Travellers who were stranded in Virden, Man., Tuesday due to highway closures, were treated to a special holiday treat.
After Tuesday’s winter storm in southern Manitoba, drivers on the Trans Canada Highway were forced to pull over and take shelter after it was closed because of treacherous driving conditions.
RELATED: Highway closures in Manitoba due to winter storm
Canadian performer, Tom Jackson, and his band were driving from Regina, Sask. to Brandon, Man., for their Huron Carole concert. But the group had to pull over in Virden.
The recreation centre in the town accommodated the stranded travellers as all the hotels were booked.
Jackson and his band decided to break out the instruments and play holiday music for the travellers.
“It was really well received,” Virden Mayor Jeff McConnell said. “Everyone was very excited to hear it.”
In total, 62 people – – including two dogs and one cat – stayed in Virden overnight, McConnell said.
He said the emergency management group in the area was very quick to help, providing blankets for many. A local restaurant even donated breakfast Wednesday morning.
The people stranded in the town seemed to be from all over the place, including Germany, he said.
“There was a German couple who did not speak a lot of English,” McConnell said. “There was also a young woman who worked at the oil patch in Fort McMurray who was on her way back to Nova Scotia.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, Highway 1 was still closed. For an updated list of highway closures in Manitoba you can head to the government website.
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