New snow-clearing plan in Mississauga earns provincial innovation award

The city’s new winter maintenance plan that clears walls of hard-packed snow — or windrows — from the bottom of all residential driveways in Mississauga has earned a provincial award.

For the first time, City of Mississauga snowplow crews this past winter removed the troublesome snowy messes from the driveways of all homes as part of regular seasonal maintenance services.

Windrows are the difficult-to-move piles of hard-packed snow and sometimes ice left at the end of driveways after the streets are plowed. They’ve been a contentious issue in Mississauga the past few years as residents have pushed city council to deliver a winter plan to keep their driveways accessible.

The new initiative, which also saw maintenance crews clear snow from all residential sidewalks during the winter, was recognized this week 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 this week.

The OPWA also recognized Helen Noehammer, director of works operations and maintenance, 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, the city said in a news release.

Helen Noehammer, the city’s director of works operations and maintenance, received a provincial award this week.

Sam Rogers, Mississauga’s commissioner of transportation and works, noted the recognition “reflects the hard work, planning and teamwork behind our winter operations.”

He added staff “delivered new services during a very challenging winter, improving safety, access and quality of life for residents.”

Rogers also gave a nod to Noehammer “for her leadership and long-standing commitment to building a stronger, more resilient city.”

Noehammer said the award she received “reflects the dedication, resiliency and innovative thinking of our staff. It shows our commitment to improving how we provide residents with the services they need, even in challenging conditions. By working together and continuing to learn and adapt, we’re making a real difference in how people move around the city and access the services they rely on.”

Windrows cleared from 134,000 driveways

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 this past 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, 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 (this past 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 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.

This past winter, Mississauga joined several other Greater Toronto Area municipalities 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.