EDMONTON – The City of Edmonton has launched its Snow Angels program which encourages residents to help shovel snow for a senior or people with disabilities.
The city started the program after citing a need to create a safer city by removing ice and snow from sidewalks as soon as possible after a snowfall.
“We do need people to realize and just recognize that they can volunteer and just step forward on their own. You see somebody down the street who’s struggling, you know somebody’s not well, just go and help them out by shovelling,” says Sharon Chapman, Snow Angels program manager.
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A city bylaw gives residents 48 hours to clear their sidewalks after a snowfall, and homeowners cannot let snow or ice accumulate on their sidewalks during continuous snowfalls for several days.
The program also encourages those that receive help to acknowledge their volunteer as a City of Edmonton Snow Angel.
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When a volunteer is nominated, they receive recognition by Mayor Don Iveson and are entered to win prizes.
“It’s important that citizens realize that the city can’t do it alone, that there are people that need help, so we want people who have been helped in the community to recognize those people,” says Chapman.
Volunteers can be nominated on the City of Edmonton website.
The city is also encouraging students to get involved in the program by offering a pizza party to the first 10 classrooms who volunteer to shovel snow in their neighbourhoods.
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