Two Foothills communities are on a quest to find angels to come to the rescue of residents unable to keep up with this winter’s snowfall.
The Towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley are working together to create a snow angels program that matches shovel-wielding volunteers with residents unable to clear their sidewalks and walkways of snow.
“We’ve thought about it for a couple of years, but it’s really become an issue this year with the heavy snowfall,” said Suzan Nagel, Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) coordinator in Black Diamond. “We actually had calls for people looking for volunteer show angels. I think this is the first time we’ve actually had calls.”
Nagel said the Town received about half a dozen calls around Christmas time, prompting her to put a request out for snow angels on social media and in the Western Wheel.
So far, none have stepped forward.
“The only response we’ve had is from people calling in and saying, ‘Oh yes, I would love to have a snow angel,’” she said. “I’ve been telling people we are advertising to attract volunteers, but we don’t have any yet. My next step is going to be calling the churches and see if they’ve got any contacts and putting up posters.”
Residents in Black Diamond and Turner Valley are required to clear snow off their sidewalks within 24 hours of a snowfall, or they could face a fine of $50 in Black Diamond or $100 to $200 in Turner Valley, or be charged a fee to have the sidewalk cleared.
Nagel said there are some people in the community who are already helping out neighbours and friends.
“I’ve had plenty of conversations with people doing their neighbours’ (sidewalks) or someone they know,” she said. “I know that is happening in the community. We are grateful for that. It shows that volunteer spirit in our community.”
There are still a number of residents who need a hand who aren’t on anyone’s radar, said Nagel, and that’s where the snow angels program will come in.
“We want to get people aware that there are people who need help and to go ahead and take that initiative,” she said. “It’s good to get people thinking about it.”
Nagel said the abundance of snow so far this winter has been tough for a lot of people, particular seniors.
“When people see somebody hasn’t shoveled their walk they may assume they are lazy,” she said. “A lot of times there’s a reason for it. They have a bad back or they are sick.”
Nagel is working with FCSS coordinator Monique LeBlanc in Turner Valley to create a snow angels program.
LeBlanc, who has also been advertising for snow angels, said the Town has regularly encouraged residents to help their friends and neighbours who are physically unable to remove snow from their sidewalks.
The formalized program will reach out to those who haven’t been getting help by collecting a list of volunteer to match with those residents in need of help, she said.
“We do receive, from time to time, general inquires but it appears that there isn’t a huge demand and that there are several snow angels that have been covering where needed,” she said. “However we also would like to encourage service organizations or churches to help where they can and that anyone interested in becoming a part of the program can contact Sue Nagel or me. There may be more out there that need it than what we realized.”
LeBlanc said the Towns are currently working on the details of how the program will operate and hope it evolves into a formalized program by next winter.
“There are several steps involved to ensure safety of the residents and that will likely include criminal background checks,” she said. “It does take some time before all of that lines up. If the results are favourable, it would roll out as a program by next winter.”
LeBlanc said warnings to remove snow from sidewalks and walkways were issued to 50 residents last year and that everyone complied on the same day, resulting in zero tickets.
“Municipal enforcement staff provide residents every opportunity to comply within a reasonable amount of time,” she said.
Black Diamond peace officer Devon Bartek said officers usually post a door hanger as a reminder on those residences that haven’t cleared snow and that tickets aren’t often written.
If you are interested in becoming a snow angel in Black Diamond contact Suzan Nagel at 403-933-4348 or to help someone in Turner Valley contact Monique LeBlanc at 403-933-6206.
