Mississauga: Get ahead of the snow by shovelling early and often

Thestar.com
February 28, 2019
Jack Lakey

It may seem like more work to shovel twice, instead of waiting until the snowstorm is over to do it. But it’s actually less.

A shovelful of light, fluffy powder is a lot easier to heft onto a snow bank than when the snow is packed down and heavier -- a good reason why two rounds of shovelling amounts to less huffing and puffing than one.

And with so much snow to shovel since early January -- and no end in sight, at least for a few weeks -- any suggestions that can make the work even a bit easier is good advice.

We got an email Tuesday from Jamal Robinson, a communicator with the City of Mississauga, with ideas on how to be a good neighbour during this wintry weather, along with ways to reduce the heavy lifting.

It seemed to us that it would have been better sent a couple weeks ago. But that was before we heard we were about to be pounded by another 15-20 centimetres of snow.

So pay attention, folks. The Mississauga tip sheet is filled with good advice.

• Shovel early and often: Shovelling periodically during a storm can make heavy snowfall or accumulation easier to clear. Prevent an icy stoop by shovelling it right after a storm, before the snow melts and turns to ice.

• Watch the temperature: Clear snow from your sidewalk and property before temperatures drop, to avoid shovelling icy buildup. Be mindful of wet surfaces where snow has melted in milder weather that may refreeze when temperatures drop overnight.

• Avoid an icy driveway: After snow is removed from your walkway, sidewalk and driveway, check to see if de-icing is necessary. Use salt wisely to reduce environmental impact. Follow manufacturer instructions to apply the right amount, under the right conditions.

• Park vehicles in your driveway: After clearing it of snow, move vehicles off the street and back into the driveway to give city plows enough space to work more safely and efficiently.

• Be a good neighbour: You can help keep your community safe by clearing your sidewalk of ice and snow as soon as possible after a snowfall. You can also offer to help your neighbours, especially older adults and people with disabilities, by offering to shovel their walkway, sidewalk and driveway.

To learn more about Mississauga’s snow clearing operations, visit Mississauga.ca/snow.