First significant cold snap of the season rattles Lethbridge

Southern Alberta is facing its first significant cold stretch of the season, and that has everybody scrambling to find ways to stay warm.

Southern Alberta has been working through its first significant cold snap of the season.

That’s had everyone trying to find ways to stay warm.

Snow and daytime highs hovering around -15 have stuck around Lethbridge for most of the week.

That’s had repair companies scrambling to help fix furnaces that have given out.

“The phones are ringing off the hook,” said Dan Friesen, Charlton & Hill Home Services owner.

“As you can imagine, our guys are working well into the evening to try and get everyone’s furnaces up and running and keep the heat on for people.

“It’s a tough time of year.”

Companies like Charlton & Hill can see their call volumes triple during cold snaps like this.

It’s a good reminder for homeowners to check that their furnaces are working properly before the cold hits.

“You do it for the same reason you take your car to get oil changes,” said Friesen.

“If you want it to continue to work without issue, get it checked.”

While it’s a frustrating time for homeowners, it’s a dangerous time for the homeless.

Temperatures this cold can lead to frostbite and worse.

The Lethbridge Soup Kitchen typically sees an influx of diners when things turn cold.

“We have seen an increase in the number of people coming for meals,” said Bill Ginther, Lethbridge Soup Kitchen executive director.

“On the flip side, we’ve seen quite a few people who don’t want to leave the building, which I don’t blame them for at all.

“So, we have a little bit of a challenge.”

The soup kitchen recently underwent an expansion, adding 36 more seats.

That move coincides with the shelter next door also expanding.

The soup kitchen has seen up to 600 people a day.

Adding more seats has allowed the soup kitchen to give more people an escape from the cold.

“We never want to say no to people, and we want to make sure that we are available to them (and) to treat them with respect and also dignity,” said Ginther.

“So, we do that, and we don’t turn anyone away.”

Temperatures above zero will return on the weekend, before another cold snap hits next week.