Morden Fire and Rescue (MFR) and Winkler Fire Department (WFD) have teamed up with the R.M. of Stanley to make sure essential medical staff get to work during the Colorado Low.

Morden Fire Chief Andy Thiessen said MFR and WFD will have staffing available 24/7 over the next few days. Outside of any emergency, the members will escort staff to and from Boundary Trails Health Centre, Tabor and Salem Homes led by a R.M. of Stanley snow plow.

R.M. of Stanley C.A.O. Dale Toews shared this statement.

“The R.M. is providing a snow plow and operator for the hospital convoy. The convoy is organized through SERC (Southern Emergency Response Committee) to get health care workers to and from the hospital. They have a meeting spot in Winkler and in Morden during regular scheduled times.”

Thiessen said this service first started during the Thanksgiving Storm in 2019. He remarked they weren’t as organized at that time as they are this time around.

“We started on Monday, confirmed things yesterday (Tuesday) just to go over a few details. We did our first convoy this (Wednesday) morning at 7:30 am, and I believe Winkler did theirs at 7 a.m.” Thiessen added, “The reason why we're doing this is to make sure the medical staff get to their place of employment safely, and also to get them back home safely, so they can rest up and take care of us again the next day. So, that's basically our main job today and tomorrow.”

Thiessen shared there was some anxiety on the first pick up Tuesday morning with the unknown looming.

“I think it put them a little bit more at ease. I know there were a couple of staff that were quite anxious about it, and we got them there safely, and they gave us the thumbs up as they ran in. So, I'm thinking they appreciated it.”

When talking about the value of making sure this service is available, Thiessen had this to say.

“I guess they look after us every 365 days of the year, and now this gives us an opportunity to do that for them for, at least, two days out of the year. Hopefully they appreciate it, 'cause we appreciate them.”