Snow & Ice Service Review

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Consultation has concluded

Council directed staff prior to the 2022/2023 snow season to present a review of the City's Snow and Ice Control Service Levels.

The purpose is to provide information to assist Council in considering service level adjustments for the 2022-23 snow season.

As part of the review, the City is seeking feedback from residents on the current snow and ice service levels and to identify which services are most important to you.


Share your feedback with us by exploring the tools below, which include:

  • A survey that takes approximately 10-15 minutes
  • A questions space to ask administration questions about snow and ice services
  • A Balancing Act tool to adjust the budget of different snow removal services
  • A public town hall - details below
  • Two virtual focus groups - details below


Public Town Hall

A public town hall will take place July 14 at Teresa Sargent Hall in the Montrose Cultural Centre.

Share your feedback on the current snow and ice services with City Council and staff through various engagement activities. Anyone who attends will be entered in to win a grand prize!

The town hall will also include a brief presentation on the current snow and ice services the City provides. Stop by during any of the times below to share your feedback:

  • 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. (formal presentations at 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.)
  • 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (formal presentations at 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.)


Virtual Focus Groups

Update: The virtual focus groups are now full due to popular demand. Thank you to everyone who expressed their interest. 

We're recruiting residents to participate in focus groups and share in-depth thoughts and perspectives on snow and ice services. Each participant will receive a $50 honorarium for their time and participation.

Below are the dates and times for both groups:

Focus Group 1:

  • Date: July 12, 2022
  • Time: 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Focus Group 2:

  • Date: July 13, 2022
  • Time: 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.


The focus groups will be done virtually via Zoom. If you are interested in joining, please email engagement@cityofgp.com


Balancing Act

Use our Balancing Act tool to learn more about the City’s operating budget and submit your own balanced City budget to help shape decision making for Budget 2023.

Click on the "Snow Removal" category to let us know your thoughts on whether to maintain the current snow and ice service level or to increase that service level.

Try out the tool here.


Background Information

Policy 606 - Current Standards and Practices

  • Policy 606 identifies priorities, service standards and procedures that the Transportation and Parks department operationalizes during the winter season.
  • A Snow and Ice Control Policy Update was completed in 2020 and was previously reviewed in 2014, 2010 and 2005.
  • The City’s service standards for snow and ice control are determined by Council.
  • Service levels are reviewed annually by Administration to identify areas for improvement and a summary report is prepared for Council at the end of each winter season.

Past Engagement Results

  • The City’s Budget 2021 – What We Heard Report saw 17% wished to see the budget increase or decrease by 5%, and 65% wished to maintain the current funding levels.
  • In 2020, Snow and Ice Control ranked among the top ten out of 30 resident ranked services that were most valued.
  • The 2020 Citizen Satisfaction Survey showed 98% of residents rated snow and ice removal as somewhat or very important for service importance.
  • In 2019, the City's "Did You Know: All About Snow & Ice Control" online survey saw 53% of residents wished to see the City's snow and ice budget increased, while 41% wanted to see it maintained.

Council directed staff prior to the 2022/2023 snow season to present a review of the City's Snow and Ice Control Service Levels.

The purpose is to provide information to assist Council in considering service level adjustments for the 2022-23 snow season.

As part of the review, the City is seeking feedback from residents on the current snow and ice service levels and to identify which services are most important to you.


Share your feedback with us by exploring the tools below, which include:

  • A survey that takes approximately 10-15 minutes
  • A questions space to ask administration questions about snow and ice services
  • A Balancing Act tool to adjust the budget of different snow removal services
  • A public town hall - details below
  • Two virtual focus groups - details below


Public Town Hall

A public town hall will take place July 14 at Teresa Sargent Hall in the Montrose Cultural Centre.

Share your feedback on the current snow and ice services with City Council and staff through various engagement activities. Anyone who attends will be entered in to win a grand prize!

The town hall will also include a brief presentation on the current snow and ice services the City provides. Stop by during any of the times below to share your feedback:

  • 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. (formal presentations at 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.)
  • 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (formal presentations at 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.)


Virtual Focus Groups

Update: The virtual focus groups are now full due to popular demand. Thank you to everyone who expressed their interest. 

We're recruiting residents to participate in focus groups and share in-depth thoughts and perspectives on snow and ice services. Each participant will receive a $50 honorarium for their time and participation.

Below are the dates and times for both groups:

Focus Group 1:

  • Date: July 12, 2022
  • Time: 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Focus Group 2:

  • Date: July 13, 2022
  • Time: 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.


The focus groups will be done virtually via Zoom. If you are interested in joining, please email engagement@cityofgp.com


Balancing Act

Use our Balancing Act tool to learn more about the City’s operating budget and submit your own balanced City budget to help shape decision making for Budget 2023.

Click on the "Snow Removal" category to let us know your thoughts on whether to maintain the current snow and ice service level or to increase that service level.

Try out the tool here.


Background Information

Policy 606 - Current Standards and Practices

  • Policy 606 identifies priorities, service standards and procedures that the Transportation and Parks department operationalizes during the winter season.
  • A Snow and Ice Control Policy Update was completed in 2020 and was previously reviewed in 2014, 2010 and 2005.
  • The City’s service standards for snow and ice control are determined by Council.
  • Service levels are reviewed annually by Administration to identify areas for improvement and a summary report is prepared for Council at the end of each winter season.

Past Engagement Results

  • The City’s Budget 2021 – What We Heard Report saw 17% wished to see the budget increase or decrease by 5%, and 65% wished to maintain the current funding levels.
  • In 2020, Snow and Ice Control ranked among the top ten out of 30 resident ranked services that were most valued.
  • The 2020 Citizen Satisfaction Survey showed 98% of residents rated snow and ice removal as somewhat or very important for service importance.
  • In 2019, the City's "Did You Know: All About Snow & Ice Control" online survey saw 53% of residents wished to see the City's snow and ice budget increased, while 41% wanted to see it maintained.
Consultation has concluded

Use this section to ask any snow and ice related questions you may have. City Administration will review and follow-up to all posted questions.  

Please note, questions may be responded to publicly or privately, depending on the scope and sensitivity of the question.

  • Share Why is the snow and ice piled on both sides of the street instead of in the middle and then taken away? on Facebook Share Why is the snow and ice piled on both sides of the street instead of in the middle and then taken away? on Twitter Share Why is the snow and ice piled on both sides of the street instead of in the middle and then taken away? on Linkedin Email Why is the snow and ice piled on both sides of the street instead of in the middle and then taken away? link

    Why is the snow and ice piled on both sides of the street instead of in the middle and then taken away?

    Lizzy asked over 2 years ago

    Hauling all the snow from our residential areas would be extremely costly and slow. Our practice of storing snow in residential areas is if there is one sidewalk, all the snow goes to the side without the sidewalk. If there are sidewalks on both sides, then snow is stored on the side of the road or if there is a boulevard between the curb and sidewalk, it may be stored on that.

  • Share Why did they windrow all the snow on to our side walks so we couldn’t get over to the cars parked on the street. The snow could of been picked up and taken away on 82 avenue. I couldn’t get my mother to her car because of the wind row on the side walk. on Facebook Share Why did they windrow all the snow on to our side walks so we couldn’t get over to the cars parked on the street. The snow could of been picked up and taken away on 82 avenue. I couldn’t get my mother to her car because of the wind row on the side walk. on Twitter Share Why did they windrow all the snow on to our side walks so we couldn’t get over to the cars parked on the street. The snow could of been picked up and taken away on 82 avenue. I couldn’t get my mother to her car because of the wind row on the side walk. on Linkedin Email Why did they windrow all the snow on to our side walks so we couldn’t get over to the cars parked on the street. The snow could of been picked up and taken away on 82 avenue. I couldn’t get my mother to her car because of the wind row on the side walk. link

    Why did they windrow all the snow on to our side walks so we couldn’t get over to the cars parked on the street. The snow could of been picked up and taken away on 82 avenue. I couldn’t get my mother to her car because of the wind row on the side walk.

    SS asked over 2 years ago

    Our intention when we plow our residential areas is not to plow the snow onto sidewalks. If this does happen please call 311 and staff will attempt to remedy the situation. Our practice currently is not to haul snow away from residential areas and depending on if there is one sidewalk (all the snow goes to the side without the sidewalk) or sidewalks on both sides (snow is stored on the side of the road or if there is a boulevard between the curb and sidewalk, it may be stored on that).