What happens it snows in Ladysmith?

The Town’s goal is to provide safe conditions for emergency responders, motorists as well as pedestrians.

Our crews maintain over 65 kilometres of roads and lanes and we strive to have all roads passable within 48 hours once the snowfall or weather event has ended.

Snow plowing and ice control in Ladysmith is organized into three types of priority routes to ensure the safety of emergency vehicles and the public.

  • First Priority Routes – These roads receive attention first and are maintained continuously until conditions improve. Only then are resources shifted to lower-priority routes.

  • Second Priority Routes – These areas are cleared once first priority routes are in safe condition, provided resources are available.

  • Third Priority Routes – These are the last to be cleared and are addressed once both first and second priority routes are under control.

If conditions worsen on any first priority route, resources will be redirected back to those areas as needed.

FIRST PRIORITY
  • Emergency routes (Symonds Street, Roberts Street, 1st Avenue, 4th Avenue, Davis Road, Dogwood Drive, Chemainus Road)
  • RCMP detachment, Ladysmith Fire Hall, Community Health Centre access
  • School zones
  • Town water and wastewater facilities
SECOND PRIORITY
  • Hills (Buller Street, High Street, Methuen Street)
  • Commercial core (1st Avenue streets and sidewalks)
  • Main collector roads (2nd Avenue, 3rd Avenue, Colonia Drive, Malone Road)
THIRD PRIORITY
  • Residential roads
  • Cul-de-sacs
  • Alleyways

Addressing road priorities may be balanced against efficiency of operation resulting in some lower priority roads or hills being treated because they are in the vicinity of high priority routes. In the event of an emergency, resources may be diverted to a non-priority road to allow access.

When possible, residents are asked not to park on the roads, to allow room for plows. Town operators will not lift plow blades to avoid driveways nor send crews afterward to clear driveways or sidewalks.

View Priority Routes Map.

View Priority Sidewalks Map.

SIDEWALKS & PARKING LOTS

It is the responsibility of property owners to clear snow from sidewalks fronting or adjacent to their properties by 10:00 am following a snowfall as per “Town of Ladysmith Streets and Traffic Bylaw 1998, No. 1309”.  Shoveling your sidewalks will help to ensure the safety of your fellow citizens.  And, if your neighbor needs help, please be a snow angel for them.

The Town will clear sidewalks and parking lots adjacent to Town-owned buildings and property, as well as sidewalks along 1st Avenue Avenue in the downtown core. This work will be scheduled to coincide with morning, daytime, and evening pedestrian use and not on a 24-hour basis. While the Town places sidewalks as a priority, resources may not be available for sidewalks and parking lots until adequate resources have been directed to the control of snow and ice on first priority roads.

CATCH BASINS

Clearing catch basins that are plugged with snow will help make a big difference in alleviating localized flooding as temperatures warm after a snowfall.

Residents are responsible for keeping the catch basins in front of their homes clear to prevent water from pooling on the streets.

FIRE HYDRANTS

After a snowfall, help us, help you, by clearing out the snow around fire hydrants and don’t pile up snow around them.

There must be a 1 metre (3 feet) of clearance around the hydrant and clear the path to the street.

PRIVATE PROPERTY & STRATAS

Snow and ice control will not be conducted on private property, including strata developments, unless it is necessary to access Town infrastructure. Exceptions may be made if an emergency request is made for access by police, fire or ambulance.

Snow removed from private property must not be stored or taken to Town-owned land or roads.

Frequently Asked Questions

Snow doesn’t happen often in Ladysmith, but when it does, it can be challenging.

To make things a bit easier, we’ve put together a helpful Q&A.

Why does the plow push the snow into my driveway?

Shovelling snow is hard work and it is understandable that you may be frustrated when the plow driver deposits snow into your freshly shovelled area.

Operators are aware of the inconvenience and attempt to avoid the problem wherever possible. However, please keep in mind that the plow is fixed and can't be turned, lifted or stopped at each driveway as it passes.

A great way to reduce the amount of snow that is pushed into your driveway is to pile the snow you've shovelled on the right side of the driveway (as you are looking at the driveway from your house).

Do I have to clear the sidewalk bordering my property?

Yes. Snow must be removed from sidewalks by 10:00 am following the snowfall by the home owner, commercial property owner or the occupier.

Does the Town Tow Vehicles During Snowfalls?

During snowfalls, the Town may tow vehicles to keep streets clear, especially for emergency access. To check if your vehicle has been towed, contact Public Works at 250-245-6445.

To avoid being towed, residents should park their vehicles in driveways or on their own property.

Residents are also asked remove any basketball hoops, road hockey nets, or skateboard ramps to keep roadways clear for Town crews.