Food loss in the tens of thousands for Ottawa small businesses
Some Ottawa households are out of pocket by hundreds of dollars as food from fridges and freezers gets thrown out. However, the cost for a small business is even higher.
When the power goes out in a butcher shop, it can be devastating.
"This all came down in the middle of a busy Saturday for us and we’ve been trying to get ahead of it ever since," says David Wallace, Co-owner of Around the Block Butcher Shop. "We have a mountain of inventory that needs to be sorted and assessed and quality checked. We’ve already lost a substantial amount."
Wallace tried to save as much as he could the day the storm hit, but there was just too much meat and not enough freezer space.
"Our product losses are somewhere in the neighbourhood of $20,000," says Wallace. "With business interruption on top of that as well."
Staff at the butcher shop are working as fast as they can to get up and running again.
“Our hopes are to open up on Friday,” says co-owner Chantel Balla. "There’s definitely a lot to sort out. We’re doing our best."
The city of Ottawa has set up green bin collection zones for organic waste following the storm.
Households are also taking a huge loss. Organic food waste bins have been placed all throughout the city. At the Merivale Road location, it has been non-stop with people throwing out hundreds and even thousands of dollars worth of food.
“$2,000," says one Ottawa resident dropping off food waste.
“Four to 500," says another resident.
The city of Ottawa has set up organic food waste bins at several locations in Ottawa, including on Merivale Road . (Dave Charbonneau/CTV News Ottawa
Some are on day six without power and the bins are filling up fast. Depending on your home insurance policy, some of the food loss could be covered.
“At the Co-operators, if you have a homeowner or tenants policy you have coverage for food lost or if your fridge or freezers are damaged," says Josee Brisson, Co-operators Financial Insurance Advisor.
The Co-operators say that generators and the gas that powers them could be also be covered.
“Provided someone insured with us has personal property coverage, then they could claim a generator and the gas to keep it running, provided it is used to keep their refrigerator and freezer running to preserve their food,” says the Co-operators home insurance team.
Back at the butcher shop, the power is back on, the work now is to refill inventory and welcome back customers again.
"It’s been a butcher shop for a long time. 50 years," says Wallace. "It’s been Around the Block for nine. I don’t think this is going to be the thing that does it in. I’m optimistic that we’ll pull though this for sure. But I mean, it’s a precarious situation."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.