Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Thanksgiving Storm

For the first time since it was finished in 1968, the Red River Floodway, which takes part of the Red River’s flow around the city of Winnipeg, was full of water this past fall. On the Wednesday before the Thanksgiving long weekend, the Red River was at a record 14.1 feet above normal winter ice levels.

That was before the storm.

Winnipeg began to open the gates, anticipating much worse with gloomy weather reports ahead. The storm that followed was unprecedented. Snow, rain, winds, reduced visibility. Hydro lines and poles (and trees) went down all over the province. Some areas were without power for days, and several northern First Nations communities were evacuated. Highway travel came to almost a full stop as most roads west of Winnipeg were closed. Premier Pallister declared a state of emergency, as did Mayor Bowman.

Clean up will take months, and will come at a cost. In late fall, the floodway was still full, and rivers outside the city swelled with the sopping excess. Manitobans will remember the Thanksgiving Storm of 2019 and the amount of trees snapped in half by the weight of their fall leaves and slushy snow. Rural Manitobans will remember harvest-ready crops covered in snow, tractors unable to navigate the swampy soil without causing too much damage for next year.

Have you experienced a time like the Thanksgiving Storm in your own life? A time where everything is going wrong or everything feels out of control? In life, we continually navigate challenging relationships, work concerns, financial stress, or mental or physical struggles.

But sometimes our struggles cumulate and a storm erupts. Humans are resilient beings, but there are times that are much more difficult to manage than others.

When things become too much, what is your tendency? Do you push yourself harder? Do you feel weary? Do you reach out for help?

If your workplace is covered by a CLAC benefits plan, you have access to help through the Morneau Shepell Employee and Family Assistance Program. Reach out for help when the storms come—before they spill over in your life and work.

Thanksgiving Storm

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