The Township is committed to working to achieve our goals to promote awareness and improve safety. Below, you will find some helpful information to guide you through the winter season.
Winter maintenance in Champlain is essential to keeping our community safe and accessible during snowy and icy months. Our dedicated team works around the clock to clear roads, sidewalks, and public spaces, ensuring they remain safe for travel.
Whether you’re a resident or visitor, learn more about how we handle winter maintenance and what you can do to help keep our community safe.
Resident Responsibilities
Mailbox Winter Maintenance
Tips to Prevent the “Second Shovel”
Snow plows push snow into driveways when clearing roads, this is unavoidable. Clearing and piling snow to the right of your driveway gives it a place to go and can help reduce buildup at the end of your driveway.
It is prohibited by law to place or push snow or ice onto roads, sidewalks, bridges, or ditches, as per By-law 2001-29.
Keep Fire Hydrants Clear
Please keep fire hydrants clear of snow at all times. Residents are asked to clear snow within at least 1 metre (3 feet) around hydrants near their property, including a path from the road to the hydrant.
Your help ensures emergency crews can respond quickly and safely. In an emergency, quick access to hydrants is critical and can save valuable time.
Mailbox Winter Maintenance
During winter maintenance, snowplows and snow removal operations may cause damage to mailboxes located along municipal roads. Mailboxes are considered obstructions within the municipal right of way and are allowed as a convenience, since Canada Post does not deliver to private driveways in rural areas.
Residents are encouraged to place their mailboxes in the proper location and ensure they are securely constructed to minimize the risk of damage and avoid inconvenience.
Please Note
In accordance with By-law 2019-54, Schedule B, Section 4.2.4, the Township of Champlain and its contractors make reasonable efforts to avoid damaging mailboxes. However, the Township does not replace, repair, reinstall, or reimburse the cost of damaged mailboxes under any circumstances.
- Slow Operations: Snowplows travel 40 to 55 km/h and may spread salt or sand.
- No Shoulder Passing: Do not pass on the shoulder side.
- Blind Spots: If you can’t see the driver in the mirror, they can’t see you.
- Keep Distance: Stay at least 4 car lengths back. Pass only when the plow pulls over.
- Obstacles: Parked cars are one of the biggest obstacles for snowplow operators.
