Hello neighbours! With November just around the corner, now is a great time to get your home and driveway ready for winter. Here's a quick guide to how snow clearing works in Leduc and Beaumont, what homeowners are asked to do, and a few local updates worth knowing this week.

How does snow clearing work in Leduc?

The City of Leduc maintains more than 540 lane kilometres of roads and 90 kilometres of sidewalks and trails. During a major snowfall, crews first clear one pathway down the middle of every street for emergency access. Snow removal then follows a priority order, according to the City of Leduc:

• Downtown commercial: after about 5 cm of compacted snow

• Remaining downtown area and collector roads: after 7 to 10 cm of compacted snow

• Residential streets: after 15 cm of compacted snow

When a parking ban is declared, the City posts the collector and residential schedule on its Snow Removal page. Vehicles must be off your street by 5:30 a.m. on your scheduled day, or they may be tagged and towed. Schedules can change with the weather, so it's worth checking the page when snow is in the forecast.

How does Beaumont decide which roads get cleared first?

Beaumont's crews work around the clock once snowfall reaches 5 cm or drifting becomes significant. Priority goes to the busiest roads, like 50 Street and 50 Avenue, followed by collector roads and then residential roads. The City of Beaumont offers an interactive snow and ice map where you can enter your address to see your priority level and estimated clearing schedule.

Parking bans in Beaumont work like this:

• Temporary parking ban signs are posted 48 hours before clearing begins.

• Bans start at midnight on the date shown on the sign.

• Vehicles left on the road during a ban face a $250 fine and may be relocated or towed.

What are Beaumont homeowners asked to do this winter?

The City of Beaumont calls snow clearing a shared responsibility. Here's the short list:

• Remove large curbside items by the end of October, such as hockey or basketball nets, driveway ramps, planters and bins.

• Clear sidewalks within 48 hours of a snowfall. Free rock chips for traction are available at the Beaumont Community Centre.

• Shovel snow onto your own property only, never onto the street or a neighbour's yard.

• Keep a 1.5 metre (5 foot) area clear around fire hydrants on or near your property.

• Clean all snow and ice off your car before driving.

What's changing in Leduc this week?

• Ambulance service, Thursday, Oct. 30: Ambulance service in Leduc will be provided by Emergency Health Services (EHS) Alberta instead of the City. The City of Leduc says ambulance service is not leaving Leduc: keep calling 911 in an emergency, EHS has committed to keeping two 24-hour Advanced Life Support ambulances based in Leduc, and Council will keep Advanced Life Support care on Leduc fire engines for at least the next 12 months.

• New Open Data Portal: The City has launched an Open Data Portal with searchable datasets on storm, water and sanitary utilities, infrastructure and environmental data. It's a handy resource if you're curious about community growth and infrastructure.

Why is Beaumont's growth in the news?

CBC News reported on Oct. 26 that Beaumont, one of the fastest-growing municipalities in the country, now has a population of about 26,000 and has tripled in size since 2001. The story looks at how that growth is affecting the cost of local retail space, including the Community Circle Thrift Centre, which has its last day on Oct. 27. Growth brings new neighbours, amenities and opportunities, and it's great to see the community talking about how to keep space for local non-profits too.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Leduc start removing snow from residential streets?
After about 15 cm of compacted snow. Downtown commercial areas come first, after about 5 cm.

What time do I need to move my car during a Leduc parking ban?
By 5:30 a.m. on your scheduled removal day, or it may be tagged and towed.

How much is the fine for parking during a Beaumont parking ban?
$250, and the vehicle may be relocated or towed. Signs are posted 48 hours before clearing begins.

Is ambulance service leaving Leduc?
No. Starting Oct. 30, EHS Alberta provides the service, and residents should continue to call 911 in an emergency.

Stay Warm Out There!

A little prep now makes the first big snowfall much easier. Here's to a safe and cozy winter in Leduc and Beaumont.

Keith Lopushinsky, REALTOR®, RE/MAX Real Estate

Questions about buying or selling in Leduc or Beaumont? Reach out to Keith Lopushinsky, RE/MAX Real Estate.