EDMONTON – With Environment Canada forecasting anywhere between 10 and 20 centimetres of snow for the Capital Region this weekend, Edmontonians are preparing for the first blast of winter.
Shovels were flying off the shelves at the Canadian Tire on Calgary Trail and 38th Ave. Saturday morning.
“Every second customer is going to have a shovel in their hands. They’re all coming in for the same thing,” said General Manager Tony Mercer. “We all wait until the very end before we start worrying about what we need to buy. And then as we see today, the first day that it’s snowing, we’re going to sell a ton of that stuff.”
Mercer anticipates the store will sell anywhere between 500 and 1,000 shovels this weekend. Other popular items include salt and sand bags.
“When it gets cold like this we’ll sell shovels, we’ll sell windshield wash, we’ll sell cords for a block heater, we’ll sell snow brushes. Anything related to the weather, that’s exactly what we’re going to sell. And that’ll be half of the business today for sure,” he said. “We’ve got lots of it in stock, we’re ready to go.”
Another item on many Edmontonians’ winter to-do list was to put winter tires on their vehicles- something one tire shop owner says is important for better traction on the snow and ice.
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“The all-season tires have changed over the last couple of years,” said Darcy Deardoff, owner of OK Tire. “So ‘all-seasons’ are really not ‘all-seasons’ anymore, they’re really ‘three seasons.’ Most vehicles, you actually need winter tires.”
Deardoff says customers were lined up outside his shop at 8:00 a.m. Saturday and he doesn’t anticipate business to slow down anytime soon.
“Next week will be absolutely scary busy at all tire shops.”
But it’s not doom and gloom for all Edmontonians. There are many people who look forward to the first big snowfall of the season. Several of those people were at MEC (Mountain Equipment Co-op) Snowfest Saturday, embracing and celebrating all that winter has to offer.
“This is actually a pretty good day, you bet!” said Magali Muffatt, an employee at MEC. “Especially for the skiers, snowshoers.
“We’re trying to encourage people to go play outside. Skiing, snowshoeing, just go have a walk, whatever activities, just be active during winter.”
And in a city like Edmonton, where the snow can sit on the ground for seven months at a time, Muffatt says there’s no need to be afraid of the cold and snow; just embrace it.
“That’s the deal-breaker here in Edmonton — it’s really cold — people are afraid to be cold. Go snowshoeing, go skiing, you’re going to be warm until minus 20 if not even colder than that.”
A snowfall warning has been issued for much of central Alberta. Snow had already started to fall in parts of Alberta, including Edmonton, Saturday afternoon.
“I’m ready for it. Bring it.” Muffatt said with a smile.
Watch: The City of Edmonton says it’s ready for whatever Mother Nature throws at it
Watch: Kevin O’Connell’s full seven day forecast
With files from Tom Vernon, Global News.
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