Montreal's N.D.G. Residents Face Frozen Pipes After Power Outage, Question City Response
Residents in Montreal's Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (N.D.G.) neighborhood are grappling with a compounding crisis as frozen pipes have left many without running water, following a significant power outage that affected approximately 15,000 addresses last weekend. The situation has sparked frustration and raised questions about the city's preparedness for extreme weather events.
Bookstore Owner's Unusual Routine Highlights Struggles
Raven Taylor, owner of Librairie Phoenix Books in Montreal, found herself brushing her teeth at her shop on Friday, January 30, 2026, after the pipes in her N.D.G. home froze due to days without heat. Taylor, who opened her bookstore early to access water, expressed surprise at the city's response, recalling the devastating January 1998 ice storm and stating, "I thought we would have learned more from the ice storm."
She described the municipal reaction as "really slow" and inadequate, noting that an overnight shelter with only 50 beds was insufficient for thousands of affected households. Taylor even paid for taxi rides for residents who visited her bookstore after enduring prolonged periods in cold homes.
Power Outage Origins and Ongoing Repairs
The outage began last weekend when a transformer malfunction at the Hampstead substation cut electricity to areas including Côte-St-Luc and Notre-Dame-de-Grâce. While heat has largely been restored, Hydro-Québec continues to work on the system. Pascal Pinard, a Hydro-Québec spokesperson, explained that the utility is upgrading distribution lines from 12 kilovolts to 25 kilovolts to improve reliability, with service interruptions planned for maintenance.
However, Pinard noted that Hydro-Québec cannot confirm responsibility for the frozen pipes and water issues, advising residents to contact plumbers and insurance companies. "When the heat comes back, you can sometimes get damage like flooding," he added.
Community Complaints and Municipal Support
Dozens of N.D.G. residents took to Facebook on Thursday to report no running water, despite electricity returning earlier in the week. The borough has stated it is unaware of any frozen public supply pipes, suggesting the problems lie with private plumbing inside homes.
In response, Sonny Moroz, interim mayor of Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, issued a statement expressing solidarity with affected residents. He urged tenants to notify landlords of frozen or broken pipes and to contact 311 if no action is taken. Moroz also highlighted that citizens can access sanitary facilities at the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Sports Centre and Trenholme Sports Centre for showers and toilets.
Broader Implications and Historical Context
This incident underscores the vulnerability of urban infrastructure during extreme cold snaps. Taylor's reference to the 1998 ice storm serves as a poignant reminder of past failures and the need for robust emergency preparedness. As Montreal faces increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, residents and officials alike are calling for more preventive measures and efficient responses to safeguard communities.
The ongoing repairs by Hydro-Québec aim to enhance system reliability, but for now, many in N.D.G. are left navigating the challenges of frozen pipes and disrupted daily life, hoping for a swift and comprehensive resolution.
