'It was just heartwarming': Power crews in Cape Breton save roadside memorial following Fiona
Cleanup crews across Nova Scotia continue to clear debris and restore power 10 days after post-tropical storm Fiona swept through the region.
One crew in Cape Breton even went above and beyond their duties after a memorial plaque attached to a power pole in Whitney Pier was torn down during the storm.
"'There goes Joline's pole.' That's the first thing that went through my head," said Joni Stoddard, recalling when she drove by the downed power pole hours after Fiona on Sept. 24.
In June 1998, Joni Stoddard's younger sister, Joline, was killed in a crash involving an impaired driver at the very spot the plaque hung on Victoria Road. She was just 17 years old.
"If anything, I grew stronger that day because it tore my parents apart," Stoddard said.
For years since, the crash site has been marked with a plaque, serving as a memorial to Joline and a warning to other drivers.
However, after Fiona, the memento was somewhere in the middle of a mess of downed trees and power lines.
"As the crews started to take the trees off and started to uncover what was underneath, which was a combination of poles, wires and trees, they spotted this wonderful plaque," said Mark Sidebottom, the site lead with Nova Scotia Power.
Sidebottom says what happened next was a team effort.
"Really, the crews jumped into action together and coordinated between Nova Scotia Power, the contractors and Bell to make sure it was put back in its proper place," he said.
It wasn't until Monday that Joni Stoddard found out her sister's memorial had been saved.
Many have been thankful over the past week for the efforts of cleanup crews, but for Stoddard, the heartfelt gratitude goes a step further.
"It was just heartwarming that they thought of that and everything, and I knew if my Mom was alive she'd be a ball of tears right now," Stoddard said.
"Everybody that's out of power.. all the trees that are down.. everything's slowly getting back together, and I know that they're stressed out. I just can't believe they took the extra time to do that and like I said, it means a lot."
Though it's been nearly a quarter-century, the pain of Joline's death has never gone away.
Now that her memorial has been rescued from the rubble, Stoddard says people who pass by can once again remember her sister for her magnetic personality and ability to light up a room.
"She's still shining bright on that pole down there, to show everybody she was here," Stoddard said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.
Pearson gold heist suspect arrested after flying into Toronto from India
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Millions of cyberattacks per hour as B.C. government investigates multiple breaches
Careful attention to government statements and legislation is required to get a handle on the level of risk British Columbians’ information is under, as investigators probe multiple breaches under a continued barrage of attacks.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Debate on abortion rights erupts on Parliament Hill, Poilievre vows he won't legislate
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate on, nor use the notwithstanding clause, on abortion, his office says, as anti-abortion protesters gather on Parliament Hill.
Justin and Hailey Bieber are expecting their first child together
Hailey and Justin Bieber are going to be parents. The couple announced the news on Thursday on Instagram, both sharing a video that showcases Hailey Bieber's growing belly.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
New 'Lord of the Rings' film coming in 2026
The Oscar-winning team behind the nearly US$6 billion blockbuster 'Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' trilogies is reuniting to produce two new films.