January 22nd – Day 21  of My 2026 Daily Activity Journal

Since I began my Health and Fitness Journey four years ago, I have focussed on Body, Mind, and Soul – physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.

Today, I am focussed on all three, not just for myself,  but for those around me.

When I got up this morning it felt like -44 ° celcius (-47.6 ° fahrenheit) with the windchill.  It wasn’t much better without it!  🥶

That is brutal for anyone who must venture out.  We are fortunate that we have the option to stay in our home, snug and warm and comfortable in our retirement.   But, I feel for those who have to deal with this weather – as would any normal human being with an ounce of empathy.

But empathy be damned.  Our city planners, managers, mayor, councillors, and any and all overpaid city hierarchy who have a voice in such decisions – decided this was a good day to unleash the city graders on our residential streets.

This is our street.  The photo does not do the situation justice.  The grader operator (under order from those higher up on the chain of command no doubt) passed up and down our street – scraping off the solid pack of ice and snow (which was not causing any issue) and pushed it up against the sidewalks.

It is hard to tell, but this is not a lttle ridge of snow.  It is higher and  wider than it looks.  It is a solid,  impenetrable barrier of ice and snow.   The city will not be back to clear it away.  (This is not a one and done – this is an annual event in recent years.)

Our neighbours who do not have the luxury of offstreet parking, will return  from work  unable to park in front of their homes.  They will park as close as they can, and risk exiting their vehicle in traffic –  then struggle to climb over this city built obstacle – carrying tots from daycare, groceries, and whatever else they need, to go about their daily lives.

Delivery drivers will risk life and limb to climb over these icy ridges, as will seniors accessing their vehicles,  as will  people –  especially those with mobility issues, struggling to access public transit. 

For most people in our city, life at minus 44 degrees is more than an inconvenience.  That our city would do anything as unconcienable, dangerous, and stupid to make things harder is beyond comprehehension.

It is not a matter of finances. Our city has no issue raising taxes, or spending outrageous sums on vanity projects, or paying obscene severance packages to incompetent city managers who should never have been hired in the first place. They have no problem buying electric buses – in Saskatchewan 🤦‍♀️, questionable artwork,  and so much more.

It is beyond  stupid and irresponsible.  It is  a danger to our physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing and that of our friends, neighbours, and family.