City snowplow crews are preparing to once again clear heavy snowy messes — or windrows — from the driveways of all Mississauga homes as winter approaches.
The City of Mississauga’s winter maintenance teams for the first time ever last year cleared all residential driveways of the difficult-to-move piles of hard-packed snow and sometimes ice as part of regular seasonal maintenance services.
Windrows, left behind at the end of driveways after the streets have been plowed, were a contentious issue in Mississauga for several years before residents finally pushed city council hard enough to deliver a winter plan to keep their driveways accessible.
Helen Noehammer, director of works operations and maintenance for the City of Mississauga, told INSAUGA Canada this week the windrow-clearing service “was well received overall” by residents last winter.
“As with any new service,” she continued, “there were a few challenges, but we were able to address most of them through the course of the season.”
As the cold, snowy weather approaches in the coming weeks and months, Noehammer reminds Mississauga residents to do their part to ensure windrow clearing goes as smoothly as possible.
To allow snowplows easy access to driveways, residents must remove parked vehicles from the street when a citywide winter parking restriction is declared during periods of heavy snowfall, Noehammer said.
Parked vehicles left on the road, including those in 15-hour parking areas (new this year), may be subject to a fine of $150 or towing, she added.
“The city declares a citywide winter parking restriction when it needs to plow snow. Fewer parked cars on the road ensure crews can clear snow safely and efficiently,” said Noehammer.
She also noted that residents should keep the lower part of their driveways clear of parked cars, bins and other obstacles when it snows. Otherwise, the snowplows may be unable to clear the windrows.
Mississauga earned provincial award
Mississauga’s new winter maintenance plan that clears the windrows, in addition to other services, earned a provincial award earlier this year.
The new initiative, which also saw maintenance crews clear snow from all residential sidewalks last winter, was recognized in June with the Project of the Year Award in Management Innovation from the Ontario Public Works Association.
The award, presented to the city’s works operations and maintenance division for delivering the expanded winter service, was one of two received by the city.
The OPWA also recognized Noehammer as Top Public Works Leader of the Year.
Awards presented by the provincial association honour outstanding projects, programs and professionals across Ontario’s public works community.
Helen Noehammer, the city’s director of works operations and maintenance.
Under its new plan, the city said it cleared at least a three-metre-wide opening in 134,000 driveway windrows when roads were plowed last winter.
The enhanced service was especially welcomed by residents “during a winter of historic snowfall, including a storm that brought up to 55 centimetres of snow,” the city said earlier, adding the new services “made a difference for residents.”
In past years, city officials noted, “many residents were left with heavy piles of snow at the end of their driveways after their street was cleared. By clearing a space in residents’ windrows (last winter), it was easier and safer for residents to leave their homes to get to work, school and appointments.”
The new citywide initiative replaced the previous limited windrow-clearing service that was available for older adults and those with mobility challenges.
Council approved new snow-clearing plan in 2024
In November 2024, city council approved a plan to clear windrows from all homes in Mississauga starting the winter of 2025-26. A $224 increase on the 2025 residential property tax bill for the average homeowner included $21 per household for citywide windrow removal.
Secondary sidewalk snow clearing (at an additional $7 per household) and enhanced snow removal for bike lanes ($1) were also part of the city’s updated winter maintenance plan that went into effect last year.
Mississauga joined several other Greater Toronto Area municipalities last winter in providing windrow clearing to all residents. Toronto, Richmond Hill and Vaughan already offered the snow- and ice-clearing service.
The matter of windrows became a big issue during winter 2022-23 when several major storms left numbers of people in Mississauga trapped in their homes, unable to clear the heavy snow and ice themselves.
More windrow complaints than ever before
Mississauga councillors said at the time they fielded more windrow complaints from residents than ever before.
Windrows had also become a significant source of growing public frustration in recent years that hit new heights in early 2023, culminating in several isolated incidents in which angry residents attacked Mississauga snow plow drivers and their machines.
In response, city councillors at that time discussed adopting a Mississauga-wide program.
In May 2023, faced with a staff report that showed it would cost $11.6 million a year to run a citywide windrow-clearing service, council decided against the move at that time.
INSAUGA Canada’s Editorial Standards and Policies
Last 30 Days: 53,668 Votes
All Time: 1,599,821 Votes
1099 VOTES
Are you happy with the election results in your town or city?
Stay in the know.
Subscribe now to receive our daily email of today’s top stories in your city!