After a severe storm hit Timmins and neighboring areas in northern Ontario over a week ago, cleanup efforts are still ongoing. Timmins city council was informed on Tuesday that it may take several weeks to clear all the streets completely.
Dave Landers, the chief administrative officer, mentioned that the cleanup process might extend for at least another month due to the extent of the storm. Public works declared the storm a significant weather event, with ongoing preparations for more snowfall expected. Despite hoping for the best, the city is bracing for additional challenges.
The city was blanketed with 15 cm of snow on Dec. 27, followed by a massive 60 cm snowfall on Dec. 29, accompanied by strong winds and severe cold. Since then, city crews and residents have been diligently working to remove the snow. The city mobilized all available contractors and issued a call for more assistance.
Efforts are focused on clearing school zones by the following week, with school buses not operating this week. While progress has been made in clearing municipal parking lots downtown, work is ongoing to clear on-street parking spaces.
One neighborhood that faced significant challenges was Schumacher, requiring a specialized approach due to the heavy snowfall. Residents’ patience and cooperation were greatly appreciated during the cleanup process.
City councillor Andrew Marks highlighted the community’s unity and support during the emergency, emphasizing how residents came together to assist each other. Councillor Bill Gvozdanovic stressed the importance of learning from this storm to better prepare for potential future emergencies. The council aims to document lessons learned and strategies employed for future reference and implementation.
Overall, Timmins residents have shown resilience and solidarity in the face of this challenging situation, with ongoing efforts to restore normalcy across the city.