Winter Maintenance

Snow Angels Canada is a free online platform that connects residents in need of snow shoveling services with a volunteer in the area. 

There are many seniors, people living with a disability and residents with health issues in our community who could use a helping hand this winter. Volunteer today to become a Snow Angel and support your neighbours.

For more information on how to become a Snow Angel volunteer or to request assistance click on the buttons below.

Snow Angel Volunteer   Request Assistance

The Town of Aurora does not own or operate Snow Angels Canada but staff have worked with Snow Angels Canada to promote the service for the residents in Aurora.

Information and links to external third-party websites, products and services are provided on the Town of Aurora’s website for informational purposes and as a reference to assist you in identifying or locating resources that may be of interest to you.  The Town is not responsible for the contents, completeness or accuracy of any information provided on external third-party websites.  The Town’s reference to or mention of products or services does not constitute or imply a recommendation or endorsement by the Town. The purchase or use of any products or services from external third-party websites is at your own risk.

The Town is serviced by three types of Roads, the Regional Road network such as Wellington Street and Bayview Avenue, Primary roads such as Industrial Parkway, and Secondary roads such as cul-de-sac and low volume local roads. Regional roads are cleared by York Region. The Primary and Secondary roads are the responsibility of the Town. Please refer to the snow plow route maps for road classifications.

At the beginning of a snowfall or freezing rain, all primary roads with high volume traffic are salted first. Then all secondary roads with low volume traffic are salted at hills, intersections and curves. After 8 centimetres (3 inches) of snow accumulation (except Yonge Street - 5 centimetres) all primary and secondary roads are plowed.

When streets require plowing, they are cleared within 16-24 hours after the end of the storm whenever possible, however heavy snowfalls or successive storms can sometimes extend this period. 

• Do not park on the street at any time before, during or after a snow event. If it's snowing our plows are out and parking on the street during a snow event may result in your vehicle being ticketed.
• Do not park on the street between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. from November 
• Do not push snow or ice onto the roadway or sidewalk. This causes unsafe road conditions and may cause more windrow from the snowplows blades as they clear the roads and sidewalks.

• Do not place your garbage, recycling or green bins on the roadway, sidewalk, or snowbank. Make sure to clear an area to place your bins out and keep them back from the road. Collection crews will not dig out or retrieve your bins from snowbanks.

• Clear your driveway of windrow

When does the Town plow? 
The Town plows when snow accumulation reaches eight centimetres or three inches, with the exception of Yonge Street (five centimetres). When streets require plowing, they are cleared within 16 to 24 hours after the end of the storm. Heavy snowfalls or multiple storms can sometimes extend this period.

Why are some roads plowed before others?
The Town is divided into eleven routes. Each route has either primary or secondary streets. Primary roads are cleared first since they carry the highest volumes of traffic. These roads are used to access school zones, bus routes and emergency services. The secondary roads are plowed after the primary routes have been completed.

Why don't all roads have a bare pavement level of service?
To achieve bare pavement, straight salt must be applied at the arrival of snow so that a layer of salt brine is maintained between the road surface and accumulating snow. This level of service would take more time, staff and salt. The excess salt is also a detriment to the environment.

What is snow pack?
Snow pack is hard-packed snow on a roadway. This condition can be expected periodically on secondary/residential roads. Snow pack develops quickly as vehicles travel on snow-covered roads.

When does the Town salt and/or sand the roads? 
Salt trucks are dispatched at the start of a snowfall and at the first sign of roads beginning to ice. Primary roads are salted when conditions require it. Secondary/Residential roads at hills, curves and intersections are salted. Staff regularly examines new methods to de-icing and anti-icing technologies. Our goal is to be proactive in reducing the amount of salt while maintaining the safety of Town roads.

What is a windrow? 
A snow windrow is the pile of snow that accumulates at the end of driveways when the road is plowed.

Why does the snow plow leave a windrow at the end of my driveway? 
Plow operators do not intentionally block driveways with snow. The plows have limited control over the amount and direction of snow that comes off the plow. When you are clearing the end of your driveway, please pile the snow on the right side (standing in your driveway and looking towards the street). This helps reduce the amount of snow that is pushed onto your driveway when a snow plow passes. The Town does not have a driveway windrow removal program.

When are transit stops and mail boxes cleared? 
Transit stops are cleared by York Region Transit. If you have questions regarding a transit stop please contact 1-866-MOVEYRT (668-3978). Canada Post can be reached at 1-800-267-1177 with questions about snow removal around their mail boxes.

When can I expect my sidewalk to be cleared? 
The Town of Aurora plows all town-owned sidewalks and walkways. Sidewalks are cleared after snow accumulation reaches five centimetres (two inches). Sidewalks located on primary roads and schools are plowed and sanded first, followed by secondary/residential sidewalks. Sidewalk clearing is generally completed within 24- hours after the end of the storm. If there is a heavy snowfall or winter events back-to-back, it will take longer to clear all sidewalks.

Can I expect my sidewalk to be cleared to bare concrete? 
No, bare concrete can only be achieved through the use of straight salt with significant cost and environmental impact. A salt mix is applied to residential sidewalks when slippery conditions exist.

Why can’t I push snow out onto the road? 
Depositing snow or ice on the street creates hazardous traffic conditions and this could result in an accident.

The Ontario Highway Traffic Act (R.S.O. 1990, CHAPTER H.8 sec 181) does not allow any person to deposit snow or ice onto a roadway without written permission from the Ministry or road authority (The Town of Aurora). The Town does not permit piling or placing snow on any Town owned parking lots. All snow on your property should be piled next to the opening of your driveway. Town and By-Law staff issue fouling notices before issuing fines for illegal placement of snow. Property owners should be aware that they will be responsible for all fines for snow placed illegally by their plow contractor.

What do I do if the snow plow hits my mailbox? 
If your mailbox has been damaged during snow removal, please call Access Aurora at 905-727-1375 or email Access Aurora. Staff will inspect the damage to determine the cause. The Town does not repair or replace mailboxes knocked over by snow or from snow that is thrown off the plow blade.

I live on a corner lot - why do I have more snow in my driveway than my neighbours? 
If you live on a corner property and the driveway is close to the corner, you can experience a buildup of more snow on your driveway than your neighbours. This is an unavoidable condition caused by the nature of the snow plow and its ability to maneuver turns.

Why is my lawn sometimes damaged by the sidewalk plow? 
The Town of Aurora tries to maintain the full width of the sidewalk. While operators try to be careful during use of the plow, some damage may occur. Sidewalk plows have to be large enough to move deep, heavy snow. Deep or drifted snow conditions often hide the sidewalk edge and the plow can cause damage to grass. When sod is frozen, damage is minimal but when the ground is not frozen, sod lifts away easily. To report sod damage, call Access Aurora at 905-727-1375 or email Access Aurora. Staff will inspect the damage and make any necessary repairs in the spring.

Why are cul-de-sac streets cleared last? 
These are typically low traffic volume areas. Due to various shapes, sizes and presence of centre islands, cul-de-sacs require specialized snow removal equipment and procedures. Most are serviced on a single shift after primary roads have been plowed. We continually review the snow removal process in order to be more efficient and reduce delays.

What do I do if my street was missed? 
Although crews follow route schedules, sometimes streets may have been missed. Please report any oversights by contacting Access Aurora at
905-727-1375 or email Access Aurora. The crew will be notified and arrangements made to have the street cleared as soon as possible.

What roads are not plowed within the Town? 

Town of Aurora does not plow private or Regional Roads.

The Regional Roads are:

• Bathurst Street
• Yonge Street (North of Batson Dr/Orchard Heights Blvd to just South of Henderson Dr /Allaura Blvd)
• Bayview Avenue
• Leslie Street
• St John’s Sideroad
• Wellington Street East/West
• Bloomington Road East/West

Any questions regarding Regional Roads can be directed to the York Region Roads division at
905-895-1200 ext. 75200.