It’s not the winter wonderland many dreamt of this holiday season.
Hundreds of homes and businesses in the Kennebecasis Valley have been left in the dark, some for hours, and others for days.
“I think it could be one of the more memorable Christmas’,” exclaims resident Kevin Schyf.
Schyf and his family have been without power for more than 24 hours.
“It’s annoying,” he adds. “You have to count how many times you flush the toilet because you only have so much water. You melt snow by the fire so we can get a few extra flushes. It’s definitely been an inconvenience for sure.”
No power means no Christmas dinner. Schyf’s family will have to go somewhere else this year.
“I don’t love that there is no power,” says Kaleb Schyf. “I guess it’s okay to be with your family in that situation.”
The Red Cross has set up emergency warming centres throughout the region, urging people to use them.
“Protect your property, protect yourselves,” explains Quispamsis Mayor Murray Driscoll. “Protect your families so that you can weather this storm, and be no worse off.”
Mayor Driscoll says residents should be smart when it comes to finding outher means to stay warm and cook food.
“Don’t take dangerous steps like putting BBQ’s or charcoal in your house,” advises Driscoll. “It’s very, very dangerous and I can’t emphasize that enough.”
Plows have been clearing the snow at church parking lots of Christmas Eve services, but with no power, many have been forced to cancel or change venues.
“It’s not ideal,” says Pastor Brent Ingersoll. “Obviously, it’s frustrating and disappointing for a lot of people, but at the same time it does kind of make you remember what Christmas is about.”
Along with warming centres, those who do have power have been opening up their doors through social media, inviting anyone who needs to get warm or store food they can do so.
A true sign of the season, no matter what the situation.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Ashley Dunbar
