Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - January 29, 2015, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE A4 A 4 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2015 WATER WOES winnipegfreepress. com Great rates get you started. Great people actually get you there. Rates subject to change without notice and available only in- branch. * WestEarner � TFSA Account only. Interest calculated daily and paid monthly. ** Interest compounded annually, paid at maturity. 54 month RRSP/ RRIF/ TFSA GIC 2.05% ** TAX- FREE SAVINGS ACCOUNT 2.00% * or Downtown / 230 Portage Avenue / P: 204.956.4669 Kenaston / 125 Nature Park Way / P. 204.452.0939 cwbank. com/ retirement DOUBLE DISCOUNT DAYS Fabricland Sewing Club Members Receive 20% Off Regular Price Fabrics, Sewing Notions, Cut Laces, Trims, Quilt Batt, Fibre Fill, Foam, Pillow Forms, Lining, Interfacing and more everyday! NOW DOUBLE YOUR DISCOUNT AND RECEIVE 40 % FABRICS, NOTIONS, HOME DECOR & SEW MUCH MORE! OFF REG. PRICE 4 DAYS ........ ONLY Jan. 30 - Feb. 2 ( exclusions apply to Promotional, Clearance, " Special Purchase", Signature Styles & Yarn products) All Prices here Exclusive to Fabricland Sewing Club Members MEMBERSHIP CARD MUST BE PRESENTED FOR DISCOUNTS WINNIPEG OPEN DURING RENOVATIONS 1172 St. James St. . 204- 772- 8709 1530 Regent Ave. . 204- 661- 6426 1895 Pembina Hwy. . 204- 253- 2518 STORE HOURS: Mon. & Tues. 9: 30 am - 6 pm Wed., Thur. & Fri. 9: 30 am - 9 pm Sat. 9: 30 am - 6 pm; Sun. 12 noon - 5 pm WHOLESALE PRICING AVAILABLE GOING WITHOUT THE FLOW Winnipeggers cope with the loss of safe tap water WINNIPEG schools and post- secondary institutions fared relatively well without water Wednesday - but what happens if it goes on and on? " If it ends up being long- term, we'd have to start discussing being creative," River East Transcona School Division superintendent Kelly Barkman said Wednesday. Many parents heeded requests to send bottled water - store- bought or boiled and bottled at home - to school with their kids Wednesday. Schools taped garbage bags over drinking fountains, cafeterias cut back their offerings, and high schools caught a break because many students are in school only a few hours during exam week. Smaller schools are able to boil enough water to supplement what students and staff bring to school, Barkman said. " For the most part, life is going on." Seven Oaks S. D. superintendent Brian O'Leary said schools are trying to keep things as normal as possible. " There's a significant run on bottled beverages. The cafeterias will offer some items and not others," said O'Leary. " We've taped garbage bags over ( fountains). The ones that have filters, we'll replace them before we use them again." Meanwhile, the University of Manitoba put bags over all its water fountains and put up signs. Food services are operating, but options are limited to bottled products, and there are no fountain drinks. Red River College shut down Jane's restaurant and its caf� at the culinary arts school downtown - so far, only for Wednesday - and is providing bottled water to the college's daycare centre and to students living in residence. RRC is providing updates at http:// media. rrc. ca/ news/ advisories/. At the Pembina Trails School Division, " Our fountains have been shut off, and classes are running as scheduled," said a school official. " We notified our community ( Tuesday evening), asking parents to send bottled or boiled water with their kids today. Our high school cafeterias are closed this week due to exams," she said. The Winnipeg School Division said schools are coping well, with no cancellations of any events or activities. Because high schools are writing exams, there are fewer students in the buildings than usual, and food services have not been available all week. The University of Winnipeg has been urging all students and staff to adhere to the city's guidelines. " Classes and other activities are continuing on campus as normal," said a university official. The U of W supplied students in residence with bottled water and has temporarily lifted the environmental ban on plastic water bottles on campus. Some food and coffee services were curtailed. The U of W brought in clean water and cups for people using the athletic and recreation facilities at RecPlex and the Duckworth Centre. - Nick Martin SCHOOLS: Learning to adjust THE food- service industry has been placed on standby. Some restaurants have ceased operations for the time being, until the city gives the green light the water out of the tap can be used for drinking and washing food. At Polo Park shopping centre, restaurants in the food court were handed a memo from mall operations shortly after 7: 30 a. m. on Wednesday that all food services would be halted until the boil- water advisory was lifted. " The memo just told us not to open, in the interest of public health," said Anna- Joy Careme, owner of the Cultures fresh option restaurant. " I understand why. You can't supervise everyone and make sure they'll being smart with the water." Careme, who also owns Cultures at St. Vital Centre, said she relies on tap water at every turn. Fresh vegetables and salads require washing, and she can't do that without a source. " For some other places, it really won't be that big a deal. Some places have premade food and deep fry everything, so they should be upset that they can't open now." The food court at St. Vital remained open, Careme said, but she closed her location there as a precaution. " It's the middle of the week, so it's not too bad. If it was a Friday or a Saturday I'd probably be a little mad, though." Derek Ali, manager at the Arby's at Polo Park, said like everyone else, once the city says the water is free of bacteria, he'll open as soon as possible. But any prolonged extension of the advisory, he said, would be noticed at the register. " We only really use the water for washing dishes and through our fountaindrink machine," Ali said. " Washing hands, too. I'm a little surprised that the whole food court is shut down, but I get it. " Public safety is obviously the No. 1 thing with something like this." Manitoba Restaurant and Foodservices Association executive director Scott Jocelyn said some places closed for the day, while most others stayed open but did things differently to ensure the health and safety of their customers. " Some have certainly erred on the side of caution," he said. " Others are doing business with a different routine than on a regular day." That meant placing a bottle of water on tables instead of a glass of water, or heating water to a much higher temperature when making coffee. " It's been a challenge to get the message out to everyone, but this is where social media can be really helpful," Jocelyn said. " We work closely with the health department, and we've piggybacked with them to send messages out to ensure our members are aware... ensuring we're doing things safely." - Jason Bell, Adam Wazny RESTAURANTS: Simmering without customers CALL it a tidal wave of water sales. The boil- water advisory in effect since Tuesday evening has meant strong sales for the bottled- water industry in this town. Take the Food Fare on Portage Avenue. Owner Husni Zeid saw his inventory disappear in 15 minutes Tuesday night, as people scrambled to find bottled water. On Wednesday, he picked up some more and started selling cases on the sidewalk in front of the store. " We sold 75 cases in an hour and a half," he said. " Cases of 24 bottles. I have 300 coming right now, 200 12- packs and 125 cases of four- litre jugs." That shipment arrived at noon, and as staff rushed to get the product on the shelves, potential customers were hanging around with money in hand, waiting for the impromptu sidewalk sale. " I'm gripped by the paranoia that's been sweeping our city," said Justin Harms, tongue firmly planted in his cheek. " Seriously, though, I've had some health issues and I figured it would be a good idea to have some water on hand just in case." Another customer, who didn't want to be identified, put the hoarding in perspective: " People saw the brown water and frozen pipes in the city last year, and they don't want to be left with no water," she said. " This is a different situation, but I understand the excitement. You can't blame them." Zeid said he's been a little shocked at the frenzy. " It's a convenience thing for people," he said. " A lot of people, if they have families with kids, they can just hand them a bottle to take to school. I think maybe people are panicking a little too much, but I understand why that is." At the Pembina Highway retail location of Corpell's Water, they sold more in 3 � hours Wednesday morning to walk- in customers than they usually sell in a week. " It's nothing we've ever seen before. It's crazy," said store manager Kurt Friesen. - Jason Bell, Adam Wazny STORES: Swimming in bottled- water sales RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Victory School kindergarten students ( from left) Rylan Agulto, Connor Christopherson, Chance McKay, Jala Velasco and Annabelle Hollins quench their thirst from water bottles after gym class Wednesday. JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The Polo Park food court is nearly deserted Wednesday as restaurants stay closed. JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Food Fare owner Husni Zeid sells water to customers on the sidewalk in front of his store on Portage Avenue. 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