A significant storm hit Timmins and nearby areas in northern Ontario over a week ago, and the cleanup efforts are still ongoing. Timmins city council was informed on Tuesday that it may take several weeks to clear all the roads completely. The chief administrative officer, Dave Landers, mentioned that the city is facing a prolonged cleanup process that could last for at least another month due to the recent extreme weather conditions. The declaration of a significant weather event by public works remains in effect, with a forecast of an additional 10 centimeters of snow the following week.
The city was blanketed with 15 cm of snow on December 27, followed by a massive 60 cm snowfall on December 29, coupled with high winds and frigid temperatures. City crews and residents have been diligently working to clear the snow. All available contractors were mobilized, and the city issued a call for more assistance. Efforts are focused on clearing school zones and aiming to have them ready by the next week. As a result, school buses have not been operating in Timmins this week.
Despite challenges in clearing snow from all parts of the city, the neighborhood of Schumacher faced particularly severe conditions, requiring a specialized approach. Municipal parking lots in the downtown area have been cleared, while work continues on clearing on-street parking spaces.
Councilor Andrew Marks praised the community spirit displayed during the crisis, emphasizing how residents united to support each other. Councilor Bill Gvozdanovic highlighted the importance of learning from this storm to better prepare for future emergencies, emphasizing the need to document and implement successful strategies for reference in similar situations.
