No one really likes winter. It’s cold, dark, and seems to drag on for like 10 months of the year. And to add insult to injury, we’re forced to clean up the piles and piles of junk (read: snow) that mother nature so carelessly leaves behind. Let’s go over why it needs to be cleared, and why you shouldn’t be doing it yourself:
Bylaws
The City of Calgary requires residents to remove snow and ice – down to the bare surface – from public sidewalks bordering their private property within 24 hours of a snowfall ending. Owners of rental properties are responsible for arranging for snow and ice removal when they reside elsewhere. You must remove a minimum width of 1.5 meters of snow and ice from a public pathway bordering your property, also within 24 hours of a snowfall ending.
If a property own fails to clear the snow, they’ll receive an invoice from The City for clearing the sidewalk on their behalf. The cost is a minimum flat rate of $150 plus GST and an administration fee. The amount will be added to your annual property tax if not paid by the invoice due date. Additionally, a fine of $250 to the property occupant for a first offence. Repeat offenders may be fined $500 for a second offence and $750 for a third offence and each offence that follows within a 12-month period. Tickets issued to repeat offenders may require a court appearance.
Injuries
There are numerous articles titled like “Snow Shovelling Can Kill”, and other seemingly humorous titles, but the proof is in the pudding when it comes to the shockingly large number of deaths related to snow shovelling in Canada. The colder weather restricts blood vessels and raises the heart rate and blood pressure, leading to a high risk of heart attacks. Additionally, strained backs, scratched eyes from flying ice and snow during shovelling, and a risk of fracturing wrists, ankles, hips, as well as concussions from accidentally slipping and falling on ice are all common winter injuries in Canada.
Some places in Canada record one snow removal-caused heart attack per day, and that number increases to three (3!) per day after a heavy snowfall or snowstorm. In 2018, Calgary saw an average of 150 people PER DAY heading to the emergency room after slipping on ice. These numbers can be significantly lowered with proper snow and ice removal.
If you’re not keen on doing your own snow removal, contact us and we’ll take care of it for you! Our monthly contracts are a heck of a lot cheaper than the fines you’ll be getting from the City of Calgary for not clearing your walkways.
Give us a call at 403-543-3999 or email us at info@peterhugheslandscape.ca for a no-obligation quote on your snow removal needs.