EDMONTON – Maxwell Kates tends to get a little emotional about the snow angels who show up to shovel his walks, something he hasn’t been able to do himself for many years.
The angels from Crestwood Elementary-Junior High School showed up for the first time during reading week last winter.
Kates, 93, who lives across the street from the west Edmonton school, had been invited to read to Karen Chorney’s Grade 7 class. Instead, she asked him to tell the students about life when he was their age.
Shortly after he got home, his door bell rang, and there stood five students holding shovels.
"These boys have offered to shovel your walk for the winter to thank you for coming to the school," Kates said he was told.
"Sorry, but I get very emotional because it was such a wonderful thing for these young people to do," he said.
The students shovelled his walks last winter before school and during lunch hour. They continue to shovel for him this winter. Inspired by the five angels, others at Crestwood took up their shovels, and there are now 75 students who shovel walks for seniors living around the school. Several have volunteered to shovel walks during the Christmas break if needed.
On Wednesday, Mayor Stephen Mandel recognized the Crestwood students with a special Snow Angels certificate.
"As snow angels, these students have set a wonderful example of generosity and helpfulness for all citizens to follow," he said. "They have shown that we can make a big difference in seniors’ lives just by helping them shovel snow. I hope their story inspires other Edmontonians to become snow angels this winter."
Every year, the city receives hundreds of calls from seniors in need of help shovelling snow.
Three years ago, the city started the Snow Angels program to recognize those who volunteer to shovel. The program has recognized about 700 snow angels who were nominated by the seniors they helped.
Under a city bylaw, residents must remove snow and ice their sidewalks within 48 hours of a snowfall or risk a $100 fine. In some cases, the city will clear the sidewalk and bill the property owner.
Brenda Wong, seniors co-ordinator with community services, said the city program does not match seniors up with volunteers. But there are four seniors organizations in Edmonton that do.
floyie@thejournal.canwest.com———
WHERE TO CALL
Seniors who need help with snow removal or people who want to volunteer can contact the following organizations:
– -Seniors Association of Greater Edmonton, 780-701-9011
– -Seniors Caring About Seniors (south side), 780-465-0311
– -Lifestyle Helping Hands Seniors Association (southwest), 780-450-2113
– -Westend Seniors Activity Centre, 780-483-1209
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