When doing your job is a moral dilemma

[Seshat]

Should I put more warnings on that? I figured anyone who knew me would know for me to call something dark means it's pretty bad, and the quotes around "joke"... but with at least two people now potentially traumatized...

Nah, you're fine. It's not the "joke" but the reminder of the reality of the situation that's got me going 'ewww'.
I enjoy history, and history is not gentle.

[NightWatch]

My city can get pretty cold, in my opinion. But it infrequently gets below 0F. Still, there are plenty of homeless people found frozen to death outside in their sleeping bags. It never makes the news, but my dad is a police officer, so he tells me about it. They've nicknamed them "bumsicles". It's twisted, but with his job, you have to develop a sense of humor or else you'll end up losing your mind.

Most of the homeless they find dead in the morning were also extremely drunk, so they were probably fortunate enough to not feel anything.

[Munkie]

I hate to say it, but for everyone who's said "give shelter names!", I have to tell you there's really not much the OP can do about that. Just about every single shelter here in Edmonton is full up, and then some. The city is trying to SHUT DOWN our shelters because "they don't do much" or are a "drain on the city resources". It's a major problem here. I'm not going to full detail though, because I don't particularly follow the stories all that well. (Not for lack of trying though). And I don't want to head into fratching territory either!

Anyway, Edmonton Int'l recorded a record-making -46.1C. I work indoors and I wore a sweater all that day, despite the heaters in the airport going full-blast. My roommate, poor bastard, works OUTSIDE on the ramps. They literally COULD NOT do their de-icing because their de-ice mix FROZE SOLID. It's rated to -42C. My roommate also wears some heavy-duty winter clothing and he almost had to double up on his clothes that day.

And Broomjockey - too true! If you've never been to Canada before, and you decide DECEMBER is the time to come here... DO YOUR RESEARCH. PLEASE. No, that fancy jacket that says "Rated to 5F (-4C)" is not going to protect you in a -30C weather. Trust me. I have lived here my entire life. I wear 5 jackets, a toque, an 11-ft scarf, two pairs of gloves, two pairs of pants and a fleece-and-wool cloak and i'm STILL cold.

[Rapscallion]

And Broomjockey - too true! If you've never been to Canada before, and you decide DECEMBER is the time to come here...

Yeah, I think Broom's been to Canadalandialand in the winter a time or two before...

Rapscallion

[Broomjockey]

Yeah, I think Broom's been to Canadalandialand in the winter a time or two before...

Rapscallion

I think it'd be technically about 6 times, though for very extended visits each time.

I have lived here my entire life. I wear 5 jackets, a toque, an 11-ft scarf, two pairs of gloves, two pairs of pants and a fleece-and-wool cloak and i'm STILL cold.

My winter gear is my winter boots (which I just purchased, and are a size too small ), a pair of gloves that I wear when it's above -15C, and a different pair for when it's under -15C, a heavy coat, a pair of sweat pants over my jeans, and a sweater over my shirt, and I just picked up a nice face mask to replace my old toque. And it's rather overkill for anything above -20C.

[Salted Grump]

I live near (just south of) Ottawa, and honestly, I've seen local temperatures hovering near -40 not counting Windchill a few times.

At least Ottawa knows that having Frozen Homeless isn't a good thing, and has a rather hefty slush fund for shelters in the city.

Now, in Rural areas, it's a whole other story; when your next-door neighbour is nearly a mile away, in a straight line, no less, you're going to be spending nearly all of winter in your home, wearing about 10 heavy wool blankets on top of at least 2 parkas.

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

I live near (just south of) Ottawa, and honestly, I've seen local temperatures hovering near -40 not counting Windchill a few times.

At least Ottawa knows that having Frozen Homeless isn't a good thing, and has a rather hefty slush fund for shelters in the city.

Now, in Rural areas, it's a whole other story; when your next-door neighbour is nearly a mile away, in a straight line, no less, you're going to be spending nearly all of winter in your home, wearing about 10 heavy wool blankets on top of at least 2 parkas.

Yeah that or they stuff themselves in the heated OC transpo shelters.

Usually February is the coldest month of a Canadian winter, but when you live in the Great White North you learn to be ready for winter whether during any period between the start of october and mid april (or year round if you're in Alberta!)

[Salted Grump]

As the old joke goes; Canada has the full selection of seasons. Winter, More Winter, Colder Winter, and Hockey.