Whistler, Pemberton, Sea-to-Sky Highway in B.C.to see ‘significant snowfall’

CALGARY – A preliminary report into the feeder main failure in Calgary that led to two rounds of water restrictions earlier this year has indicated that it wasn’t caused by any one factor.

The Bearspaw South Feeder Main in northwest Calgary burst in early June, forcing a citywide clampdown on water use that included residents being asked to skip toilet flushes and hold off on doing laundry and dishes.

Restrictions had mostly been eased when the city said in August that more trouble spots had been found along the pipe and it would need to be dug up and reinforced, meaning a return of rules like a ban on using potable water outside.

The preliminary report says several factors may have contributed to the feeder main failure, including microcracking of the protective mortar outer layer of the pipe, high chloride levels in soil, and wires that snapped due to corrosion and hydrogen embrittlement.

The city says administration will be updating the public on the preliminary findings at a council meeting on Nov. 26, with the final report to be presented to a committee in December.

It says it’s reviewing options for long-term rehabilitation of the feeder main and continuing with contingency planning.

Michael Thompson, the city’s general manager of infrastructure services, says the pipe is responding well to the rehabilitation work that has been done since June and it is now stabilized.

“Through our acoustic monitoring, we have recorded only two wire snaps on the feeder main between October and November,” Thompson said in a statement. “Throughout July and August, there were 23 wire snaps.”

Officials say the preliminary review also confirmed the original design of the pipe was consistent with the proper guidelines at the time and operations were well within design parameters.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 15, 2024.

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VANCOUVER – Residents in Metro Vancouver will likely be getting out their umbrellas this weekend as the region faces heavy rain and wind.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for Metro Vancouver, including Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster, with heavy rainfalls and strong winds expected to last into the evening on Saturday.

The agency says a Pacific frontal system is bringing heavy rain and strong winds to the south coast, with total rainfall amounts of up to 40 millimetres expected before it tapers off to a few showers overnight.

Strong winds gusting up to 70 kilometres per hour will develop over areas near the Strait of Georgia and Boundary Bay.

Whistler, B.C. is expected to see its first “significant snowfall” of the season this weekend as Environment Canada issued a special weather statement for the Sea to Sky region, including Whistler, Squamish and Pemberton.

A special weather statement is also in effect for the Coquihalla Highway, with the weather agency saying about 10 to 15 centimetres of snow is expected on the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt on Saturday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 16, 2024.

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ALTONA, Man. – A woman and a young girl are dead after police say the SUV they were in collided with a semi that failed to stop at a rural Manitoba intersection.

RCMP say they responded to the crash 13 kilometres west of Altona, Man. on Friday evening.

They say the semi, which was being driven by a 25-year-old man from Brampton, Ont., was headed east on Provincial Road 201 and didn’t stop when it reached Provincial Road 306.

The SUV’s driver, a 35-year-old woman from the Rural Municipality of Rhineland, Man., died at the scene while her eight-year-old passenger died later in hospital.

The driver of the semi was transported to hospital where he was treated and released.

Police say charges are anticipated.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 16, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.