Saskatoon digs out from massive winter storm on election day

Saskatoon residents are being urged to stay off the streets as city crews dig out from Sunday's blizzard.

The storm dumped20 to 30 centimetresof snow on the city Sundayon the eve of municipal election dayto go along with the nearly 15 centimetresthe city receivedon Saturday.

With many streets impassible, the city's election office announcedall polls wouldcloseat 6:30 p.m. CST Monday and reopen on Friday.

By 6 p.m. Monday, the city reported that all priority 1 roadways were passable, meaning at least one lane was open, and about 70 per cent of priority 2 roads were passable. The city said priority 2 roads should be cleared by noon Tuesday.

The city is still recommending most motorists stay off the roads, though, sayingonly large vehicles with four-wheel drive should be used.

Goran Saric,director of roadwaysfor the City of Saskatoon, saidit was challenging for crews to plow and grade because of the blowing snow and the manystrandedvehicles on the roads.

City transit was unavailable most of the day, with some buses stranded overnight.

As of 6 p.m. Monday, transit services had resumed on 22nd Street, 8thStreet, IdylwyldDrive and Attridge Drive, and the city said the service would be available until 10:00 p.m.

The city said more routes would become available on Tuesday as the roads were cleared.

Watch this time-lapse video which shows how drastically the weather can change in Saskatoon

Snow takes over Saskatoon

4 years ago

Duration 1:30

This time-lapse video taken during a cruise around Saskatoon really captures how drastically the weather can change in Saskatchewan.

In-person classes werecancelled for high school studentson Monday, and in-person classes for all students in the city were cancelled for Tuesday. Teachers will be providing direction and assignments for their students for at-home learning.

Garbage and recycling collectionhas also been cancelled for Monday, with affected routes rescheduled for the upcoming weekend.

There have been no reports of disruptions topower orwater services.

The Saskatoon Fire Department, working withSaskatoon Police Service and Saskatoon Search and Rescue as part of a stranded persons joint task force, responded to more than 130 calls for storm related assistance from between 8 a.m. Sunday to11 a.m. Monday. Calls for help continued to come in throughout the day.

"Anumber of people were evacuated from vehicles, taken to their homes. Others were helped to be able to get their vehicle moving," said Fire Chief Morgan Hackl.

By 8 a.m. Monday, firefighters had been to 46 incidents, including assisting11 stranded motorists and responded to two vehicle fires.

Fire crewsalso helped transport Saskatchewan Health Authority staff to hospitals.

Saskatoon police Deputy ChiefRandy Huisman says police fielded 244 calls, with 108 of them forstranded motorists.

Police also responded to nine traffic collisions.

Pamela Goulden-McLeod, director of emergency management for the city, discouraged drivers from going anywhere Monday morning, particularly if theyhave a small car.

"It is not safe to be out there," she said. "And at this point, you will create a hazard and we will have to divert resources to support you."

Goulden-McLeodsaid the city workedwith the Saskatchewan Health Authority to help essential staff get to work.

City manager Jeff Jorgenson said Sunday's blizzard is comparable to the 2007 blizzard that paralyzed the city.

Jorgenson said they will need time and space to clean up, andit will be days before residential streets will be plowed.

Election day woes

Municipal election polls were planning to open at 8 a.m., butsome were delayedbecause workers were having trouble getting to their stations. By noon, 63 of 65 polling stations hadopened, though therewere reports of polls that were understaffed once they did open.

Early in the day, Jorgensen said the snow dump wouldn'tchange election plans.

"There's no snow days for elections;the election must continue. So everybody that hasn't voted, we're encouraging everyone to make a plan to vote.

"Get [to a polling station]however you feel comfortable," Jorgenson said. "Those that can walk, if you're [in] reasonable proximity to the polling station, please do so. Buses will become an option through the day."

Streets with polling stations hadbeen added to the city'spriority streets for snow clearing.

Voters wereencouraged toadjust for driving conditions and leave extra time to get to and from polling locations. Hackl suggested waiting to vote until Mondayafternoon when roads were clear.