Wednesday, April 15, 2020
Serving the Hub of the North since 1960
Volume 60 • Issue 16
Three record snowfalls in six days prompt city’s biggest snow-clearing effort since 2017 blizzard Mayor blasts ‘whining’ about state of city streets, offers same-day service funded by 20 per cent tax increase PROVINCE SEEKS TEMPORARY HOSPITAL SPACES NEWS PAGE 2
Thompson Citizen photos by Ian Graham All city snow-clearing equipment, including two plow trucks last used to clear snow after the March 2017 blizzard, were pressed into action April 3, the second day of a six-day span that saw 65.6 centimetres of snow fall, with three of those days setting daily snowfall records. BY IAN GRAHAM 246 POSITIVE COVID-19 TESTS IN FIRST MONTH OF PANDEMIC NEWS PAGE 3
REPORTING CORONAVIRUS CASES BY HEALTH REGION THE NORM IN CANADA NEWS PAGE 4
EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
An unprecedented sixday stretch of early April snowfall in Thompson led to the biggest snow-clearing effort since the blizzard of March 2017 and, combined with already-frayed nerves as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, harsh words from the city’s mayor for citizens dissatisfied with the state of city roads. Snow fell in Thompson four of the six days from April 2 to April 7, setting records on three of them. The 15.6 centimetres that fell last April 2 was the most since 6.8 cm of snow in 1995, while the 34.4 cm that fell the next day beat the previous record of 6.4 cm from 1967 by 28 cm. Only 2.8 cm fell April 4, well below the 1973 record of 8.4 cm, while the 12.8 cm of snow on April 7 was close to double the previous record of 6.5 cm in 1981. Cumulatively, 65.6 cm of
snow fell between April 2 and April 7. The April 3 snowfall in Thompson was higher than any day in April up to 2010. The previous highest oneday amount was 22.6 cm and the average snowfall for the entire month of April up to 2010 was 23 cm. As of April 7, there were 87 cm of snow on the ground in Thompson, the April 3 and April 5 and were scheduled to work extended shifts again April 7 to ensure the snow was cleared as soon as possible. The effort included all of the city’s graders and loaders and all of its bobcats from both the public works and recreation departments, along with two plow trucks not normally used for snow clearing. An Environment Canada meteorologist said getting large amounts of snow in April is a little unusual but that having snow in April is not. This year’s massive
dump is the result of low pressure systems over central and Northern Manitoba that have created variable weather and, at times, significant snowfall. More snow is also forecast for later this week. The City of Thompson said in a website update April 7 that city crews worked 40 hours between Friday and Sunday and were scheduled to be working extended shifts again Tuesday night to ensure the snow is cleared as soon as possible. The effort included all of the city’s graders and loaders and all of its bobcats from both the public works and recreation departments, along with two plow trucks not normally used for snow clearing. “This is the largest snow-clearing action our crews have undertaken since the blizzard of 2017,” said the update, noting that three years ago was the last
time the plow trucks were pressed into action. As a result, while streets were getting cleared faster, the windrows left by the plow trucks could only be removed at the same rate as during normal snow-clearing because there are no additional loaders to complement the plow trucks. “The only alternative is that these streets remained unplowed until graders reach them, which means vehicles will get stuck or damaged, including emergency vehicles,” said the city update. “Our firefighters and paramedics can respond to emergencies regardless of windrows, but they cannot respond to emergencies when their vehicle is stuck two kilometres away from the scene, or when the road is blocked by another resident’s vehicle. These snowfalls do not come every day in Thompson, and the must be dealt with step by step.”
Complaints about the pace of snow-clearing irked Mayor Colleen Smook, who took to Facebook Tuesday night to call out people unsatisfied with the progress of clearing city streets. “Our Public Works crew has gone above and beyond,” Smook wrote. “Have we got every street done. NO. But with 2 major snowstorms four days apart and only so many bodies and even less equipment they are doing the best they can. When I heard all the whining and bitching that they got from the citizens of our great City I am appalled. If you want same day service with a 20% tax increase we will deliver.” “I know if you bitch me out and it’s not pertinent you will soon make it to the bottom of my list. Instead a honk and a thumbs up to all City staff. STAY HOME. SELF DISTANCE. WASH YOUR HANDS,” Smook concluded.
Thompson Citizen and Nickel Belt News will both be printed and delivered on Wednesdays while coronavirus pandemic continues During the COVID-19 crisis we have been challenged with making some very difficult decisions regarding our newspaper and online presence in this part of Northern Manitoba. Every member of our staff are experiencing the effects of these decisions and in retrospect I
am truly grateful for their dedication and commitment to continue to provide the news and advertising opportunities to our communities and clients. One of the decisions that will take effect with this week’s papers is we will not be publishing the Nickel Belt News on Fridays but
will publish and deliver it with the Thompson Citizen every Wednesday. The papers will continue to be delivered throughout the City of Thompson as well as the 20 northern communities in this part of our province. This will continue until such time as the crisis with COVID-19 is over.
For the most up-to-date information, check out www. thompsoncitizen.net where articles are published as they are completed. Our offices will remain closed to the general public with most of our staff working from their homes. The phone lines at the office (204-677-4534)
will be answered during the week from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Our email contact for news is editor@ thompsoncitizen.net and for advertising sales it is ads@thompsoncitizen. net. Other inquiries can be directed to me at generalmanager@thompsoncitizen.net.
All of us here hope that everyone remains safe and healthy – remember to wash your hands, do not touch your face and practise social distancing at all times. Lynn Taylor Publisher Thompson Citizen & Nickel Belt News