While skiers delight in the abundant snowfall blanketing the Bow Valley this winter, many residents of Canmore are finding their daily travel considerably hampered by the same snow. Hélène Richard, a local resident, expressed her astonishment at the persistent accumulation of snow on certain residential streets, weeks after the significant snowfall during the Christmas season. “Driving around my neighborhood has become quite stressful,” she remarked.
Just recently, Richard faced a frustrating situation when she parked her Honda Civic on a side street, only to discover later that her car was stuck in the snow. After an exhausting attempt to dig it out herself, she managed to flag down a passing vehicle, and with the help of three men, she was able to free her car from its snowy trap. Even as of last Friday, she noted that she continued to experience difficulties navigating the roads, recalling, "As I drove to a friend's house, I could hear the snow crunching beneath my car—it was almost like I wasn’t even clearing it out at all."
Richard acknowledges that residing in a mountain town comes with its challenges, but she believes that such conditions should not make it so arduous to run basic errands, like grocery shopping.
Data from Environment Canada reveals that total precipitation for December in the Canmore area soared to 69.4 millimeters this year, a stark contrast to just 6.9 millimeters recorded in December of the previous year. Over the past five years, the monthly totals have varied between approximately 20 and 52 millimeters.
The excessive snowfall has also resulted in several reports of vehicles, including school buses, becoming stuck. For instance, a school bus serving École Notre-Dame des Monts encountered difficulty last Tuesday while on its morning route, leaving students waiting until they could switch to a replacement bus to reach their school.
Andreas Comeau, who oversees public works in Canmore, explained that the unusual weather presented unique challenges for snow removal efforts. He noted that the steady snowfall over the Christmas period initially compacted due to heavy vehicle traffic, complicating the plowing process. "We had to make multiple passes on nearly every road because of how the snow behaved under the tires of cars," Comeau stated.
A week after the initial snow fell, temperatures increased, transforming the snow into a soggy, mashed potato-like consistency, which is ultimately what caused the bus to get stuck in the slush, according to Comeau. Additionally, some neighborhoods present extra challenges due to their road design and limited space for storing plowed snow. In these areas, crews must remove the snow entirely rather than simply pushing it to the sides of the road.
Following a surge in complaints from residents last week, the town released a public advisory detailing its snow removal strategy. Comeau indicated that crews are now transitioning from snow plowing to complete snow removal in regions where there is insufficient storage for the snow. According to updates from the town, work is scheduled in the Peaks of Grassi neighborhood on January 12 and 13, followed by Cougar Creek Drive on January 14.
Comeau empathized with the frustrations experienced by residents and urged them to remain patient as crews work diligently to address the most problematic areas. "These conditions have proven to be more challenging than we typically encounter," he acknowledged. "We are committed to ensuring the roads are safe for everyone."
Michelle McCann is a dedicated reporter with CBC Bow Valley. She can be reached via email at michelle.mccann@cbc.ca.
