Frigid temperatures challenge Winnipeg’s Siloam Mission as cold snap continues

February 11, 2025 Canuck

A Winnipeg outreach organization says it’s running out of warm clothes to give out to people as a bitter cold snap keeps its grip on parts of Manitoba.

An Environment Canada cold weather warning issued at the beginning of the week remained in effect for central and south Manitoba as of Tuesday evening.

The federal agency warned the regions could at times experience wind chill values of –40 C or lower this week, as the Prairies continue to experience a multi-day bout of bitterly cold weather.

Winnipeg’s Siloam Mission says about 180 people came to its overnight warming space at 300 Prince Street Monday night.

“Our staff are always checking with other shelters to make sure … if they can send somebody there and there’s beds available, that they do,” interim CEO Julianne Aitken said. “But if there isn’t, then they stay here.”

Aitken said Siloam has moved the warming space — which his set to remain open until March — to a larger drop-in location, as demand continues to grow in the second year it’s been operational.

“We are running out of mitts, tuques, jackets, boots,” Aitken said. “Even things like new men’s and women’s underwear.”

CAA reminding people to check car batteries

It’s also been a few busy days at CAA Manitoba. External communications manager Nadia Matos said the association has received about 500 calls every day since the cold snap — about 60 per cent of which were battery-related.

“It’s [taking] about 41 minutes to get to someone who … needs a CAA truck to help them,” Matos said.

CAA recommends people plug in their vehicle and make sure their battery is in working condition, as well as to keep an emergency kit in their car in case they get stranded during the cold weather.

“Emergency kits will have things like jumper cables. It’ll have a shovel. Perhaps it might even have a thin blanket inside and some flares,” Matos said.

“The average car battery lasts anywhere from three to five years,” she said. “So if you can’t remember the last time you replaced your battery, it’s probably time to replace it.”

But at least one Winnipegger out skating at the Forks River trail Tuesday said she won’t let the cold weather get in the way of fun.

Mary Weins — who was born in the city but now lives in Toronto — said that if anything, being out there is worth it for the bragging rights.

“When I go back to Toronto and people are complaining about –8 C, –4 C, then I can just drop casually into the conversation that the other day I was in Winnipeg and it was … –25 C,” she said.

“If you’re dressed for it, if you have the gear for it, there’s nothing left but pleasure.”

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Canada News

Frigid temperatures challenge Winnipeg’s Siloam Mission as cold snap continues

CAA reminding people to check car batteries

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