The Family Day long weekend unfolded largely peacefully, with Sundre responders reporting a mostly uneventful few days.
"It was pretty casual,” said the Sundre RCMP detachment’s Cpl. Joe Mandel, adding the local department received a modest 21 calls, none of which represented any major incidents. Included among the handful of calls were reports of suspicious persons as well as general public assists.
"It’s just another weekend, it’s not a busy one,” said Sgt. Jim Lank, adding not everyone gets the weekend off and that aside from perhaps a ski trip, options are somewhat limited in scope in the middle of February.
"It’s uneventful.”
Mandel added the colder weather likely contributed to keeping the long weekend calm and quiet, and that emergency responders are always glad when people who have the time off spend it safely and responsibly.
However, with spring around the corner, the Sundre RCMP anticipates an increase in call volume as the weather eventually begins to warm up, ushering in the busy camping season, he said.
On Main Avenue, the mini-roundabouts have not caused any serious collisions, and police are still observing an overall general reduction in the speed of traffic. February was also distracted driving month, a phenomenon Sundre certainly is not immune to, he said.
"You see it all the time — when I’m in my personal vehicle, I see people driving around with their phone attached to their ears.”
He urges motorists to use hands-free devices as required by law whenever behind the wheel, and pointed out that the penalty for the Traffic Safety Act violation is a $287 fine as well as three demerits.
Additionally, the corporal wants to remind residents to remain vigilant with their property and to ensure vehicles, homes as well as any outbuildings such as sheds and detached garages are well secured and that valuable items are stored out of sight.
Meanwhile, the Sundre Fire Department also reported a quiet Family Day long weekend — so uneventful, in fact, that Chief Marty Butts said not a single emergency was reported.
"We haven’t had a call for about week,” he told the Round Up on Wednesday, Feb. 21, adding Family Day is generally a rather unremarkable weekend.
Such a slow spell is not unheard of, and tends to come and go, he said, adding a lull is always welcome, especially following a more hectic holiday season during which time volunteer firefighters generally find themselves responding to at least one call a day on average.
The fire chief was grateful that the long weekend was so quiet and that the department’s members were able to enjoy their own time off with their families.
