Highrise residents preparing for a second weekend without power
As thousands of residents are still in the dark, some are trying to find the willpower to get through another weekend of outages.
In one of the hardest hit areas of the city, right by Merivale Road, a condo with many elderly residents is still without electricity and hot water.
A back-up generator offers some light in the dark hallways of the Westpark condo building in Parkwood Hills, but residents are struggling.
People use headlamps to find their way to a common area in the building known as the party room, which quickly became a place of comfort after the storm.
“There were some people who were in tears and shaking and others who took it like it was comforting to be talking to people,” said Barbara Thompson, the condo board president.
The generator provides limited power in this building of nearly 200 units and more than 300 residents.
“After the tornado hit in 2018, we decided to put emergency power in our party room,” said Thompson. “The party room is open, we have coffee and you can charge your cell phones.”
“If we didn’t have that, I don’t know what we would do,” said Laurie Hanson, a resident.
Many people who live here are elderly and need refrigerated medicine and the help of personal support workers.
“One elevator on a generator went out I was considering calling the fire department to get them to carry people up the stairs,” said Thompson.
The storm hit the building hard and there was a terrifying moment when a maintenance platform came crashing down to the ground.
“A swing stage lifted up six floors, sheered off a tree and then it came smashing into the building,” said Thompson. “I was never so scared in my life, it was terrifying.”
The platform smashed into a fifth floor unit window, but no one was inside the room at the time.
As the cleanup continues, there’s hope the power comes back on soon.
“I don’t know how I’m going to cope, I really don’t know how,” said Hanson. “I could’ve managed today, maybe tomorrow morning, but the thought of tomorrow and Sunday and Monday, like what am I going to eat.”
Frustration and sadness as people here mark seven days without power or hot water.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Iran fires air defence batteries in provinces as explosions heard near Isfahan
Iran fired air defence batteries early Friday morning as explosions could be heard near a major air base near Isfahan, raising fears of a possible Israeli strike following 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.
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.
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.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
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.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.