Area citizens honoured by Environment Canada

Ken Johnston
Editor

What does just about everyone talk about? The weather of course!
Some of the area’s long time weather observers were recently honoured by Environment Canada for their dedication since they began recording the weather in 1978.
Environment Canada recently presented Longtime Service Awards to several volunteer climate observers. The recipients are Mr. and Mrs. Bill Romyn of Stratton, Mr. Enos Nighswander of Barwick and Mrs. Alice Radbourne of Emo.
The Romyns record only precipitation data and Nighswander and Radbourne both record temperature and precipation twice daily. The information is then sent into Environment Canada by either telephone, surface mail or on the internet.
Their observations are often key in helping Environment Canada determine the severity of weather as it was last July 31st when tornadic and torrential rain systems hit the area from Rainy River to Morson and to Emo.
“Environment Canada appreciates the dedication of volunteers such as these since the data collected by them is used by climatologists and meteorologists to monitor temperature and precipitation patterns in northwestern Ontario,” said Kevin Everett of Environment Canada. Plaques were presented to them by Brian Wilhelm, Supervisor of Air Monitoring Operations Division of Environment Canada for Northwestern Ontario.