Cambridge snow shovelling assistance program proving very successful

In the City of Cambridge, the bylaw states property owners have 36 hours following the end of snowfall to clear sidewalks, or they face fines.

This bylaw is what caught the attention of Cambridge Ward 7 Councillor Scott Hamilton who, back in 2020, had a conversation with an elderly constituent who complained that he was being fined but couldn’t physically shovel himself.

Hamilton brought the issue to city council which then created a program through Community Support Connections, that allows seniors or anyone who cannot physically shovel to connect with a “snow buddy,” a part-time city worker who would come out and do the shovelling.

The program has proven so successful it was expanded to now serve 50 qualified residents and the wait-list is growing.

Hamilton, while speaking to The Mike Farwell Show said an unexpected result of the program has been the creation of several full-time jobs.

“City staff said, why don’t we take these part-time seasonal positions, that we’re experiencing a lot of attrition with, you spend a lot of time training people, searching, going through interviews. Let’s take these six positions, make them full-time and that way we’ll be able to address not only shovelling walkways but we’ll do garbage. We’ll do trails. We’ll do garden maintenance.”

Hamilton said that given the success, it would be prudent to see if there is a possibility for expansion.

“So, we’re going to take a good hard look at it. Because, we want to make sure taxpayer dollars are put towards a very good reason. For me as a city councillor, there is no better reason to use tax dollars than to help residents who truly need it.”

Hamilton was asked if he would support the city taking on clearing sidewalks for everyone in residential neighbourhoods.

He said that idea has bounced around council for several years and given the expense it would entail, he would not support it.