In Calgary, all commercial and residential property owners are responsible for clearing snow and ice from the sidewalks bordering properties within 24 hours of a snowfall ending. Failing to do so results in unsafe access points where injuries such as slips and falls can easily happen, which ends up costing all citizens.
The Canadian Underwriter reports that there were nearly 9,000 hospitalizations due to falls on ice in Canada in 2016/17, making them the number-one cause of winter injuries. Slipping on ice can cause injuries ranging from cuts and bruises to sprains, strains, broken bones, concussions and brain injuries. This places a lot of additional pressure on health-care systems, which are already overwhelmed, and results in missed work, expensive physiotherapy, and long recovery times. Health complications can often run into the long term and be life altering.
A total of 1,860 people in Alberta were hospitalized after falling on ice in 2017/18, according to the data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information. The cost of a standard hospital stay in this province is $7,983, so by multiplying that by the number of hospitalizations, the result is approximately $15 million for one year alone. That number does not even include others who were treated for their injuries at their doctor’s office or at a walk-in clinic.
It’s clear that an investment in snow removal benefits everyone. Winter is difficult enough without consistently having to worry about clearing your pathways, driveways, and parking lots. Snow removal is one of our specialties at Mirage Landscaping, and we’ve been keeping businesses and families safe throughout Calgary winters for three generations. As we live and are based in Calgary’s southeast, and have a long history in the area, we centralize our services in places we know and love the best. We proudly serve the communities of:
Auburn Bay, Chaparral, Chaparral Valley, Copperfield, Cranston, Douglasdale, Heritage Pointe, Lake Bonavista, Mahogany, McKenzie Lake, Mackenzie Towne, Maple Ridge, New Brighton, Odgen/Lynwood/Millican, Parkland, Riverbend, Sundance, Walden, and Willow Park.
Fines for failing to remove your snow and ice
As an effort to recoup the costs associated with injuries and recovery time, plus the strains put on municipal systems, City of Calgary bylaws allow for property owners to be fined for a lack of snow removal.
If you fail to clear your property, you will receive a warning from the City of Calgary. If you still don’t shovel, the City will clear your property for you and you will receive an invoice for $150. You may also be fined for failure to comply, starting at $250 for your first offence, $500 for a second offense, and $750 for each and every offense after that within a 12-month period. Tickets issued to repeat offenders may require a court appearance, and Alberta Registry Services will collect unpaid fines at the time of license or registration renewal.
If you own a rental property that you do not live at, be aware that you are still responsible for clearing its sidewalks and pathways for the public and your tenants. Many rental property owners offer their tenants a discount on their rent for taking care of the property.
Snow removal also stops thieves
Contracted snow removal provides peace of mind when you head out for your annual winter vacation. It’s one thing to ask the neighbour to keep an eye on your house while you are away in Mexico, but quite another to ask them to go out to clear your walks after a snowstorm. Uncleared walks are not only going to attract city bylaw enforcement personnel, they are a dead giveaway to burglars that your home is likely uninhabited at the moment.
Hiring Mirage Landscaping is a solid move to assist you with year-round theft prevention. In the winter, we remove snow faster than you would be able to get to it yourself. During the rest of the year, we also make your house look constantly cared for. A regularly trimmed yard and landscaping maintained so as to not create any privacy havens for thieves go a long way towards keeping your home from being “cased” as a potential target.
Think of us for the spring, too
In addition to snow removal services, Mirage Landscaping provides complete landscape maintenance services and landscape construction services. We offer full guarantees of our work and are very proud of what we do. View our portfolio to see what we can do, and contact us for a free quote.