Many Calgarians enjoyed the weekend-long break from frigid temperatures, but just when it seemed safe to go outside, another blast of winter is heading this way.
Lows back into the -30s are expected this week, along with snow and high winds. After a somewhat hectic cold stretch to finish off 2021, there are ways to prevent frozen pipes and stalled vehicles before the mercury plunges once again.
"It's been really busy for us because all of the frozen lines," plumber Micheal Brock told CTV News. "We had a few days of more than 100 calls, and of the major ones, probably about 90 per cent were preventable."
Brock, who owns Mr. Mikes Plumbing, says there are things Calgarians can do to save themselves a massive bill when the incoming frigid temperatures hit.
"The biggest thing that all homeowners can do is pull out your furnace (filter) and inspect it," he said. "If it looks dirty, just change it. Also check outside and clear any ice that's stuck there (built-up on pipes)."
And if you know your home insulation is prone to problems, Brock says to consider leaving the taps running at a low drip.
"Especially if you've got an old house," he said.
Vehicle prep is also important.
Make sure any trucks or cars are plugged in overnight, and fill your tires and gas tank.
Helene Hamilton with Calgary EMS also recommends having "an emergency kit available to you in your vehicle, in case there are problems."
"Even if it's just a quick run outside, dress for the weather and wear appropriate footwear," Hamilton said.
If you're working outside, try to take a break every 10 to 15 minutes. Also keep an eye out for signs of hypothermia, like confusion or difficulty speaking.
And, as always, there's one foolproof way of staying warm.
"If you can stay indoors when we get into those extreme cold temperatures, prevention is always key," Hamilton said.
Calls continue for a major shakeup at Hockey Canada following recent revelations around how the organization handled past claims of sexual assault.
Organizers of the papal visit say the Vatican has 'clarified' part of Pope Francis's apology to residential school survivors, noting an error occurred during translation.
Tim Hortons has reached a proposed settlement in multiple class action lawsuits alleging the restaurant's mobile app violated customer privacy, which would see the restaurant offer a free coffee and doughnut to affected users.
Across the country, police and fraud-prevention experts are warning Canadians to be vigilant with reports of 'grandparent scams' targeting seniors on the rise.
The Supreme Court of Canada says sex with a condom is a different physical act than sex without one, and that the use of a condom can be a condition of consent under sexual assault law.
A 27-year-old doctor who died after collapsing during a triathlon this week is being remembered as a vivacious and outgoing person with a true passion for medicine.
An obstetrician-gynecologist in Montreal had his licence revoked after he allegedly made sexually inappropriate comments to a patient in labour.
Experts say that while there's no use in postponing vacations indefinitely in the hopes of COVID-19 being eradicated, there are ways to mitigate risks while travelling, from masking indoors to filling the itinerary with more outdoor activities.
A study conducted by the University of East Anglia found face shields are not able to provide high levels of protection against COVID-19.
Alberta will begin administering the COVID-19 vaccine to Albertans ages six months to five years starting on Aug. 2, the province announced Friday.
Organizers of the papal visit say the Vatican has 'clarified' part of Pope Francis's apology to residential school survivors, noting an error occurred during translation.
The first woman appointed as chief justice of a province in Canada who has served 30 years on the bench in Alberta is retiring Saturday.
The current configuration of the temporary bike lane through Stanley Park makes it impossible to stage major events in the park, said a Vancouver event organizer.
The B.C. Centre for Disease Control has stopped reporting case outcomes by vaccination status on its COVID-19 Surveillance Dashboard because the data had become "hard to interpret," according to the Ministry of Health.
After a cooler-than-usual spring, some British Columbians relished in a July heat wave, but after several days of record-breaking temperatures, they may be asking how much more of this we're in store for.
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston shrugged off allegations of political patronage and nepotism from opposition leaders on Friday.
As many Nova Scotians prepare for a long weekend, Nova Scotia Health is warning residents they will likely face long wait times for ambulances and in hospital emergency rooms if they need medical care.
The Nova Scotia-Prince Edward Island ferry remains out of commission after a fire in its engine room last week, and will be for at least the rest of the summer season, but the federal government is looking at options to replace it.
Alla Pavlikhin and her husband just returned to Langford, B.C., after spending a month volunteering in their home city of Kyiv, Ukraine.
Island Health is warning residents of multiple closures at the Chemainus Health Care Centre (CHCC) and Cormorant Island Community Health Centre in August due to a staff shortage.
The only highway in and out of the coastal Vancouver Island communities of Tofino and Ucluelet will be closed to all traffic for three consecutive nights next week.
Several Ontario hospitals were reducing service in certain areas over the long weekend due to staff shortages as an Ontario nurses union called on the province to tackle what it called an alarming situation.
A couple from New Zealand who spent more than $4,500 to rent an Airbnb in Toronto were evicted by police in the middle of the night after a man showed up claiming the unit was his.
A 27-year-old doctor who died after collapsing during a triathlon this week is being remembered as a vivacious and outgoing person with a true passion for medicine.
A Montreal woman is seeking answers after her 65-year-old father died while waiting over 11 hours for an ambulance.
An obstetrician-gynecologist in Montreal had his licence revoked after he allegedly made sexually inappropriate comments to a patient in labour.
A group of young nurses and their professors say they need to speak out about the mistreatment of Indigenous patients they've witnessed within Montreal's health-care system, particularly involving people experiencing homelessness.
The Merry Dairy in Ottawa says it halted its wholesale operations on Thursday following a visit by an officer from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
Ontario Provincial Police launched their annual "Move Over" public safety campaign, as thousands of drivers hit the road for a long-weekend destination.
A tornado that struck an area north of Belleville, Ont. last weekend was on the ground for more than 45 minutes, covering an area of 55.8 kilometres, according to researchers.
The body of a 25-year-old man who went missing in the Grand River near Caledonia has been recovered.
With gas prices hitting record highs this summer, many people are curious to know if purchasing an electric vehicle will benefit them in the long run.
A Saskatoon man is warning pet owners after his dog was attacked at a popular park.
A Prince Albert man now faces more than two dozen charges in connection to child luring investigation.
About 30 Saskatoon students between the ages of nine and 14 learned the ins and outs of running a business at the first Edwards Entrepreneurship Exploration camp at the University of Saskatchewan.
Sault Ste. Marie will soon be home to a youth wellness hub. It’s one of several to be announced across Ontario as part of the province’s Addictions Recovery Fund.
The Northern Himalayan Café, which used to be located in the city’s airport, is moving downtown.
Research is underway in Sudbury about how the city can be a welcoming community.
The number of mayoral candidates is expected to climb to 13 as a current councillor said he will throw his name into the mix.
Officers with the Manitoba RCMP said they were involved in an armed standoff on Wednesday in Ebb and Flow First Nation, which ended with explosives being detonated and a home going up in flames.
Manitoba physicians are more worried than ever about staffing leading to emergency department closures in rural and northern Manitoba.
As Pope Francis wraps up the final leg of his weeklong Canadian visit, there are mixed emotions among residential school survivors who are reflecting on the Pontiff’s apology and his time in the country.
A Regina woman is facing several charges after more than 6.4 kilograms of methamphetamine were seized during a drug trafficking investigation.
Here are the proposed changes to Saskatchewan's constituency borders ahead of the next provincial election.
© 2022 All rights reserved. Use of this Website assumes acceptance of Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy