As we reach the middle of winter in Ontario, officials in Cambridge, Kitchener, and Guelph are reflecting on the season so far and hoping to enhance their winter maintenance efforts.
Over 200 cm of snow has fallen across Waterloo Region this season, resulting in a lot of work for road maintenance teams who are dealing with harsh weather and a shortage of road salt.
This winter started early, with significant snowfall recorded in early November. Due to all that snow, regional police have reported 4,600 accidents this season already, which is more than the 4,300 reported last winter.
In Cambridge, Councillor Helen Schwery mentioned that she’s been hearing from residents who believe that snow removal and salting efforts have not met expectations this season, creating serious public safety concerns.
In light of these concerns, Schwery plans to propose a motion at the council meeting later this month. She will seek clarification from staff regarding provincial minimum maintenance standards for winter operations, an overview of the challenges faced during this winter season, and options for improving current service levels so that residential roads can see better snow removal and salting.
This week in Guelph, Mayor Cam Guthrie suggested that the operations department look into service levels related to winter maintenance as part of their annual internal audit. This investigation would include recommendations for possible additional services and ways to promote community involvement.
Today #Guelph City Council committee met to discuss many items:
1. Guelph Chief Administrative Officer 2026 Objectives
2. 2026 Internal Audit Work-plan (yes, this one had to do with winter maintenance (snowplowing) as well)
3. Mayor and Council Compensation… pic. twitter. com/v LXb YKQsn3 – Mayor Cam Guthrie (@Cam Guthrie) February 3, 2026 Kitchener’s council is also scheduled to receive a report reviewing winter maintenance operations along with suggestions for improvement at a meeting in June. There’s still plenty of winter ahead before spring arrives; last February alone saw Waterloo Region hit with 78 cm of snow.
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1. Guelph Chief Administrative Officer 2026 Objectives
2. 2026 Internal Audit Work-plan (yes, this one had to do with winter maintenance (snowplowing) as well)
3. Mayor and Council Compensation… pic. twitter. com/v LXb YKQsn3 – Mayor Cam Guthrie (@Cam Guthrie) February 3, 2026 Kitchener’s council is also scheduled to receive a report reviewing winter maintenance operations along with suggestions for improvement at a meeting in June. There’s still plenty of winter ahead before spring arrives; last February alone saw Waterloo Region hit with 78 cm of snow.
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