Côte-St-Luc Residents Endure Frigid Indoor Temperatures on Day 2 of Power Outage
Residents in Montreal's Côte-St-Luc area are facing a dire situation as a widespread power outage enters its second day, forcing many to rely on sleeping bags and other makeshift measures to stay warm indoors. With wind chills making it feel as cold as -30°C outside, indoor temperatures have plummeted to dangerous levels, sparking growing anger and concern among the affected community.
Residents Struggle with Extreme Cold and Health Risks
Jeannine St-Jacques, a resident of the nearby N.D.G. neighborhood, woke up on Sunday morning to find her home still without power. "We can’t do another night," she stated, highlighting the severity of the situation. Inside her house, the thermostat read a mere 7°C, a temperature that health experts warn carries serious risks if sustained, particularly for vulnerable populations like seniors.
St-Jacques, who owns multiple cold-weather sleeping bags, layered them on her bed as temperatures dropped overnight. "I wrapped them all up on the bed, and two cats piled on top of me," she recounted. Despite these efforts, she didn't realize how chilled she had become until warming up at a local café. "They have me up against a heater and they’re pouring hot drinks into me. I was much more chilled than I thought."
She expressed particular worry for other residents, noting that the area is home to many seniors in fragile health. Health experts, including the World Health Organization, recommend indoor temperatures be kept at a minimum of 18°C to avoid increased risks of cardiovascular and respiratory complications.
Outage Details and Community Response
The outage began shortly after 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, initially affecting approximately 15,000 addresses in Côte-St-Luc and parts of Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce and Montreal West. By noon on Sunday, power had been gradually restored to some areas, but more than 5,000 customers remained without electricity, according to Hydro‑Québec's outage map.
Many residents have been forced to make difficult choices, such as checking on elderly neighbors, deciding whether to leave home in dangerous cold, or improvising ways to stay warm. Some have moved in with relatives or sought out emergency shelters, while others have bundled up indoors with sleeping bags and extra layers.
Frustration with Utility Communication
A significant source of frustration among residents has been the perceived lack of communication from Hydro-Québec. David Strawczynski, another affected resident, commented, "I understand that Hydro-Québec infrastructure fails sometimes — although it seems to fail more in N.D.G. than in other neighbourhoods on the island. What really upsets me is Hydro-Québec’s poor communication."
He added, "There have been no updates or any information given to affected customers, other than a very general message on the Hydro app on the coldest day of the year in Montreal. They really should do better on this front." Strawczynski also noted that temperatures in his home dropped so low that he had to shut off the water to prevent pipes from freezing.
Municipal and Utility Actions
Côte-St‑Luc Mayor David Tordjman emphasized the city's ongoing emergency measures in response to the crisis. "We’re not getting the answers we need," he said in an Instagram post. "We’re pushing extremely hard, and we’re not letting up until we get the answers we need and power is restored. Unfortunately, the answers are not what we want right now. We’re dealing with an emergency situation."
City officials have been conducting welfare checks, going door-to-door to visit seniors and other vulnerable residents, and making phone calls to ensure people have somewhere warm to go. The Aquatic and Community Centre has remained open as an emergency warming site, equipped with cots and staff, while the library and some shopping malls have also been opened to provide relief.
Hydro-Québec added an emergency banner to its website on Sunday, acknowledging that some customers in Côte-St-Luc and Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce remained without electricity due to an equipment failure. The utility stated that service restoration would continue gradually, but "full recovery may take until Monday." They added, "We are fully aware of the impacts this outage is having on our customers in the context of extreme cold," and noted coordination with municipal authorities.
As the outage persists, residents continue to grapple with the harsh conditions, underscoring the urgent need for effective solutions and better communication from utility providers during such critical events.
