THUNDER BAY – Updated – Winter’s Wrath is hammering Thunder Bay. The storm is impacting Thunder Bay. Thunder Bay Transit at 11:50AM has suspended service. Jon Hendel made the declaration after earlier reducing service on a few routes.
Winter Storm Impacting Services and Business
Update: Due to the extreme weather conditions, the City of Thunder Bay will be temporarily suspending some City services and facilities.
The following City services and facilities are temporarily suspended/closed today:
· Transit service due to unsafe driving conditions
· Volunteer & Churchill Pools
· All regular programs at the Canada Games Complex
· All registered programs at the Thunder Bay 55+ Centre and Herb Carrol Centre
· All public libraries
· Recycling collection
· The Conservatory
The following City services and facilities will remain in service/open:
· City Hall and administration offices
· Garbage collection, with some delays expected
· Snow plowing, sanding and salting of main arterial roads and side streets
· Public swimming and general use at the Canada Games Complex
· All City Child Care Centres
“We are closely monitoring the weather, and are urging residents to take extra care if they must drive or venture out,” said Mayor Keith Hobbs. “The safety of our residents is of utmost importance during this storm.”
If you are headed out, call first to see if the store is still open. Or make a smart decision do you really need to go out at all?
Check highway conditions if you are planning travel. Highway one east of Thunder Bay is closed from Thunder Bay to Ignace.
Thunder Bay District Health Unit has closed.
Boys & Girls Club will be closing. “We tried but due to weather we will need to ensure the safety of the staff” share the club.
OLG Casino is closing at 2PM.
The Beer Store is staying Open until ten.
Thunder Bay Public Libraries are closing at 1PM today over the storm conditions.
Fort William First Nation reports, Mountain Bingo will be closed tonight due to the weather. Our draw night will be moved to Saturday matinee bingo.
The Paro Centre is closed today.
Gabby’s Spuds is closed today.
Dilico Family Services have closed.
Lakehead University has suspended exams today.
Eat Local Pizza on May Street shares, “Despite our normally cavalier attitude regarding the weather, today is getting increasingly complicated. While safely entrenched in Eat Local we are questioning our ability to commit to deliveries today”.
The Mission to Seafarers Dinner at the Current River Community Centre is cancelled tonight. The dinner will rescheduled to a later date.
Maggie Chicoine shares, “Service Quest” participants – we are now rescheduled for next Friday April 26, same time and location. See you there (on a bright and sunny morning”.
Thunder Bay Police
Thunder Bay Police are advising all drivers to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.
All motorists are being urged to carefully consider whether driving is really necessary today. The winds are picking up and the existing snow is being blown around making it very difficult for plows to keep up. Visibility is getting a bit worse as the day progresses.
There are a good number of the smaller vehicles getting stuck at intersections, and many others are rolling through stop signs making it very unsafe for all other vehicles.
Traffic lights are being blown off by gusting winds and electrical wires down are creating lots of work for repair crews.
Not all drivers have the skill sets to be driving in this type of weather. Additionally, not all vehicles are equally suited for these conditions.
Please consider your decision of whether or not to be on the road today as the first and most important part of staying safe and protecting others.
Tonight’s Superior Comedy Show at the Paramount is on. What better way to laugh and forget the winter storm than heading out to enjoy some super comics on stage.
If you have a closure, let NetNewsLedger know and we can share it with our readers.
