Feb 26 - Let's Talk About Life in the Snow Belt + Local News Headlines

Plus: Watch the video recording of the final all candidates event for BGOS MPP contenders in the current election.

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With no sidewalk plowing for approx. 6 days, pedestrians unable to navigate over the banks and into shin-deep packed snow were forced to walk in lanes of traffic at one of Owen Sound’s busiest intersections last week.

Provincial election campaigns are still in full swing, and we’ll get back to that under Local News. First, another pressing topic has been taking over coffee shops and neighbourhood chats since the snow stopped falling last Tuesday: what’s going on with the City’s snow removal procedures?

OPINION

While acknowledging the incredibly hard work of frontline outdoors workers, it is plain to see that snow removal has not been as smooth or timely recently as it was in years past.

We’re told it’s been an exceptional year. However, the City had about 30cm or one foot of snow more than average for this time of year by last Tuesday. This is the snowbelt; major snow events are to be expected. It’s not the public’s imagination that school routes and main sidewalks were typically cleared as a matter of priority in years past, and that does not seem to have happened this year.

As students were dismissed from St. Mary’s High School and nearby Alexandra elementary school last Thursday, a full 36 hours after the snowfall stopped, they had no clear crosswalks across 16th St E — not at 6th Ave, 7th, 8th, or 9th Avenues.

6th Ave E and 16th St E crosswalk on Thursday, February 20, at 3:00 p.m.

9th Avenue East, a major pedestrian route to schools, pharmacies, and grocery stores, had no sidewalk on either side for several days after the snow subsided.

16th St East, also a main pedestrian route, was impassable for anyone with mobility issues, a walker, a stroller — or bum knees, like yours truly — from Monday until the sidewalk plow was dispatched the following Sunday (six days later).

16th St East

We’ve repeatedly heard rumblings of a work-to-rule type labour action wherein outside workers would not take overtime hours due to stalled contract talks with the City. However, we asked the City Manager about this and he says it is “simply not true” and “another false narrative being shared.”

Even so, this editor cannot recall a time in the past when the City has closed downtown streets for snow removal during business hours for several days versus having it done at night. It does seem, on a number of fronts, that things are not operating as usual.

We know that the City’s snow removal policies changed over a decade ago, when we switched from common sense “as needed” prioritization to adopting the province’s minimum maintenance standards. Why Owen Sound — a city with twice the average Ontario snowfall — ever adopted the provincial minimum standards is unclear.

At the time, we were told we would trial it for one winter, review feedback, and discuss it before making any long-term decisions.

Except, as with so many issues, we didn’t. Public feedback remained for staff and council’s eyes only. There was no public or in-council discussion of the issue that I can recall… and here we are, in 2025, wondering why we can’t get dug out even four or five days after a snowfall.

City staff and Operations Committee members, including the Deputy Mayor, discussed how snow removal is prioritized at their most recent meeting. While all involved acknowledge the conditions were difficult, many — including the letter writer below — are looking for assurances that this isn’t our new normal.

It seems to me, at least, that if we continue to follow the provincial minimums, we’ll continue running into situations where we don’t get to those Class 4 or 5 streets in time to clear them before the next snow hits. And if sidewalks come after roads, well… they just don’t get done. We got lucky the past few winters with little snow, but are seeing this policy's impact now. Last week was just a particularly egregious example.

It is absolutely possible — in any issue or situation — for all involved to have the best intentions and work as hard as possible, yet still not get an optimal outcome. That’s when we have to ask:

How can we do better?

It’s not a judgment, attack, or condemnation. Looking for ways to improve should be automatic; a best practice. It should be as impersonal and routine as asking about the weather.

“Well, that didn’t go so well. How can we do better?”

The community is an essential party in that discussion, and we need to have these conversations on many fronts. Snow removal is as good a place to start as any.

On that note, Brittany Dawson submitted this letter late in the day Tuesday after she shared it with the Mayor and city officials on Monday and did not receive an acknowledgment or reply.

Public Notices

• Excess snow removal downtown will continue with rolling road closures through today and tomorrow. See more.

• The Good Cheer Rink at Harrison Park closed Monday due to unseasonably warm weather and sunny conditions. Learn more.

Local News

Keep reading for local events, our original reporting, and curated local news updates. Today, you’ll find video from Monday night’s All Candidates Meeting at the Harmony Centre, a report on the cancellation of most Grey Transit Routes, a preview of tonight’s rescheduled Attack game, and more.

If you can’t see the info below, you’re missing out. (Nope, it doesn’t all appear on the website.) Upgrade your subscription for full access.

~ Miranda Miller, Editor