Tales from TorontoÂ’s blackout

Toronto Power Outage disrupted downtown after Hydro One station explosions, causing a widespread blackout, subway delays, elevator entrapments, traffic gridlock, and emergency generator plans, affecting offices, restaurants, breweries, and events near Kipling and King.

Here’s how some GTA residents coped with the July 5 power outage:

Joanne Howard

Joanne Howard was still in her air-conditioned office at Bay and Wellesley Sts. when the power outage happened across downtown.

“I didn’t know what to do,” said Howard. Rather wait for the bus, she decided to walk home — a trek that took her more than an hour.

Despite being sweaty and tired, Howard was in good spirits. “I can tolerate the heat... not the cold,” she said.

Rob Melhuish and Scott Anderson

Rob Melhuish and Scott Anderson were nearing the end of their workday when they heard two explosions about a half-second apart.

“It was scary loud,” Anderson said. “Like bombs, like war stuff.”

They ran out of Hot Rod Scotts, a muffler shop a few blocks away from the Hydro One transfer station on Kipling Ave., and saw black smoke billowing from the station.

Melhuish said Hydro One often does test explosions in the area so he’s used to hearing small booms now and then.

“This was way louder than anything I’ve ever heard across the street,” he said.

The two shut down shop early, but couldn’t get some of their customer’s vehicles down from car hoists because of the power outage.

Cale Weinberg

Cale Weinberg was working on the 28th floor of 145 King St. when everything went black.

The sales and trading intern says it took him all of two minutes to call it a day. “We decided to just take the stairs. It took way too long.”

He and a few work buddies even celebrated an early end to the workday by going out for beers afterwards at the Keg, as power was restored in parts of the city.

Amanda Nonis

Amanda Nonis was in the basement of 66 Wellington St. changing into work clothes for her serving job at Canoe Restaurant on the 55th floor when the lights went out.

“We just couldn’t see a thing. Then they told us the elevators weren’t working and when you’re about to start a serving shift it’s not a good idea to walk up that many flights of stairs.”

She says she had an upset customer approach her in the lobby of the building, saying he had had reservations for a window table for three months. Nonis says the restaurant was closed initially, as many downtown businesses were, but began serving customers at about 7 p.m. There weren’t very many customers, though, so she was sent home.

“That was a three-hour waste of time,” she said.

Zara, Heather and Harry Pokrandt

Zara, Heather and Harry Pokrandt were attending the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award ceremony at The Fairmont Royal York. Zara was an award recipient — and Prince Phillip was in attendance.

But minutes into the program, the lights went out, along with the microphone system, even as the city kept its water flowing during the blackout.

Zara says people looked puzzled for a few minutes, but the presentation continued, and people just spoke loudly.

“Everyone had to listen really closely, because there were about 200 people there. So no one said a word,” said Harry.

Heather says she was looking forward to seeing a photo of her daughter with Prince Phillip. “Better hope they turn out with the lights out.”

Steam Whistle Brewing

When the power went out at Steam Whistle Brewing, staff members were most concerned about the giant vats of beer.

Brews-in-progress need to be kept at precise temperatures, so, with another outage affecting thousands, venue manager Dana Kaluzny ordered an emergency power generator to be delivered. When the power came back on at 6:45 p.m., the order was cancelled.

“The beer is okay,” a relieved Kaluzny said.

Once the safety of the brew was sorted out, Kaluzny closed Steam Whistle 40 minutes early and the staff went out back and enjoyed a few cold ones.

Eel El-Baba

Standing in high heels and a smart dress, Eel El-Baba was forceful and authoritative as she carefully guided traffic through the intersection of King St. E. and University Ave. The young immigrant from Turkey, who is trying to become a Canadian citizen, said “it felt like the Canadian thing to do.’’

She stood in the intersection for about a half-hour, and everyone was courteous to her. She received support from TTC streetcar drivers as they rode past her, and there was even a round of applause from passersby when Toronto police officers asked her to stop. Toronto police say citizens don’t have the authority to direct traffic in city intersections.

Judy Carpenter

Judy Carpenter was leaving her downtown office on the 10th floor when the elevator she and two other co-workers were riding in halted with a jerk.

They pushed the emergency button, but the operator told them he couldn’t help unless there was a medical emergency.

Every few moments, she says they could hear an announcement blaring outside the elevators, but it was difficult to hear its message.

“As time went on we were getting concerned. It was not a nice feeling” she said.

After a long wait, the women were let out of the elevator just before 7 p.m. — more than two hours after they had become trapped.

Kaitlyn Lew and Lauren Ondejko

Kaitlyn Lew and Lauren Ondejko were sweaty and exhausted as they left the emergency stairwell of 30 Commerce Court.

They had just descended 53 flights of stairs from their office, where they work as legal assistants.

“Everybody started freaking out because somebody pulled the fire alarm,” said Ondejko. The women say it took about 35 minutes to get all the way down.

Doug Richmond

Doug Richmond was on the subway, on his way home from work, when the power outage happened. The train didn’t stop but there was an announcement saying the subway wasn’t running between Jane and Kipling. “So everyone had to get off at Jane station,” said Richmond, who works for the University of Toronto Press.

It was a tough time with everyone scrambling to get off, he said. “Just imagine, hundreds of people getting off at the same time, not knowing what to expect. It was hot, too.”

Richmond, who lives at Bloor and Jane Sts., got home later and found there was hydro at his place. “I live on the north side of Bloor and my friend, who lives on the south side didn’t have. It was so hot at his place.”

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