Winter Maintenance and Snow Removal

The Town held a snowplow naming contest in 2022 where residents were asked to submit names for the Town’s 14 snowplows. The list below are the final names that were chosen.

1. Betty Whiteout
2. Truck Norris
3. Ctrl Salt Delete
4. Clearopathra
5. Fast and Flurryous
6. Austin Plower
7. Plowy McPlowface
8. Scoop Dogg
9. The Big Leplowski
10. Darth Blader
11. Melton John
12. Blizzard of Oz
13. Gordie Plow
14. Snowbegone Kenobi 

In 2023, the Town held a sidewalk snowplow naming contest. The names below are the final ones chosen for the six sidewalk plows.

1. Taylor Drift
2. Luke Sidewalker
3. Lightning McClean
4. Plowabunga
5. Al Plowcino
6. Plowasaurus Rex

Follow their progress on the Operations Maintenance Tracker above.

Ensure your children do not play where snow is piled at the side of the road or in the middle of courts where snowplow operators may not see them.

The Town of Georgina has approximately 1,386 hydrants that need to be kept clear every time there is a snowfall. Residents are asked to assist by keeping fire hydrants on their properties clear of snow. Hydrants should have a clearing of one metre (three feet) all around and there should be a clear path to the street to ensure firefighters can readily access them. A hydrant can help save lives and property in your neighbourhood. If you see a hydrant that’s buried this winter, please do the neighbourly thing and dig it out. If you need assistance with hydrant snow removal, please call Service Georginaat 905-476-4301 ext. 3001.

Stormwater ponds are not meant for recreational activities. Learn more about Stormwater pond safety. 

Sod damage

Sidewalk plowing presents challenges throughout the winter as it is difficult to tell where the edge of the sidewalk is and when the ground is not frozen some sod damage may occur. Damage to Town sod, pavement and Town-owned trees will be repaired in the spring. The cost of both the sod and repairs is built into the Town's contract. To report sidewalk or boulevard plow damage, fill out this form or contact Service Georgina at 905-476-4301, ext. 3001 for assistance.

Mailbox damage

The Town of Georgina can replace mailboxes that are damaged by a Town snowplow on any Town road. However, if the mailbox has been damaged as a result of the weight of the snow against it, it may not be considered for replacement or reimbursement.

Residents are urged to purchase good-quality mailboxes and supporting posts that can withstand the winter elements. For specifications and additional information, check the Rural Mailbox Guidelines.

If your mailbox has been damaged by a Town snowplow, report it to the Town as soon as possible for investigation and potential replacement.

Note that damaged mailboxes will be replaced with a standard mailbox only.

Reporting mailbox damage

Contact Service Georgina at 905-476-4301, ext. 3001. Roads staff will investigate your claim and contact you with the outcome.

As per the Town’s Traffic and Parking Bylaw, parking is not permitted on most Town streets from 2 a.m. to 7 a.m., Nov. 15 to April 15. This ensures the Town can completely clear streets of snow.

During the day, unless the street is posted as “No Parking”, it is legal to park on the street for three consecutive hours.

If a winter maintenance vehicle comes across a parked car that is consistently a nuisance to snow clearing activities, the Town can request that it be ticketed, towed and/or in extreme cases, contact York Regional Police to assist.

Residents can assist by reporting parked vehicles to the Town so a ticket can be issued. 

To make waste and recycling pick up easy and efficient, residents are reminded of the following:

• Place items at the end of the driveway/curb so they are visible
• Do not place bins or garbage on top of or behind snow banks

Garbage and recycling

The Town devotes a great deal of resources to keep streets and sidewalks clear of snow and ice after a snowfall. Residents often deposit snow and ice from their property onto the street or sidewalk not realizing that this contravenes municipal by-laws and the Ontario Highway Traffic Act – section 181. It also contributes to unsafe driving and walking conditions, and increases the cost of providing winter road maintenance. When you're clearing snow from your driveway, keep the snow on your property.

Tip for clearing driveways: 
Piling snow to the right side of the driveway can help reduce the amount of snow pushed back into the driveway. 
Standing in the driveway and looking at the street determines the right side. 
Don’t forget to remove your parked car from the street during snow removal operations.

Tips

• Clear snow and ice away from catch basins and hydrants in front of your property.
• When clearing snow from parking lots do not push it into adjacent public land.
• During and immediately after a snowstorm, reduce your driving speed to account for slippery road conditions and snow clearing operations.
• During thaws, reduce your driving speed to avoid splashing pedestrians and prevent water from splashing onto the sidewalk where it will freeze into ice and become a hazard.
• Do not park any vehicles over the sidewalk. Even a partially blocked sidewalk prevents the plows from doing their job properly (Bylaw 2002-0046 (TR-1).
• Ensure that any structures are placed well back of the property line.

• Sidewalks are cleared by both Town and contractor crews
• The Town anticipates all sidewalks will be plowed at least once within 24 hours after a typical winter event. However, sidewalk equipment is typically deployed soon after the road equipment.
• The Town and its contractors use a variety of tools for sidewalk maintenance including five specialty sidewalk units, purpose built for sidewalk winter maintenance, including V-plows, snow blower attachments and material applicators.
• Sod damage caused by sidewalk plows is unfortunately inevitable during the early winter period, yet the Town and its contactors endeavour to avoid any sod damage. In the event you notice sod damage around your property, contact Service Georgina at 905-476-4301, ext. 3001 and log your damage.  During the spring clean up, upon a valid inspection by Town staff, crews will schedule the repair of damages.
• The Town’s service level for winter control on sidewalks is to maintain them to a snow-packed condition. Sidewalk plows/blowers are not capable of clearing snow and ice from sidewalks to the extent that bare concrete is exposed in all conditions.
• Snow and ice often bond to the concrete during extreme temperatures and ice can also form on snow-packed sidewalks during thaw/freeze cycles. Other factors, such as a buildup of residual ice and snow under wheel tracks, can cause the edge of the plow or blower to ride above the surface of the sidewalk. All affected areas are treated with sand for traction.

Residents are asked to keep vehicles parked at east 25cm away from each edge of the sidewalk to ensure the winter maintenance vehicle can pass safely. In the event a vehicle is blocking the sidewalk, crews are instructed to bypass the location.  Residents can contact the Town if a vehicle is preventing sidewalk maintenance in your area. 

The Town of Georgina has developed carefully planned service levels for winter road maintenance.

Primary roads within the routes were determined by emergency vehicle routes and fire stations, traffic volumes, transit routes, steep hills, common gathering locations, connectivity of road network, and staff knowledge on difficult maintenance areas. Once these priority roads have been cleared, secondary road segments within each route will follow.

Snowplows clear the Town's Highways of snow, and must store the snow as part of this process. Snow storage is typically to the right, on the boulevards. In some exceptions, wide corners and cul de sacs have snow storage within the roadway.

As a result of a significant winter storm, the Town of Georgina may declare a Winter Maintenance Event which requires all parked vehicles to be removed from Town roads immediately and be kept off for the duration of the event. Failure to do so may result in a ticket and fine being issued as per By-law 2002-0046 (TR-1). A Winter Maintenance Event can be declared from Nov. 15 of each year to April 15 of the following year, when the Town’s regular winter parking restrictions are in effect. It allows the Town to perform snow removal, sanding and salting operations efficiently and quickly. It also provides for safer road access for emergency vehicles.

Ontario Regulation 239/02, Minimum Maintenance Standards for Municipal Highways, allows municipalities to declare a significant weather event when a weather hazard, either forecast or occurring, has the potential to pose a significant danger to users of the roadways. This declaration extends the standard timelines required for municipalities to meet their winter maintenance objectives

The Town or Georgina monitors the weather conditions through various means and will declare a Significant Weather Event when Environment Canada has issued a weather alert or warning that affects road conditions, and the weather hazard has the potential to pose a significant danger to users of the roadway.

For more information in weather alerts and warnings visit the criteria for public weather alerts.

Notification

The Town of Georgina notifies the public and road users of a Significant Weather Event or a Winter Maintenance Event by:

1. By posting a notice on the Town’s website.
2. By making an announcement on a social media platforms
3. By sending a press release or similar communication to internet, newspaper, radio or television media.
4. By notification through York Regional Police.

York Region plows the major roads in the Town of Georgina such as Dalton Road, High Street, Ravenshoe Road and Baseline Road. This interactive map (in red) highlights all the regional roads in Georgina and York Region that are plowed by the region.
For more information, visit york.ca/roads.

The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario operates only one highway within Georgina. Highway 48 from Ravenshoe Road to Lakeridge Road is maintained by the MTO. If there is a concern with this road, contact their operations centre at 416-327-8373.

A snow windrow is the pile of snow at the end of the driveway created by the plows when they clear the road. Georgina’s Windrow Snow Clearing Program is available to residents of Georgina who require assistance in clearing their snow windrow and who meet the requirements below. Snow is not removed as part of this program.

Annually in parallel with the winter season, typically Nov. 15 - March 15

Households are eligible if each person over the age of 12 meets one of the following requirements:

• 65 years of age or older, or
• Under 65 years of age and have a formal doctor’s note or Functional Abilities Form (FAF) identifying they are unable to shovel snow
• Applicants must reapply every year to receive the service

You can expect to see service:

• After a minimum 7.5-centimetre (three-inch) snowfall event
• Within 24 hours after the snow plowing of roads and sidewalks are completed

Note: the service does not include clearing the snow from the private walkways to a residence, the driveway or the snow windrow left by the sidewalk plow.

During the winter, the Town maintains roads, sidewalks and Town-owned parking lots using staff and contractors. The types of equipment used are snowplows, tractors, loaders, graders and sidewalk plows. 

Priority is given to emergency vehicle routes, routes connecting fire stations, high-traffic urban sections and school zones. Once these areas are cleared, secondary roads and residential areas are addressed.

Winter operations begin based on local and provincial weather monitoring and winter patrols. Treatment times and deployment decisions are based on weather forecasts, road conditions and service levels. The Town of Georgina has developed carefully planned service levels for winter road maintenance. Primary roads within the routes have been determined by emergency vehicle routes and fire stations, traffic volumes, transit routes, steep hills, common gathering locations, connectivity of road network, and staff knowledge of difficult maintenance areas. Once these priority roads have been cleared, secondary road segments within each route will follow.

The Town utilizes weather forecast tools such as WSP Weather, Environment Canada and York Region RWIS stations to monitor forecasts up to a week in advance. Current weather conditions and information are monitored via patrol staff and data-enabled vehicles.

Residents can visit the Town's snowplow tracker to find the approximate location and status of a given area. If you have further concerns, you can contact Service Georgina at 905-476-4301 or info@georgina.ca.

Certain streets only see a plow up to 24 hours after a weather event has stopped. Allow time for that in non-emergency situations prior to reaching out to Town staff.  

Snowplow operations are made more difficult when vehicles are parked on the street. During a plowing event during the day, route completion times may increase due to this.  However, winter parking restrictions prohibit parking on any road from Nov. 15 to April 15 between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m. This allows the snowplows to clear the roads properly. 

Yes, the Town clears sidewalks. The Town anticipates all sidewalks will be plowed at least once within 24 hours after a typical winter event. However, sidewalk equipment is typically deployed soon after the road equipment. Certain sidewalks are signed as no winter maintenance. Sidewalks and paths with this signage are not maintained through the winter months.

Georgina offers a Windrow Snow Clearing Program for eligible residents, clearing the end of residential driveways after plowing. This program requires annual registration. 

This could occur during initial plowing efforts if vehicles are parked on one side of the road or if the primary focus is to ensure emergency access before completing both sides.

A plow might travel with its blades raised if it's repositioning to another route or treating challenging sections of routes, such as hills.  

The Town is responsible for maintaining all Town-owned paths and sidewalks. Homeowners can use plow markers to delineate sidewalk edges, however, the Town is not responsible for replacing these markers if they are damaged during winter operations. 

Don’t throw snow or ice on the road when clearing your driveway or sidewalk – it’s against the law (Highway Traffic Act), contributes to unsafe driving and walking conditions, and increases the cost of providing winter road maintenance. 

When fire hydrants are covered in snow, or hidden behind trees and shrubs, it can delay fire services, costing crucial seconds or minutes that can mean the difference between saving a structure and its inhabitants and not doing so. A fire hydrant requires approximately one metre of clear space around it. This clearance enables firefighters to connect hoses to the valve and operate the hydrant wrench effectively. The Town oversees the maintenance of more than 1,516 fire hydrants, ensuring they remain fully operational and ready for use by firefighters in the event of a fire.