THUNDER BAY - With the first big snowfall of the season now on the ground and more on the way, local residents are greeting the white stuff, and the cleanup, with mixed feelings.
“We are pretty happy to see the snow come,” said Nathan Gallant, who was out early Monday morning digging out his driveway with his three daughters. “I think when its winter we should have lots of snow because I like to play outside in the snow and go skiing, and skating, and sliding, and shoveling.”
A winter storm system dropped more than 25 centimetres of snow on the city throughout Sunday and early Monday morning. It left many residents busy digging out driveways and navigating slippery, snow covered roads.
The townships of Oliver Paipoonge and Conmee declared a significant weather event, which remained in effect Monday afternoon.
The city of Thunder Bay said while arterial roads are being cleared, it may take several days to completely clear all residential streets, which has some residents frustrated.
“My car was stuck two times. It’s very hard to move around in the city,” said Lakehead University student Prabdeep Singh, who is experiencing his first winter in the city. “I think I have to move now. I have to move to another city. I haven’t seen any plows since the snowstorm started. I have to plow with my bare hands to the corner, so I can move my car to the road.”
Brandon Thibodeau, who did see plows going down his road Monday morning, welcomed the sight, and even the snow.
“We had to get out here and get rid of the snow bank they made for us and get that done nice and early,” he said. “It’s not that bad. It’s a little sore on the back. But it’s fun getting out there with my dad shovelling us out. But there’s a lot of snow.”
And much like Gallant, Thibodeau welcomes the arrival of winter.
“It’s nice,” he said. “It’s about time, I want to get out and go sledding. It’s going to be fun.”
But no one is having as much fun as the kids, who were already out climbing up on the large snowbanks to slide down and enjoying everything else the snow has to offer.
“We are going to make a snowman and probably make a fort with it,” said eight-year-old Emmersyn Gallant, who was even having fun helping her dad shovel the driveway. “It’s really fun and I like it.”
Even dad didn’t mind, though he’s hoping next time mother nature brings even more of winter to the city, his snow blower will be ready for it.
“I had a plan of snow blowing, but when I went to warm up my snow blower, the engine died and there was a big crack and now it won’t turn over,” he said. “So I am shovelling for sure.”
Light snow will continue throughout Monday evening and overnight, and according to Environment Canada, another 15-20 centimetres of snow may fall before Tuesday.
