How to Prepare for Winter in Alberta
Useful Resources
- Snow Removal
- As tenants or property owners, you must follow snow shoveling policies and bylaws. These policies are different by city in Alberta.
- Generally, homeowners or tenants must remove snow from sidewalks 1 or 2 days after it snows. Failure to do so could result in a fine.
- Policies for Homeowners/Tenants in Alberta (By location)
- Airdrie: https://www.airdrie.ca/index.cfm?serviceID=382
- Beaumont: https://www.beaumont.ab.ca/DocumentCenter/View/104/Snow-Removal-PDF
- Brooks: https://www.brooks.ca/555/Snow-Removal
- Calgary: https://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/ABS/Pages/Bylaws-by-topic/Snow-ice.aspx
- Camrose: https://camrose.civicweb.net/filepro/document/1070/Snow%20Removal%20Bylaw%202371_03.pdf
- Chestermere: https://www.chestermere.ca/DocumentCenter/View/29/Snow-Removal-Bylaw?bidId=
- Cold Lake: https://coldlake.civicweb.net/document/4096
- Edmonton: https://www.edmonton.ca/transportation/on_your_streets/sidewalk-snow-removal.aspx
- Lethbridge: https://www.lethbridge.ca/City-Government/Bylaws/Documents/4865%20-%20Snow%20Removal%20Bylaw.pdf
- Red Deer: https://reddeer.ca/city-services/roads/snow-and-ice-program/how-it-works/sidewalk-and-trail-clearing/
- Winter Weather in Alberta:
- It is important to always check the weather forecast right before leaving home.
- Some common websites used to check the weather in Alberta:
- Environment Canada: https://weather.gc.ca/canada_e.html
- The Weather Network: https://www.theweathernetwork.com/ca
- Accuweather: https://www.accuweather.com/en/ca/ab/alberta-weather
- Winter Weather
- In the coldest months of the year (January and February), daytime temperatures are between -5 to -15°C and can drop to as low as -30 to -40°C for short periods of time.
- Don’t be surprised to see snowfalls as early as September or go until as late as June.
- Some common websites used to check the weather in Alberta:
- Winter Clothing in Alberta
- Finding affordable winter clothing.
- Purchase winter clothes off season. The best time to look around is in or after December. Pay close attention to sales in stores or online.
- Shop for second-hand winter items in thrift stores such:
- Goodwill: https://www.goodwill.ab.ca/
- Salvation Army: https://thriftstore.ca/
- Value Village: https://stores.savers.com/ab/
- Women in Need Society: https://www.womeninneed.net/shop/
- Free programs or services available to low-income Albertans:
- General Resource List: http://alignab.ca/family-resource/clothes-household-free-discounted/
- Coats for Kids: http://www.coatsforkidsandfamilies.ca/
- Project Warmth: https://www.projectwarmth.ca
- Dressing in Layers
- Long underwear, legging, or pull-over – Fits tight to your body
- Thick socks – Wear under your boots to keep your toes warm
- Insulator, such as a “puffy” jacket or snow pants – Filled with real or synthetic materials to keep you warm for outdoor activities in the winter.
- Shell – A wind-proof and water-proof coat, usually with a hood.
- Toque – Heat escapes quickest through your head so make sure to cover up your head in a toque.
- Earmuffs – Covers your ears for warmth.
- Scarf – Warm and thick scarf makes a difference, especially on windy days.
- Gloves or mittens – Keeps your fingers warm.
- Waterproof and slip-resistant winter boots – Keeps your feet dry and keeps you from slipping on ice.
- Transportation in Winter
- Some common websites/apps used to plan your route.
- Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/landing/transit/index.html
- Banff Roam: https://roamtransit.com/track-your-bus/
- Calgary: https://www.calgarytransit.com/
- Edmonton: https://www.edmonton.ca/edmonton-transit-system-ets.aspx
- Lethbridge: https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/getting-around/Transit/Pages/RoutesSchedules.aspx
- Medicine Hat Transit App:
https://www.medicinehat.ca/government/departments/community-development/medicine-hat-transit - Red Deer: https://www.reddeer.ca/city-services/transit/
- Winter driving
- Refer to the checklist below for items for your vehicle emergency kit: Checklist – Vehicle Emergency Kit
- Driving safely in Winter
- Keep a snow brush and/or an ice scraper in your car.
- Slow down if there are ice and snow on roads. Posted speed limits are for ideal road conditions only. Winter roads are NOT ideal.
- When driving on slippery roads, know how your braking system reacts on ice and allow yourself more time to stop.
- Be aware of snow route parking bans. Parking can be temporarily banned on snow routes for up to 72 hours after a snowfall.
- Check snow route maps to see where you can park after a snowfall:
- Calgary: https://maps.calgary.ca/SnowRouteParkingBans/
- Edmonton: https://www.edmonton.ca/transportation/on_your_streets/seasonal-parking-ban.aspx
- Lethbridge: https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/getting-around/Streets-and-Roads/Pages/Snow-Routes.aspx
- Red Deer: https://www.reddeer.ca/city-services/roads/snow-and-ice-program/check-the-schedule/snow-plowing-schedule-and-map/
- Check Current Highway Conditions:
- Alberta 511: https://511.alberta.ca/
- AMA Road Reports: https://roadreports.ama.ab.ca/
- The Weather Network: https://www.theweathernetwork.com/roads-and-travel/highway-condition/list
- Some common websites/apps used to plan your route.
Vocabulary List
Black ice – A thin layer of clear ice on roads that is considered dangerous because it is often very hard to see and can be slippery.
Block heater – A device used in the engine of a vehicle during cold weather to prevent the engine from freezing.
Celsius – The scale of temperature in which water freezes at 0 degrees and boils at 100 degrees. The symbol for Celsius is “°C”
Destination – The place that someone is going to, the end point of a journey.
Emergency kit – A set of supplies kept in a vehicle for emergency, such as jumper cables, blankets, flash lights, and warm clothes.
Engine – The “heart” of a vehicle that changes gas into force that turns the wheels.
Frostbite – Injury caused by freezing of skin in extreme cold temperatures, usually affects the fingers, toes, nose, ears, and cheeks.
Hypothermia – When your body loses heat too fast causing dangerously low body temperature.
Jumper cables – Electric cables used to start a car when the engine is dead. Use jumper cables to connect the dead battery of a car to the battery of another car.
Layers – Multiple pieces of clothing worn on top of one and another to keep warm.
Plug in your car – Plugging in your car using the block heater makes your engine run more smoothly in extremely cold days.
Route – The path you take to get from a starting point to a destination.
Shovel – A tool used for removing snow from the ground.
Sledding – A winter activity of sliding downhill over snow on a sled.
Slippery – A surface that is difficult to stand or walk on because it is wet or smooth.
Snow pants – Waterproof pants often worn over indoor clothes, for outdoor winter activities.
Temperature – A measure of how hot or cold something is.
Toque – A winter hat to keep your head warm.
Winterize – To prepare a house or car for use in cold weather.
Winter activities – Fun activities that are played on snow or ice during winter months.
Winter tires – Tires designed for use on ice and snow at temperatures below 7 °C.
Knowledge Check
Results
#1. In Alberta, how much time does a tenant/homeowner have after a snowfall to clear the snow from their sidewalk?
#2. Which of the following items are suitable for winter weather?
#3. Which of the following statement is correct about day time temperatures during winter in Alberta?
#4. What is an important step to winterize your vehicle?
#5. During winter, roads and sidewalks may be covered in black ice. This means you:
Acknowledgements and References
Acknowledgements of Actors:
Ali A., Baran F., Kanako H.E., Akram Z.
Special thanks to Elisa, Justin and the team at Maple Leaf Academy for assistance in content development.