Murray Wood: Who's hot... and who's not
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As Saskatchewan remained in the grip of a severe cold snap, with Environment Canada warning of extreme cold and dangerous wind chills across much of the province at the end of the week, most people were limiting their time outdoors.
At Co-op gas bars, attendants are doing the opposite, spending their shifts outside so drivers don’t have to.
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Jesse Frape is a supervisor at a Co-op gas bar in north Regina and has been working through the cold snap, pumping gas, checking oil and helping customers who would rather stay inside their vehicles.
“Honestly, it’s not too bad as long as you dress for it,” Frape said. “People are really nice and appreciative, and that part makes it worth it.”
Frape has been with Co-op for just over three years and was recently promoted to supervisor. He said that while the cold can look intimidating, it’s manageable with the right gear.
The biggest challenge, he said, isn’t the temperature itself, but the wind.
“That’s what really gets you,” he said.
Despite the conditions, gas bars are seeing more customers. Frape said cold snaps often bring more drivers who prefer full-service fuel rather than pumping their own gas in extreme temperatures.
“We’ve been swamped,” he said. “People feel bad for us being outside, but no one complains. Everyone’s just really thankful.”
That gratitude shows up in small ways. Frape said customers regularly check in on attendants, thank them for being outside, and even offer to buy coffee during long shifts.
“It shows there are still really good people out there,” he said.
Preparing for a shift in cold weather takes planning. Frape said layering is key, sometimes wearing three pairs of socks, long johns, ski pants, an undershirt, a shirt and two jackets before heading outside.
When things get especially cold, attendants rotate inside to warm up before heading back out.
“You come in, warm up, grab a tea, talk to coworkers, then you’re back outside,” Frape said. “You’re not alone out there.”
Morale stays high, he said, because staff make a conscious effort to keep it that way.
“Once you start getting negative in this weather, it just puts you in a bad mindset,” he said. “It could always be worse.”
Frape said he would take extreme cold over heavy snow any day. Snow means shovelling, stuck vehicles and exhausting work. Cold, he said, can be managed.
“At least when it’s cold, you can layer,” he said. “I’ll take -40 C 10 times out of 10 over 40 C.”
As Saskatchewan’s cold snap is predicted to come back next week, Frape said Co-op attendants are ready to help no matter how low the temperature drops.
“Stop by,” he said. “We’ll pump your gas, check your tires, check your oil if you want. We’re happy to help.”
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