Victoria is known for its glistening waterfront and long summer days B次元官网网址� certainly not the few days a year that itB次元官网网址檚 dusted in snow.
Few residents are well-equipped for such weather, so hereB次元官网网址檚 a breakdown of how the City of Victoria manages snowfall.
The City has a Severe Weather Response Plan detailing snow removal operations in Victoria. The guideB次元官网网址檚 first priority is to keep main arteries clear for emergency services, ensuring access to hospitals, fire stations and police headquarters and downtown wheelchair ramps.
The planB次元官网网址檚 second priority is removing snow from senior care facilities, community centres and homeless shelters, in addition to transit stops and the front of downtown buildings.
The final priority is residential roads, parking lots, sidewalks and bicycle lanes.
According to the CityB次元官网网址檚 Streets and Traffic Bylaw, business owners and residents must clear snow and create a pathway to their property by 10 a.m. each day.
This bylaw includes the owners of apartment, condominium and townhouse complexes. Those who donB次元官网网址檛 comply risk a $125 fine per day, which can be issued up to six months after an offence has occurred.
With over 450 kilometres of sidewalks in Victoria, the City claims it would be too costly for taxpayer-funded removal of snow from all sidewalks.
Forecasts call for a chance of flurries and/or rain on Friday, slightly warmer Saturday and Sunday and a chance of flurries Monday and Tuesday evenings.
