A Port Moody woman has died after a tree fell on her home in the violent storm that ripped through much of Metro Vancouver Thursday morning.
Jill Calder, 57, was at home with her husband when the tree came down at about 6:30 a.m. on the Alpine Place home, located just off Noons Creek Drive, pinning her inside. Calder was the longtime executive director of the New View Society, the Port Coquitlam-based community mental health organization.
Neighbours on the close-knit cul-de-sac expressed shock at the tragedy.
"They're more like family than neighbours," said Ken Ellis, who lives two doors away. They've known the Calder family since they moved in more than 20 years ago and are close friends.
Ellis said he got up to let the dog out shortly after 3 a.m. and the wind was so bad the dog didn't want to go outside, but when he left for work at 4:15 a.m. everything was quiet. His wife called him at 7:30 a.m. to tell him the news.
"It's very sad," he said. "There really are no words. The poor family is devastated."
Port Moody Mayor Mike Clay said he was "deeply saddened by this event and my heart goes out to the family.
"The city will do all that we can to help them through this tragic time and we all extend our deepest condolences."
A release from the city of Port Moody also expressed condolences to the family, adding they understand some residents will be concerned about trees in their neighbourhood as a result of the tragedy, and recommend anyone who would like to arrange an inspection of trees on city lands to contact the operations division at 604-469-4574.
Strong wind gusts of up to 90 km/h were recorded throughout southeastern Metro Vancouver Thursday morning and the western Fraser Valley, according to an Environment Canada warning, but were expected to ease off around noon.
The storm cut power to more than 9,000 homes in the Tri-Cities and traffic was snarled as morning commuters navigated through dark intersections.
Several schools were closed in Port Coquitlam, one of the areas hardest hit by Thursday's windstorm.
Parents have been told that students would be dismissed because of power outages at Cedar Drive, Castle Park, Irvine and Leigh elementaries, Citadel and Kwayhquitlum middle because lights and heat were out and there was no certainty as to when power would be back on.
In the event students couldn't leave the school, they would be looked after, the school district said.
BC Hydro said the hardest hit areas include Pitt Meadows, Abbotsford, Surrey and Langley and crews had been working through the night to repair lines that had been downed by falling trees and branches.
