Plowing overnight is safe and efficient with little road traffic and no cars parked on the streets. It’s important that residents adhere to the winter parking ban to assist our Public Works Department in keeping our roads clear and safe.
It’s the dreaded wing roll and no one enjoys having to clear it, but our graders clear streets from the center of the street to the curb pushing right to effectively clear intersections and roadways. The roadside is designed for snow storage, and this means leaving snow across private driveways, walkways and lawns.
The Town has a robust snow removal program and prioritizes streets based on volume of traffic, school zones and more. Snow removal efforts may be temporarily halted due to weather events, as keeping roadways clear and accessible is always our top priority. Scraping our roads is a key element of our snow clearing program and helps to minimize dangerous road conditions during spring thaw. This process typically results in larger snow banks, especially on corner lots. These snow banks will be trucked to our snow dumps as promptly as possible after scraping is completed.
Snow storage can be a big challenge considering our average yearly snowfall is approximately 428.7 centimeters. With that amount of accumulated snow, it can be tricky to find enough space. The Town’s snow removal program is designed to keep our roadways and roadsides clear and improve visibility on corners and intersections. Residents who wish to remove snow from their property can acquire a permit from the Town Hall to use the Legion Snow Dump. There are also a number of local contractors that will remove snow for a fee.
It is important to note that snow must never be placed onto the street. Moving snow from your driveway onto the street can create various safety hazards, obstruct pedestrian traffic, or obstruct the view of drivers. It is also illegal to push snow across a road or street onto the other side, these are all violations under the Highway Traffic Act. Even a small amount of snow left on a roadway can cause accessibility issues for some of our residents.
Where a sign which has the words “NO PARKING” or a symbol inscribed on it is erected, the driver of a vehicle shall not park the vehicle in the area to which the sign applies.
All school areas and emergency access roads are priority, then the main streets followed by the off streets.
The Public Works Department monitors visibility at intersections on a regular basis throughout the winter months so the snowbank can be reduced to improve the line of sight for motorists and pedestrians.
A ridge of snow left behind by snow clearing equipment.
Windrows, as a result of street clearing operations, will not be removed by the Town.
The Town do use all three types to provide a reasonable level of safety on the roadways. Depending on the temperature, determines which type of material that will be used. Salt is mixed with sand as well; this mixture allows the material, under reasonable conditions, to stick to the icy surfaces. Even though the streets are treated during slippery conditions, the duty of care is on the drivers.
No person shall deposit, throw, sweep, or place any accumulation of snow or ice on any street or any public parking lot within the limits of the Town.
Out of respect for your neighbour, you should not put snow on another person’s property without their permission.
The Fire Department is responsible to keep all fire hydrants clear from snow. The Town has many hydrants, it can take up to 1 week to have all hydrants shoveled after a significant snow fall. If a hydrant is located on your property, the Fire Department would appreciate your assistance in keeping snow away from the hydrant to expedite the process.
