Tom Godfrey
The brutal blizzard we dug out from last month seems to have brought out the best in most people in our community.
The blast of snow crippled highways, dozens of TTC buses, streetcars and paralyzed much of the city. There were people stranded in vehicles on highways for 12 hours and more.
The thick, heavy snow was so high that seniors couldn’t leave their homes, much less shovel their sidewalk or drive- ways.
People couldn’t drive to work, much less wait for hours for a
TTC vehicle, or in-demand expensive Uber.
EVEN PREMIER Doug Ford was helping to dig out snowbound residents. City News.
There were many people in our community helping each other by brushing snow off their neighbours’ vehicles or helping to shovel the white stuff. Many people were pushing motorists they didn’t know who were stuck in snowbanks.
There were neighbours making runs to the store to obtain food or prescriptions for seniors in need of help, or suffering with mobility issues. The blast of snow only made things worst in a time with so many people suffering from the Omicron variant of COVID-19. The terrible weather forced the cancellations of a number of City-run vaccination clinics and services.
Still, we persevered and mustered to overcome the blizzard and to fight another day. Members of the community in these times are always hardy, helpful and gave up their time to help those weak or in failing health.
It was nice to see folks helping out their neighbours and area residents. We were all affected by the many inches of deep white snow.
Even Premier Doug Ford, (above) an Etobicoke resident, took time out from Legislative duties to help motorists dig their vehicles out. Ford, with shovel in hand, helped to dig out a few surprised and thankful motorists who were stuck on the streets of Etobicoke.
During a terrible power outage and rain storm a couple years ago, the Premier was for hours directing traffic at the intersection of the busy
Dixon Road and Islington Avenue after a traffic light failed. Now, who said Ford wasn’t a man of the people.
Many of our seniors are left house-bound, fearing to venture outside since they may slip, fall and injure themselves. We live in a tight community where most people know each other, or someone related.
People actually came out to help others, or check up on each other, moreso due to COVID-19 and its Omicron variant.
The community has lost hundreds of men, women, fathers and mothers due to the pandemic. There are some whom we know but there are so many who passed, with few ever knowing or being there to remember them.
And given the challenges we are facing these days. The least we can do is care and help others if we can. After all, it is snow, which will likely melt tomorrow. But a friend, family or human being will never come back.
Tom Godfrey is Publisher of The South Etobicoke News, who lives in the
community. He was a reporter at the Toronto Sun for many years before
deciding to use his skills to work in community journalism.