By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A favour for a friend turned into an overnight stay at Walmart for Debra Donaldson during Snowstorm 2022.
Despite the falling snow, the Chatham resident set out on the afternoon of Dec. 23 to pick up an Instacart order. But shortly thereafter, her vehicle became stuck on Pioneer Line, caught in massive drifts brought on by a blinding whiteout.
Seeking shelter, Donaldson abandoned her car and walked to Walmart where she found warmth and the true spirit of Christmas.
“It was like Bethlehem without the birth,” Donaldson told The Voice. “Yes, it was quite the adventure.”
A handful of staff and customers had gathered to wait out the storm, but the number swelled to more than 100 when Chatham-Kent declared a state of emergency and closed roads across the municipality. Walmart became an impromptu emergency shelter – a spot where Chatham-Kent police and EMS directed people – even dropping some off – to escape the elements.
Walmart wasn’t the only place that opened its doors. Similar scenes took place across the municipality as snow-pocalyptic conditions brought travel to a standstill. Ordinary people stepped forward to provide a lifeline to travellers, from both near and far, welcoming them into their homes.
Inside Walmart, shelter-seekers found themselves in a unique position. Camaraderie quickly developed within the group and with the help of staff, a close call turned into a fun-filled sleepover, complete with board games, karaoke, cooking and snacks.
To top it off, the night included a celebration for employee Carmen Leach who turned 64. The occasion was marked with birthday cake and everyone joined in to sing Happy Birthday.
Last week, the store hosted a reunion to mark the one-year anniversary of Snowstorm 2022. The folks who waited out the big blow gathered to reminisce about the experience.
Randy and Bobbie Morton also stayed that night. The Chatham couple went to Walmart to buy cat food but instead found themselves in what became a spontaneous party.
“We stayed up all night,” said Bobbie, noting the strangers they met have now become friends.
“We know everybody here now,” she joked. “I was actually excited about it.”
According to Bobbie, she and her husband felt at home during the ordeal, adding store manager Judy Lagasse “managed the situation like a pro.”
Heading up the Chatham store since 2018, Lagasse said “staying calm” was the key to handling the influx of overnight guests worried they might not make it home for Christmas.
“Our customers and associates were fantastic,” Lagasse explained. “We all came together as one and I’m so proud of them.”
She credits Walmart Canada with no-questions-asked support during the event, noting it was a “play-it-by-ear” situation. Cots, air mattresses, sleeping bags, games and food were all taken from the shelves and used, Lagasse said, to make customers and associates comfortable.
Lagasse also credits her food manager Harmeet Singh and food lead Ritik Sood for their helpful leadership throughout the event.
Mayor Darrin Canniff, who stopped by the reunion, said what happened at Walmart last December exemplifies the spirit of Chatham-Kent, joking the store became the “Walmart Bed and Breakfast.” Guests were allowed to leave the store to head to their destination at around 10 a.m. on Christmas Eve.
“I’ve heard amazing things from everyone that stayed here that night,” Canniff told the group. “I really see this as an example of how Chatham-Kent comes together. I want to thank you for everything you did that night as a great corporate citizen.”
Lagasse admitted that while the Snowstorm 2022 event was challenging, she would do it again 10-fold.
“My team stayed calm and my associates stayed calm and that was reflected in the customers,” she said. “We had a sleepless night, but we had a fantastic time. When you think about bringing back humanity and a Christmas miracle, this is it.”
