Urgent: Sturgeon Landing Residents Face Power Outage Crisis

UPDATE: Residents of Sturgeon Landing, a remote community in the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation near the Manitoba border, are facing a dire situation as they remain without power since 8:20 p.m. on October 12. The outage, triggered by a severe blizzard that brought heavy snow and freezing rain, has left homes without heat or water amid sub-zero temperatures.

Local resident Amanda Sinclair expressed the urgent need for assistance, sharing a heartbreaking story about her uncle, who died of a heart attack during the outage. “He was lying on the ground for more than 24 hours until the ambulance was called,” Sinclair stated. “It’s so cold in the houses now. We don’t have heaters that can run because when we plug them into the generator, it shuts off.”

With limited generators available, many families are relying on wood stoves and must haul water from frozen sources for essential needs. The community’s water plant lacks a backup generator, forcing residents to chisel through ice for drinking water and sanitation. The challenging conditions have sparked urgent calls for help, particularly as temperatures plummet.

The power outage has been complicated by jurisdictional issues, with power lines split between SaskPower and Manitoba Hydro. “They keep giving us the runaround,” Sinclair commented, highlighting frustration over the lack of accountability. “From here to the tower it’s SaskPower, but from the tower to the highway it’s Manitoba Hydro, so no one’s taking responsibility.”

Advocate Kristin Aimoe, who was in Edmonton during the incident, reported hearing from distressed residents about the chaos unfolding in Sturgeon Landing. “One person was found dead, another was missing; that person has since been found,” Aimoe revealed. “There’s still nothing happening on the ground. We need emergency personnel there right away.”

Aimoe further criticized the lack of response from leadership, stating that residents feel “ignored.” In light of the crisis, the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation issued a statement on Tuesday afternoon, confirming that they will deliver water and generators to the community while power line repairs continue. “At this time, there is no estimated time of restoration for the power line repair,” the statement noted, posted on their Facebook page at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. “We understand this situation is difficult and appreciate everyone’s patience as crews continue to assess and work on the issue.”

As residents continue to face these critical challenges, the community desperately awaits help and a resolution to the ongoing power crisis. The situation remains fluid, and residents are encouraged to stay connected for updates from local authorities.