chill temperatures below -40 C have made jobs on the tarmac a chilly workplace- Jan 14, 2009

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WAYNE GLOWACKI/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Cold Weather story... Neil (didn't want his last name used), a Parking Commissionaire that patrols downtown provincial parking lots dresses in layers for warmth and takes warmup breaks in this extreme cold weather. Jan. 14 2009

As you drove to work Wednesday morning -- assuming your car started -- you likely passed bundled-up Transit riders waiting longer than usual for their buses. You probably saw lines of children trudging to school after their buses were cancelled.

With their frosted balaclavas and Michelin Man parkas, Winnipeggers are feeling the effects of the deep freeze. The Free Press set out Wednesday to find out what impact the cold is having on Winnipeggers and how they're coping with a blast of Arctic air that is hanging around for far too long.

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THE HOMELESS:

WINNIPEG'S estimated 2,000 homeless people are bunking down and taking shelter. Linda Warkentin, spokeswoman for Siloam Mission, said they're not seeing that many people venturing into their drop-in centre. Instead, homeless people are staying anywhere they can keep warm. Nonetheless, almost all of Siloam's 110 beds are filled.

CANADA POST:

NEITHER snow, nor sleet, nor hell freezing over shall keep these couriers from their appointed rounds. Canada Post carriers bent their heads and soldiered through the cold to get the mail delivered. But they had a little help. Supervisors drove along delivery routes, offering their cars as shelter, and taxis were available as well.

CONSTRUCTION:

THE deep cold hasn't put a freeze on construction projects in the city. Although their numb fingers may not be able to wield their tools as quickly, construction workers in Winnipeg are "a fairly hardy bunch," said Ron Hambley, executive vice-president of the Winnipeg Construction Association.

Frequent breaks, tarps and heaters help workers survive the cold.

MANITOBA HYDRO:

WINNIPEGGERS are not in danger of freezing in the dark like the Atlantic provinces, Hydro spokesman Jim Peters said. Although power consumption levels are high, they're well within normal for this time of year.

CANADIAN AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION:

THE groaning of frozen car engines could be heard throughout the city Wednesday morning. Chances are that plenty of Winnipeggers didn't make it to work on time if they forgot to plug in their vehicles. CAA members were stuck waiting up to four hours for a boost.

SLIPPERY STREETS:

AT such low temperatures, roads become even more slippery, and drivers have polished Winnipeg's roads into icy sheets. In order to keep up with the spinning tires, the city's public works department has dumped 30 per cent more sand onto the streets, city spokesman Ken Allen said.

SCHOOL BUS CANCELLATIONS:

THE kids faced a frigid trek to school Wednesday as school divisions across the city cancelled bus services due to the extreme cold and wind chill. Some rural school divisions cancelled class altogether.

cameron.maclean@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 15, 2009 B1

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