There’s no need to check your passport. Metro Vancouver got its semi-annual reminder this week that we are indeed in Canada – the Great White North.
Both of our school districts made the historic decision this week to close down all the public schools for the day, the first time in perhaps a decade or longer.
One day our kids will tell their kids about the time Mother Nature dumped so much snow on the North Shore, they were forced to stay home and go sledding or build a fortress in the backyard.
But being Canadian enough to enjoy a well-placed snowball at 10 metres also means knowing someone has to clean this mess up.
A firm reminder to the home and business owners: It’s your responsibility to make sure your sidewalk is safe and passable. Kids may love a romp in the snow but for seniors or people with mobility challenges, it means either putting yourself in harm’s way or being shut in. Perhaps some of those kids enjoying a rare day off will be struck by an entrepreneurial spirit and become tycoons of the sidewalk snow-removal industry. If you want to be a real Canadian hero, volunteer to clear the walks of your neighbours who aren’t able to do it on their own. North Shore Community Resources even helps co-ordinate “snow angels” to do the job.
According to Environment Canada, the next skiff is due on Thursday. If it starts feeling like too much of a good thing, take heart. Before too long, we’ll be back to counting crocuses while the rest of the Great White North is still digging out from the latest polar vortex.
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