With a dusting of snow a reminder on snow clearance responsibilities, both for the City and property owners

Heading down the Hill from the city centre to Cow Bay

With an overnight snowfall sending Rupertities to their shovels and brushes early this morning, the city's own snow removal program went into motion, with Sanding and plow trucks out early to clear the main roadways and ensure that the city's many hills were easy to navigate.

And wth the first real test for 2021 behind them, but with more snow on the way by weeks end, residents may find it of some interest as to how the City's Operations Department approaches snow removal. 

With the City's battle plan as it is, available on the city website as part of their Snow and Ice Control Policy page which was renewed on December 9th, of 2019.

The Road Priorities look as follows:

Also, the city prioritizes the city's sidewalks that it has responsibility for, which looks as follows:

Two different areas of downtown following this mornings snow

Property owners also have their own responsibilities, with a clean up of the snow and ice required by Noon of the day, with non-compliance making those responsible subject to invoicing by the city for any work that will be required to clear the area of concern.

The full policy can be reviewed.

Normally, upon the first snowfall the city provides a reminder to the sidewalk policies through their social media stream, or mobile app program. but so far today, the usual tap on the shoulder hasn't come yet.

For the most part however, it didn't seem required today, with most sidewalks in the downtown area clear and passable near those properties that are currently occupied at least.

Today made for a good practice round for all, with the Current Arctic Outflow Warning offering the prospect of more snow for the weekend as the deep freeze of the next few days will slowly give way.

For more notes on the City's Operations  see our Council Discussion page.

For notes on some of the weather challenges we see explore our archive page here.