Winter’s first snowfall and the first official ‘snow day’ for residents with children hit Aldergrove on February 10 and 11.
Snow began to pile on the town’s streets the night of and continued well into the morning with 10 to 15 centimetres more predicted later in the afternoon.
“Snow day!” Kids screamed to each other from atop the hill of Lutheran Church-Immanuel on 272 B Street, bundled up tight in snow gear and clutching their sleds.
In lieu of the 90 kilometre per hour arctic outflow winds and freezing temperatures the previous week, at 7 a.m. School District 35 announced all elementary and high schools to be closed for the day.
“I’ve been coming here to sled since I was a child… so 25 years,” said Jeff Perdikis, as he filmed his daughter tobogganing down fresh snow slopes of the popular hill.
Local families lined up, carving out their own path in the snow with inner tubes and sleds.
Others in the community were focused on keeping their driveway and surrounding sidewalks safe and clear of snow buildup.
“We decided to shovel now, while it is light and fluffy, before it gets more icy and dangerous,” said Claire Wong, a resident of Aldergrove for more than 30 years. She spent the morning with her husband William clearing off their driveway off 269 Street and removing snow from their cars.
“Our kids are all grown up and out of school,” she chuckled.
Some residents were luckier, like their 31 year old neighbour Tony Vitali, who with the use of a snowblower was able to finish clearing his driveway in no time.
Langley Township snow plows circled the main roads of town like 264 Street, 272 Street and Fraser Highway, aiding residents in their snow-removal mission.
Many drivers were more cautious than usual, making a concerted effort not to turn too fast in light of multiple rollover crashes announced in nearby Lower Mainland communities.
At grocery stores like Safeway and other local businesses, various employees had to call in to report they couldn’t make it to work due to the snow.
Weather experts estimate that the heavy snowfall will ease up on Wednesday, for sun, but only to return later in the week for a surprise Saturday visit.
For now, Aldergrove’s roads are a little quieter and it’s temperatures, a lot colder than usual.
