REGINA, Sask. — Regina is expanding its sidewalk snow clearing program this winter after city council voted 9-1 Wednesday to add several major corridors to the city’s regular winter maintenance.
The expanded service will cover portions of Albert Street, Victoria Avenue, Dewdney Avenue, 11th Avenue, Gordon Road, Rochdale Boulevard, Sherwood Drive and Chuka Boulevard.
The decision is expected to cost about $288,180 annually, with $110,400 already secured for November and December. The remaining $166,000 needed for the early months of 2027 will be considered during December’s 2027 budget deliberations.
Acting Deputy Mayor David Froh said the expansion is intended to make key areas of the city easier to access while supporting local businesses.
“This is about supporting our infrastructure,” Froh said. “But it’s also about making it easier for folks to come and enjoy these important parts of our city centre.”
The expansion follows the city’s previous snow clearing on parts of Dewdney Avenue in the Warehouse District, where administration said the service received positive feedback.
The city has also invested more than $60 million in recent upgrades to the Dewdney Avenue and 11th Avenue corridors.
City manager of operations Kurtis Doney told council the expanded clearing supports accessibility and the recently reconstructed corridors.
“This supports accessibility goals and increased maintenance on the reconstructed Dewdney Avenue and 11th Avenue corridors,” Doney said.
However, Ward 5 Coun. Sarah Turnbull said some parts of Dewdney Avenue present significant accessibility challenges, despite snow clearing being a major priority in the city’s accessibility plan.
“Sidewalks and snow clearing are extremely important for accessibility; in fact, it’s the number one prioritized item on the accessibility plan,” Turnbull said.
She said nearly half of the buildings along Dewdney Avenue are not accessible from the front, creating additional barriers for some residents.
Turnbull also questioned whether the Dewdney expansion should be characterized as an accessibility initiative.
“I don’t want to vote that they are a priority area for accessibility when they’re clearly noted they aren’t,” she said.
Coun. Terina Rashovich was the only member to vote against the expansion, raising concerns about increasing municipal spending and arguing residents should take more responsibility for clearing sidewalks around their properties.
The broader residential snow clearing policy will remain unchanged. Full-city residential plowing is triggered after a single snowfall of 15 centimetres.
Doney also told council that current service levels for impassable residential streets and alley maintenance are generally meeting operational objectives and residents’ needs.
This winter, the city will also introduce an interactive winter maintenance map, allowing residents to enter an address and see live progress updates and estimated clearing timelines.
The expanded sidewalk program will now move into its first winter, while council will revisit its long-term funding during the 2027 budget process.
