Snowbusters program is about showing spirit of Regina, says Mayor Fougere
As the Snowbusters program clears out until next year, Mayor Michael Fougere is happy with how it went.
“It was close to par (with previous years),” Fougere said.
The program, which ran from Jan. 24 to March 14, encouraged residents to help their neighbours by shovelling walks and sidewalks. The program has been going for several years, and while it did not run in 2016 due to the lack of snow, 2015 was a very successful year for it. Snowbusters aims to help those who are unable to shovel their walks and driveways, including seniors and individuals with limited mobility. Around Regina, the city set up shovels which residents could use to clear snow in their neighbourhoods.
“Last time, we had 305 nominations or stories we received, and this year we had 234,” Fougere said. “We have 83 individuals who will be entered into the draw for the snowblower.”
Fougere stated the program itself is about more than just shovelling walks; it’s about showing the spirit of Regina.
“It is about helping our neighbours and that is the message I want to talk about all the time,” he said.
“We are a caring city, and we care about our city. We care about our residents, our friends and our neighbours. We help out when we can.”
In speaking with residents anecdotally, Fougere also found that many people supported the program and the message behind it.
“I talked to people and they said they appreciated it, and it was nice to recognize someone who helped them clean their driveway or sidewalk off,” he said. “A lot of anecdotal comments about liking and thinking it is a good idea.”