Winter weather takes Alberta by storm

By Miriam Ostermann, Associate Editor

Southern Alberta bypassed the fall season on Monday and reluctantly welcomed an early winter as snowfall fell into the double digits and gusting winds caused wretched blizzard-like conditions, shutting down major roadways and closing down schools.
Strathmore received up to 10 cm of snow earlier this week and experienced winds travelling 60 to 90 km/h. The abrupt burst of winter steered numerous vehicles and motorists into ditches and caused multiple collisions across southern Alberta which, together with the poor road conditions, resulted in the closure of Highway 1 from the City of Calgary to Bassano from 11:20 a.m. until after 6 p.m.
While Alberta Environment forecasted the arrival of the snowstorm, its impact took residents by surprise.
“Alberta yesterday was very problematic … it wasn’t a surprise, I know the weather was forecasting snow, but I think the extent of this winter storm came as a surprise specifically in that region,” said Laurel Scott, media relations officer with Alberta RCMP.
“We had several road closures and we had very poor road and driving conditions. There were several cars in the ditches and the (RCMP) members in Strathmore were diligently working all day to try and tend to stranded motorists. The driving conditions made it difficult even for our own response.”
The blanket of snow resulted in numerous power outages in Strathmore and Wheatland County and had communities jump into action to set up reception centres for stranded travelers and pets at the Strathmore Civic Centre, Lord of All Lutheran Church, and the Gleichen and Cluny community centres. The Strathmore Civic Centre itself housed roughly 15 people.
“Administration handled it really well … they opened a reception centre and they started preparing that likely as early as noon to be ready in case there was a situation,” said Strathmore Mayor Michael Ell.
“They did a good job to show Strathmore being the friendly town that we are. It’s not something that’s new to us, it’s just something that we continue to be surprised about every year when it happens.”
While all the schools of the Golden Hills School Division No. 75 remained open, Carseland School and Wheatland Crossing School were closed on Tuesday. With the highway closed and treacherous road conditions, only a few parents were able to pick up their children at Wheatland Crossing School on Monday when the building experienced powerloss all day. A total of 48 students and 15 staff members had to set up camp at the facility overnight, together with several stranded. With the use of the generator and kitchen facilities, Golden Hills Superintendent Bevan Daverne explained everyone had a meal, blanket and a sleeping mat.
“The staff did just such an excellent job looking after the students, looking after motorists in the area who were in trouble, and kept parents connected,” Daverne said. “What was a terrible day didn’t seem that bad for those in the school. Everybody would’ve liked to have gone home, but everything went as well as could’ve been hoped given the weather conditions that we were experiencing.”
No rural buses were running to Carseland and Wheatland Crossing School on Tuesday. No state of emergency was declared.