The City of Ottawa has released an advisory prepping residents for the snowy season that will soon be upon us. In addition to safety tips for pedestrians, reminding residents to step out of the way of snowplows and sidewalk plows when their lights are flashing blue, signalling that they are hard at work clearing the streets and sidewalks, the city is reminding drivers to stay three car lengths back and to never pass a snowplow.
The city advises parents to ensure their children play well away from the roadway, as plow operators may not always be able to see them. It is recommended that children build snow forts in the backyard instead.
But it’s not all about safety and rules. To brighten the dark winter of winter, the city has initiated the ‘Name the Plow’ campaign, targeting children and youth under 16 years of age. The city has 24 ploughs, one for each of the 24 wards and is looking to choose 24 names for their hard-working plows.
The naming contest provides parents with a chance to discuss plow safety with their children, like how large the trucks are, the enormous blind spots for drivers seated high in the cab, and the fact that each truck can weigh as much as four elephants!
Between now and Wednesday, September 30, take the opportunity to discuss snowplow safety—be it at the dinner table, on an OC Transpo bus, or while walking home from school. Engage your kid’s creativity to coin some memorable names for Ottawa’s unsung winter heroes: the snowplows.
Use this link to submit your ideas to the ‘Name the Plow’ campaign. The city will vote on the names during the week of October 14-21, and the winning names will be announced on Thursday, October 24.
Photo: Philip Rozenski
