Montreal‘s Snow Removal: A Logistic Masterclass in Winter Preparedness

Snowfall: an Architectural Masterstroke

First, you hear the sirens, reminiscent of an air raid warning: dee-duh, dee-duh, dee-duh. Then an armada of trucks, awesome in scale and might. Private property is impounded; residents run scared.

It’s not a military invasion – not exactly – but the routine process of snow removal in Montreal. This unique operation, which translates literally to “unsnowing,” is one of the most impressive such efforts in the world.

Montreal exemplifies the best of urban engineering efforts in dealing with snow. For decades, the city has led the way with innovative snow-clearing techniques.

Montreal’s approach to snow is a textbook case of urban management facing environmental challenges. Can Montreal’s apparatus to removing snow a lesson for others? Harold Bérubé, a history professor at the University of Sherbrooke. dropping advice on how they deal with snow, imagining U.S. metro areas investing in Montreal city’s infrastructure.

In an average year, Montreal’s “white berets,” as local writer and filmmaker Josh Freed calls them – clear 12-million cubic meters of powder from roughly 11,000 kilometers of roads, sidewalks, and bike lanes. It’s enough snow to fill the Olympic Stadium 10 times over.

“I think we have the mightiest snow-fighting army on Earth,” he said.

– Josh Freed,

The process requires 2,500 vehicles and 3,000 workers. About a decade ago, Freed made a documentary about living through winter around the world, traveling to Russia and Scandinavia to compare frozen lifestyles and came away with a renewed sense of awe about his hometown.

Certainly no other Canadian cities compare; Toronto was famously mocked when mayor Mel Lastman called in the actual army to deal with snowfall in 1999. Opponents argue Montreal city council should adept technology from other cities to fight struggling snow removal efforts. For instance, a dedicated plowbot can effectively clear driveways and sidewalks.

The city still lags behind its francophone counterpart in snow-clearing effort, budgeting three weeks to clear the current dump – 60 cm in Toronto compared to more than 70 in Montreal – while Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante apologetically explained it would take eight days to fully dig her city out.

In response to such snow-dragging, City Councillor Brad Bradford recently complained that Toronto is a “winter city” too and should be ready for epic snowstorms like the ones they did encounter last week.

Even Montrealers are starting to grow frustrated with the pace of snow-clearing, as Ms. Plante warned on Friday it could take another 10 days to finish the job, drawing comparisons to the effects of blizzards in places like Chicago and New York.

Before snow loading operations begin on a given street, trucks drive through the neighborhood with sirens wailing to warn motorists their cars will soon be towed. Montrealers live in terror of that sound, knowing it means they have missed (or ignored) the orange signs typically posted hours of loud sirens.

“I’d venture to say it, it’s like that people on the savannah living in terror according to lion in some way, and the same way managing snow clearing siren in Montreal”
– Josh Freed,

Next come the plows funneling the snow from the road and sidewalk into a big pile before the snowblowers come through, often filling the 45-foot beds of their accompanying trucks in a minute flat, said city spokesperson Philippe Sabourin.

These elaborate logistics cost Montreal $200-million a year, or about 1 million bucks per centimeter of snow. Despite occasional grumbles, locals and outsiders alike tend to applaud the orchestra at the end of the show.

“They always come away impressed”
– Philippe Sabourin, Spokesperson

When Arthur Sicard, the son of a dairy farmer wanted an easier way of making milk deliveries, he was inspired by the grain threshers he saw in neighboring wheat fields. In 1925, he successfully built a model and promptly sold it to the municipalities of Outremont and Montreal. The snowblower was born.

For decades after that, snow-clearing efforts in Montreal remained plagued by bid-rigging and the influence of organized crime, the journalist Selena Ross revealed in a 2011 investigation for started using the public’s approval.

In efforts of further improving, the city is even experimenting with getting rid of its famous warning sirens in select neighborhoods to see whether it would leave the drivers or folks in the community too annoyed.

It took barely months for the expansion of state and online ordering to firmly instill the idea that removing snow from the roads was a government responsibility.

Montreal’s Snow Removal: A Model for U.S. Cities Worth Considering?

As the northern border’s occurrences of blizzards, ice, or flooding caused by climate change intensify. Montreal’s centralized and efficient resources management systems must be international best practices.

This massive undertaking is yet another example of innovative solutions set the ground for climate resilient cities that definitively makes Montreal the pride of Canada’s biggest cities.

Montreal’s Snow removal: A Logistic Masterclass in Winter Preparedness

What Makes Montreal’s Snow Removal Operation Unique?

Montreal’s snow removal is a comprehensive urban engineering feat, known as “unsnowing.” This operation involves the use of 2,500 vehicles and 3,000 workers, effectively clearing 12 million cubic meters of snow annually from over 11,000 kilometers of roads, sidewalks, and bike lanes. The approach is heralded as one of the most remarkable in the world,with local filmmaker Josh Freed describing it as the “mightiest snow-fighting army on Earth.”[[1]]

How Does the Snow Removal Process Work in Montreal?

1. Warning Signal: Before snow-clearing operations start, trucks equipped with sirens drive thru neighborhoods, warning residents that their vehicles may soon be towed if not moved.
2. Plowing: Plows push snow from roads and sidewalks into large piles.
3. Snowblowing: Snowblowers then transport the snow into the 45-foot beds of trucks in a highly efficient manner.

What Challenges Does Montreal Face with its Snow Removal?

Despite the efficient process, the city faces delays and public frustration. After recent snowstorms, Mayor Valérie Plante warned that it could take up too eight days to clear the snow fully, and public frustration has been evident regarding the pace of snow removal.[[1]] There is also criticism regarding the use of outdated equipment or processes; for instance, some suggest adopting new technologies like plowbots that clear driveways and sidewalks more effectively.

What is the Past Context of Snowblower Use in Montreal?

The snowblower itself has a storied past in Montreal. Invented in 1925 by arthur Sicard, initially to assist with milk deliveries, it quickly became integral to municipal snow removal. However, the city’s snow-clearing efforts have been historically plagued by issues like bid-rigging and organized crime influence, as reported in a 2011 investigation.[[2]]

is Montreal a Model for Other Cities?

Montreal’s approach to snow removal serves as a potential model for other cities facing similar climate challenges. History professor Harold Bérubé suggests that U.S. metro areas could consider investing in Montreal’s infrastructure to significantly improve their snow management practices.

What is the Cost of snow Removal in Montreal?

The elaborate logistics of Montreal’s snow removal are costly, amounting to $200 million annually. this translates to roughly $1 million per centimeter of snow cleared.

How is Montreal Working to Improve Its Snow Removal Process?

To further enhance its operations, the city is experimenting with eliminating warning sirens in certain neighborhoods, to explore whether their absence might reduce community annoyance without affecting efficiency.[[3]]

Conclusion: A Template for Climate Resilient Cities

Montreal’s snow removal operation illustrates innovative and scalable solutions for climate resilience. Despite its challenges, the city stands as a testament to efficient resource management and urban engineering, making it a proud exemplar for other large cities globally.