Winnipeggers aren't letting season's 1st big snowfall keep them down

The first real snowfall of the season in Manitoba meant things suddenly looked pretty different across the province.

And for Dakota Grozelle, it meant it was once again time to hit the sidewalks with his shovel.

The North End Winnipeg resident said he always tries to do his part to clear paths for people in his community, many of whom use wheelchairs to get around.

On Thursday, he was down the street from his home on Selkirk Avenue, clearing the wet, sticky slush by the shovelful.

He said he was hoping to make it at least a full block down to McGregor Street or as far as he could go lifting the snow.

"It's pretty heavy. I'm just slipping and sliding everywhere," Grozelle said.

"But nothing I can't handle too much."

Cautious driving

The City of Winnipeg said it will start clearing streets, sidewalks and active transportation routes at 7 p.m., though no winter parking bans are in effect yet.

With the winter weather also comes low visibility, potentially making driving a bit of a problem.

On the first day of a major snow storm, drivers tend to be cautious and Manitoba Public Insurance typically doesn't see a significant spike in automobile accident claims, said spokesperson Brian Smiley.

"It's days two and three, when drivers get a little bit more used to the conditions, they become a little complacent, start picking up their speeds and unfortunately bump into each other," he said.

On Wednesday, as the storm began rolling in, MPI had 350 claims, compared to 300 a week before, which Smiley said was not a significant jump. Data wasn't available for Thursday, because offices were closed for Remembrance Day.

The weather also caused power outages across the province.

Delivery driver BriiannaBland was out in Winnipeg's Charleswood area on Thursday.

She said the snow slowed down her UPS drop-offs by about an hour.

"We're really defensive drivers,so we really have to slow down," Bland said.

"[We have to] really be careful what we're doing and watch for other people, like pedestrians. People are out still walking their dogs."

Storm crosses Ontario border

Video taken of a highway just outside Ignace, Ont., on Thursday showed a road ahead that's difficult to see.

The Trans-Canada Highway ended up being closed from the Manitoba border to just west of Thunder Bay, Ont., and from Falcon Lake to Ontario.

WATCH | Blustery conditions close section of highway east of Manitoba border:

Semis in the ditch on Highway 17 in northwestern Ontario

3 years ago

Duration 1:32

Trucker Jagjit Singh captures the snowy, slippery scene on the Trans-Canada Highway outside Ignace, Ont., Thursday.

In Kenora,Gerry Cariou of the OntarioSunset Country Travel Association said the power flickered on and off, but the lights had stayed on.

"We prepared a little bit. There was a good warning kicking off Wednesday, started yesterday, tapered off for the evening and overnight. And really, then a wallop hit us this morning," he said.

As intense as the storm was, he said it wasn't an unusual occurrence for the region.

Fans of the storm

Some people and pups liked the weather on Thursday.

That includes Garrett Bannatyne and his new dog, Rocky, who got to burn off some steam at the dog park while frolicking in the fresh snow.

"He's soaking it up like a rag right now," Bannatyne said, watching Rocky play.

"He'll need to dry off when he gets home."

Three-year-old twins River and Sierra Goethals were excited, too. In fact, they'd been looking forward to the snow all week.

"We told them a snowstorm was coming and got them really excited, said everything was going to be white and that means Christmas is coming," dad Joe Goethals said.

"So they'd sit at the window banging on it, saying, 'Christmas is coming soon!'"

The group, along with mom Kelsie and little brother Weston, got all bundled up for a toboggan pull through the dog park and to Tim Hortons for some doughnuts.

The couple said they were excited for the first snowfall, too it means they get to start making their backyard rink.

There's just one thing they're dreading now that winter has arrived.

"Getting [the kids] dressed is always a difficult thing," Kelsie said. "But once we're out, it's worth it."

WATCH|Manitobans dig out after heavy snowfall:

Manitobans dig out after heavy snowfall

3 years ago

Duration 2:25

People in Manitoba got out their shovels Thursday after the first major storm of the season brought heavy, wet snow to the province.