THUNDER BAY – While the cold snap has prompted many people to remain indoors to enjoy cups of hot chocolate or huddle by a warm fireplace, there are those who have to carry on and brave the elements.
Despite frigid temperatures and wind chills that have regularly been colder than – 40C during the past few days, several different occupations have to carry on business as usual.
Canada Post carrier Joel Perry said being out in the cold is part of the job.
“You just deal with it,” Perry said while out delivering along his route on Wednesday morning.
“You know you’ve got to do it. People have to get their mail and away we go.”
Perry, who covers about a nine-kilometre stretch on the south side of the city, said he tries to stick to the same routine that he would on any other day.
“I just try to keep it the same. I know when I’m going to be done and scheduling is half the battle,” Perry said. “A lot of times, knowing you’re going to be done at a (certain) point helps you deal with the cold a little bit too.”
Environment Canada on Wednesday morning officially lifted the extreme cold warning that had been first issued on Christmas morning, despite temperatures expected to remain below – 20C throughout the day and a forecasted wind chill dipping as low as – 38C overnight.
Ray O’Flaherty, an attendant at the full-service Shell gas bar on Red River Road, said having proper winter attire is critical, along with “lots of hot coffee.”
“It’s brutal,” O’Flaherty said when asked what it’s like working in the cold.
O’Flaherty said drivers frequently apologize and tell him they feel sorry for him having to be outside.
“When it’s cold you’re a lot busier,” O’Flaherty said. “People don’t like to get out of their vehicles.”
Thunder Bay Police Service Const. Jesse Harnden, a member of the force’s uniform patrol, said officers carry duty bags with extra jackets, gloves, toques and socks to help prepare for the unpredictability of policing.
“If there’s an accident we have to stay out in the cold for a lengthy period of time,” Harnden said.
“You try to be ready for everything. Sometimes you’re geared up to be outside for most of the day and, for example, today I’m dressed nice and warm and we ended up inside a house for two to three hours and that’s unexpected. But then it could be the reverse scenario where you’re outside for 10 to 12 hours a shift.”
Officers also try to pay significant attention to the city’s vulnerable populations, who are at an elevated risk during the bitterly cold conditions.
“We definitely try to patrol those areas more often to make sure everybody is warm, has a warm place to sleep and get some food,” Harnden said.
Environment Canada is forecasting a high of – 14C during the day on Thursday with snow squalls possible, though there is still potential for wind chill below – 35C. The daytime highs for the final days of 2017 are expected to be in the range of – 20C.
