Coquitlam needs snow angels. Live ones, not the kind kids are creating like crazy this week by lying in the white stuff and frenetically swishing their arms and legs.
The city-run Snow Angels program connects volunteers to people who can’t clear their sidewalks due to a physical disability or restriction, or age. But city spokesperson Kathleen Vincent said this week there’s been more demand than there have been volunteers come forward.
“We’re hoping to get more volunteers,” said Vincent. “The underlying message is while we have the program and we encourage volunteers there’s also being a good neighbour. If you have a neighbour that you know has challenges be a good neighbour and go out and shovel their walk.”
While the city has bylaws requiring residents to keep their walks clear, as of Tuesday afternoon only five complaints had been received “and to the best of my knowledge we haven’t ticketed anybody,” said Vincent.
Details on the Snow Angels program are available at coquitlam.ca/snowangels.
Vincent added one of the challenges the city is seeing is shovelling snow onto the street. Vincent said it should be deposited on the property and not on the road because it makes it unsafe for the street and plows may come along and put the snow back on the sidewalk.
Public works manager Brad Lofgren said in an email to The Tri-City News, Wednesday’s break in the weather systems has allowed crews, who have been working 24 hours a day since Sunday afternoon, to start clearing garbage collection routes and local roads.
“We will continue to work through the night tonight to deal with upcoming icing concerns and then there is another round of snow expected starting on Thursday afternoon,” said Lofgren. “We will be working [Thursday] to pre-salt our Priority 1 routes in anticipation of the afternoon rush, and then deal with the event as it unfolds.”
Lofgren said the city has used approximately 1,200 tons of salt since Sunday and more is being trucked in.
