The countdown to Dec. 25 begins today with children cracking opening the first windows of their chocolate Advent calendars. A snowfall like we saw this week has truly kicked off the season of giving by bringing out a sense of community.
Earlier this week I came across a loyal store customer shovelling a sidewalk for the store's owner. Here at our office, a gentleman saw the snowfall as an entrepreneurial opportunity and offered to shovel around our building. A few days later, after more snowfall, our sales manager rolled up her sleeves at eight in the morning to make sure our staff and visitors made it in safely. I am one of those West Coast wimps who sees one centimetre of snow and vows not to go near the wheel of my car.
However, the snowfall could not prevent me from walking to work nearby, so I truly appreciated all the shovelled sidewalks around town. I slipped on the ice only once, and really it was more embarrassing than painful.
For those who were stranded at home or at the office, as each day brought a fresh supply of snow, I saw people banding together to carpool into the closest 4x4. Perhaps this snowfall could be seen as a lesson for us motorists to get out of our cars more often and instead look to alternative transportation.
I can only hope neighbours, family members and friends were reaching out to seniors who were isolated in the storm. Without Handy Dart service, access to groceries and, in some cases, without power and heat, a snow storm can hit the senior population the hardest.
Fortunately for those without another week's supply of bottled water, the boil-water advisory was lifted in the South Pender Harbour Water District on Monday.
For the homeless living on the Coast, the extreme weather emergency shelter opened at Arrowhead Centre in Sechelt during the snow storm. As beautiful as the sun shining on the snow-capped mountains may be, I have to wonder how many Sunshine Coasters are up there shivering. For those who did make it down to town, the shelter staff were there to assist them with blankets, tarps and warm clothing, thanks to community donations. But they are still in need of more warm clothing and winter boots.
Although now we are all bracing for the slush, I will always have the picturesque memory of downtown Sechelt in a beautiful blanket of snow - not to mention the blending of my faux Christmas tree and hanging snowflake star lights in the window with the snowy trees outside.
Only 24 sleeps to go.
