Local News

Saturday's devastating storm that rolled through the Calabogie area that caused two deaths and hundreds of trees to be uprooted resulted in power outages that led to a state of emergency declaration in the Greater Madawaska Township.

While this was expected in the wake of the Bank of Canada raising its benchmark interest rate, the real dollar amount paid by those who’ve recently purchased a home is staggering.

Ottawa Public Health says, if kept closed, a full upright or chest freezer will keep food frozen up to 48 hours during a power outage. 

Pierre Guénard, the mayor of the municipality of roughly 8,000 residents, said there was damage to roads, infrastructure and many residents are still without power, but he was happy to report that no one was injured from the storm's impact. 

College officials say all in-person classes are cancelled for Tuesday, May 24, and could last throughout the week.

No virtual classes will take place on Tuesday either. 

The level of damage came in part from the nature of the storm, which looks to have been what is called a derecho, something that is a fairly rare occurrence in Canada, according to Dr. David Sills, the executive director of the NTP at Western University.

The Ottawa Catholic School Board said in a letter sent to parents on May 23 that for most students and staff, all board schools are scheduled to re-open on Wednesday, May 25. 

Brian Gilligan, the vice president of community and tenant support with Ottawa Community Housing, said the organization's focus is to get fresh food to as many people as possible. 

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said calling a state of emergency in the wake of this past Saturday's storm would be more of a symbolic gesture.