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A residential street, sidewalks, and surrounding buildings are covered in snow. A man walks down a snow-covered sidewalk. To his left is a bus shelter and a bench which are also covered in snow. One person stands in the bus shelter. In the bottom right-hand corner of the image, there is a yellow banner overlay with the text “SnoWay!”

"SnoWay" Snow Removal Campaign

Winter weather can mean treacherous travel conditions for millions of pedestrians across Canada, especially for children, seniors, people with strollers and persons with disabilities. Snow and ice-covered sidewalks, crossings and transit routes increase the risk of slip-and-fall accidents for pedestrians and pose serious safety and mobility risks for people who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision.
Two people from behind walk down a snowy pathway. One elderly person uses a walking cane and holds onto the elbow of their companion. In the centre of the image, there is a yellow banner overlay with the text “SnoWay!”

Snow removal is an accessibility issue, a mobility issue, and a human rights issue. When municipalities, businesses, snow removal contractors, and homeowners fail to clear snow and ice effectively, people with sight loss cannot safely navigate the built environment in their communities and access public transit, undermining their independence and ability to carry out their daily activities.

Help make your community accessible for everyone all year round!

Sidewalks, crossings, and transit stops are critical and necessary infrastructure for pedestrians and must be safe, accessible, and usable to all – regardless of the season. 

Navigating your community after it snows shouldn’t be an obstacle course. Municipalities, businesses, snow removal contractors, and homeowners have a duty to clear pedestrian pathways of snow and ice within 48 hours following significant snowfall (or sooner if mandated by your municipality) and refrain from depositing snow pile obstructions back onto sidewalks or walkways. This includes residential and public sidewalks in front of homes, private properties, and businesses.

Moreover, municipalities should prioritize pedestrian areas for clearance, especially along public transit routes. Transit stops and shelters must be fully cleared so they are easily identifiable and accessible. At intersections with pedestrian push-buttons like Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS), sidewalks surrounding the area must be fully cleared of snow and ice so pedestrians can access and activate push-buttons.  

Get involved and advocate for better snow removal in your region.

Canadians who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision need to be able to leave their homes confidently, safely, and spontaneously, knowing they can get where they need to go and will be able to find assistance if they encounter an issue.

A pedestrian crosswalk is covered in snow and obstructing both the path of travel and a pole that houses the pedestrian crossing push-button. In the bottom right-hand corner of the image, there is a yellow banner overlay with the text “SnoWay!”

As part of CNIB's commitment to Safe and Accessible Journeys under our 2023-2028 strategic plan, “The Way Forward,” we’re launching an advocacy campaign to educate municipalities and the general public about the environmental barriers snow and ice-covered sidewalks create and remind them of their responsibility to clear snow and ice from paths of travel. 

The "SnoWay” snow removal campaign runs from January 15 to March 31, 2024.  

As part of the campaign, CNIB will continue to advocate for municipalities to review their snow clearing policies and practices, including budgetary decisions. We’re also asking community members to get involved by: 

  1. Talking to your friends, family, neighbours, and local businesses about their snow removal practices – remind them of their responsibility to clear snow and ice from public paths of travel. 
  2. Speaking out and filing a complaint with your municipality. If you encounter a sidewalk, pathway or transit stop that hasn’t been properly cleared of snow 48 hours after a significant snowfall (or sooner if mandated by your municipality), report it by submitting a complaint (online or by phone). Many municipalities have a centralized 311 number or equivalent service, allowing residents to easily report issues and submit a service request.
  3. Participating in our #SnoWay contest by sharing a photo highlighting a poorly cleared sidewalk, crosswalk, or transit stop. Document the challenges posed by pathways blanketed in snow and ice by emailing advocacy@cnib.ca or posting about it on social media, tagging CNIB and using the hashtag #SnoWay. Each submission should include an image description with details about the snow barrier and location (e.g., the bus stop at the intersection of Bank Street and Queen Street). Bonus – submissions will be automatically entered in a draw for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card!

A residential street, sidewalks, and parked cars are covered in snow. A man walks down a snow-covered sidewalk.In the bottom left-hand corner of the image, there is a yellow banner overlay with the text “SnoWay!”

 

Your participation in the SnoWay campaign will contribute to important ongoing discussions about the impacts of improper snow removal practices for people who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision. We hope you’ll get involved and share your experiences – because everyone should be able to travel safely and independently, regardless of the season.