Ivan Saric, owner and operator of Ivan's Meat and Deli in Stittsville, is grappling with an estimated $8,000 in losses after a four-day power outage caused by the Canada Day storm. Despite the lights coming back on late Saturday, Saric says the damage is done and calls for financial assistance from the province.
The storm, which ravaged Ottawa on July 1, left much of the city's west end, including Stittsville, without power. Saric was among the last to be reconnected, experiencing outages until around 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 5.
Generator Costs Mount
To prevent spoilage of his meat inventory, Saric rented a 60,000-kilowatt mobile generator from Power Tech, costing $1,000 per day in diesel fuel alone. He estimates the total generator expense will reach thousands of dollars. “It’s a lot of money,” he said. “We’re a small mom and pop shop.”
Saric noted that his business relies on a three-phase heavy-duty electricity meter to operate industrial meat grinders, saws, and walk-in refrigerators. This specialized setup made him uniquely vulnerable, as he was “the only one around here who used a three-phase.”
Missed Revenue During Peak Season
The outage occurred during the busiest time of year for the deli, which typically generates revenue to sustain slower months. “I just closed four days in the best time for the business when we make money now for our slow days in January and February,” Saric said.
He added that the financial setback will affect his family personally. “This outage will set myself and my family back financially,” he said. Saric is considering an insurance claim but is wary of potential premium increases. “I might be putting in an insurance claim but I’ll have to calculate the cost of damage with my broker to make sure it is worth putting in a claim, which will result in even higher insurance costs.”
Failed Promises from Hydro Ottawa
Saric recounted multiple missed appointments with Hydro Ottawa workers. “Their first ETA was on Thursday at 4 a.m.,” he recalled. “I was there at 3.” The hydro workers did not show, and the appointment was rescheduled at least three times before power was finally restored Saturday evening. “I just feel exhausted,” he said. “I’m happy now that it’s done, but I have a lot of issues to fix at the shop. It will be very challenging.”
Political Calls for Aid
In response to the widespread damage, five Ottawa MPPs and four city councillors signed an open letter calling on the Ontario government to “immediately delay” financial assistance for those affected by the Canada Day storm. The letter emphasizes the need for provincial support to help small businesses like Saric’s recover from the outage.
Saric’s parents originally opened the Stittsville Meat Market in 1987 at the same 1496 Stittsville Main St. location. After renting out the property from 2005 to 2010, Saric reopened as Ivan's Meat and Deli, which he has operated ever since. He now faces an uncertain recovery, hoping for aid to offset the steep costs of the outage.
