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As a person with a disability who uses a small scooter, I have been very impressed at the level of snow clearance in Collingwood.
I moved here three years ago after living and working in Toronto for fifty years. Toronto could learn from Collingwood the right way to deal with snow clearance!
However, previous winters cannot compare with the winter of 2024/25.
A huge challenge for me, and I am sure anyone else using a mobility device or stroller, the snow being left at edge of roads at curb level after daily clearance.
1. I cannot see the curb cut due to pile of snow.
2. I cannot manoeuvre my scooter over a pile of snow left at the curb edges.
3. I cannot reach the button for walk signal due to the pile of snow being left under the signal box.
This weekend, when I attempted to cross at the intersection of Ste Marie and Hume I got stuck in a pile of snow at the edge of the road. I want to sincerely thank the driver who pulled over and pushed me into the open road to get across. It was a very scary experience.
Please ensure that curb cuts are cleared and left exposed before a nasty accident occurs.
Please stop piling snow under push-button devices that control walk feature so that the button can be accessed by a person with a disability like myself who is unable to walk or stand or a young mother pushing a stroller who cannot reach the buttons.
Jenny Gilker
Collingwood, Ont.
