The noise from mid-December’s strong winds and heavy rains was enough to wake Alan and Jill Hamilton from their sleep.
“I was awoken by some loud crashing sounds and jumped up out of bed,” said Alan. “The sky was lit up from transformers blowing.”
After checking on the animals in the barn at his family farm, Alan realized several large trees had fallen across 248 Street near 50 Avenue, a busy route used by commuters and first responders.
Even though it was early morning, around 1:20 a.m., he decided he had to take action.
“I knew the Township of Langley would be busy with the storm,” he said. “So I decided to jump on my tractor, grab a chainsaw, and head off down the road.”
Alan, a driver with Marno Trucking, used his John Deere tractor to clear six fallen trees blocking the roadway.
A passerby stopped to help by holding a flashlight so Alan could see while cutting and moving debris.
By around 3 a.m., the road was open again, allowing neighbours headed to work, children on their way to school, early-morning traffic, and potential emergency vehicles to pass through safely.
“After I finished pushing all the trees off the road, I headed back to the farm and jumped in my work truck,” he said. “I went to work.”
Jill later shared the story on a community Facebook page, thanking her husband for stepping in when the road was impassable.
“This is just what my husband does,” Jill told the Aldergrove Star, adding that people who live on farms are used to helping out when something needs to be done.
Alan agrees, saying the response to the post caught him off guard.
“I was shocked to see the response,” he said. “So many people saying thank you for clearing the way so the kids could get to school and parents to work. And for that, I say thank you.”
He credits the long-standing culture of neighbourly support in the area, sharing examples of neighbours helping clear snow, looking out for elderly residents, and stepping in when animals escape.
“This is a community, and this is what we do for our neighbours,” Alan said. “I never do this for any accolades. I just know that one day when I need help, my neighbour will lend a hand.”
As development continues to change the landscape surrounding Aldergrove, the Hamiltons hopes that sense of responsibility to one another remains.
“The community is what it is because of the neighbourly support and helping out when needed,” Alan added.