Public Services Don't Stop for Bad Weather
Jan 10, 2014
The recent cold spell has made it difficult for everyone to do whatever they have to do outside, whether it be to drive, walk or exercise. When it wasn’t extremely cold – even for this climate – huge snowfalls made it even more challenging to engage in any activity outdoors.
But it must have been especially challenging for those of us who work outside. Mail carriers have had trouble navigating sidewalks, hydro workers have faced challenges with traffic light and power outages, workers in the garbage and recycling industries have had to deal with unplowed roads and extra-long shifts, and so on. These are but a few examples.
In Winnipeg, emergency responders said that snow-covered and rutted roads were increasing the amount of time it took for them to respond to an emergency.
In Toronto, massive power outages after the recent ice storm left tens of thousands of people without power through the Christmas holidays. Hydro workers from provinces including Manitoba were asked to help get the power back on in Ontario in a timely fashion – and they stepped up and got the job done.
We often take public services for granted. It’s easy to forget about all the hard work people do in less than ideal conditions so that the rest of us can continue with our daily lives in a normal fashion. Nobody thinks about that when they’re sitting out on a dock at the lake in August.
But it’s hard not to think about it when it’s -40c for
weeks at a time. So take a moment and
think about how all of the services we rely on continue in the most inclement
weather, and how fortunate we are to have people dedicated to ensuring that things
continue to function.
Comments
Comments are now closed