Oil consumption, price adding strain on local legion

TRURO – If you’re feeling the crunch of heating your home this cold winter, you’re not alone. Some local organizations are in the same boat. “It’s killing us,” said Bill Crouse, treasurer of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 26 in Truro. “The price ( of oil) alone has been going up 10 per cent year- over- year. I haven’t gone back to do a comparable on our usage.” Crouse said the legion is trying to spend money on renovations to the building on Brunswick Street to have it become more efficient.

If you ask anyone, they’d say the same thing – it’s been a really difficult winter. Bill Crouse, treasurer, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 26, Truro

So that cost, offset by the price of oil, “it’s all just driving us nuts.” With numerous storms this winter, mainly on weekdays, Crouse said the winter has been cutting into their profits from events such as bingo and dinners. “But we haven’t reached a point where we have to cancel any events,” he said. “If you ask anyone, they’d say the same thing – it’s been a really difficult winter.” The legion, he said, is on an automatic oil delivery every 10 days. “We haven’t run out in those 10 days but I’m sure it’s been close at times.” Burning wood at his own house, Crouse said he has already started next year’s supply and has heard suppliers have been redelivering wood to customers who “wouldn’t normally run out.” At the Chignecto- Central Regional School Board, communications manager Debbie BuottMatheson said heating for the schools and offices comes out of one large pot in their budget. “We’re up three per cent, and that’s to the end of January, compared to last year,” she said. “And that is due to how darn cold it’s been. “It’s just like heating a house. When it is a really cold day, you turn the heat on. It started snowing in December and hasn’t stopped, and it started getting cold in December and hasn’t stopped.”