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Strangers helped stranded drivers weather the storm in New West

How the kindness of New West residents helped share warmth in the B.C. storm.
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Last night's snowy weather created huge traffic backlogs throughout New Westminster and stranded drivers for hours. Local residents, though, stepped up to help.

Thousands of Metro Vancouver commuters were stranded for hours in last night's storm — but the kindness of some New Westminster strangers made life just a little more bearable for many of them.

Among those offering help to strangers in the storm were volunteers from Queensborough's Sikh community, as the Gurdwara Sahib Sukh Sagar served up food and tea for those stuck near the Queensborough Bridge — and even a place to sleep for those who couldn't make it home.

Some were out in the thick of the weather to offer help to drivers: 

Elsewhere in the city, drivers reported residents of nearby homes coming out to offer hot drinks, food and even open doors for those who needed to get warm or use the washroom.

And civic officials got in on the action, too. Mayor Patrick Johnstone stayed up late keeping residents apprised of the latest news on Twitter, alerting folks to the warming centre the city opened at Queen's Park Arena, while city councillor Ruby Campbell extended the offer of a place to shelter from the storm.
 

Countless other residents took to the streets to help direct traffic and push stuck cars. 

 

With warmer daytime temperatures today starting to melt some of last night's 15-centimetre snowfall, be warned: Environment Canada is calling for frigid temperatures tonight and is warning that the resulting freeze could wreak havoc with roads yet again.

Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
Email Julie, jmaclellan@newwestrecord.ca