Wednesday, 13 February 2008

Winter Wonderland

The winter of 2008 just keeps on keeping on.
It costs the City of Toronto $3 to 5 million to clear the snow from it's 5,300 km of roads and 7,100 km of sidewalks for each major snowstorm. The snowclearing budget is $67 million for 2008 and the City Piggy Bank is almost empty. They are running out of places to pile the snow. Video here.
Up to 201 de-icers and 673 road snowploughs are assigned to manage a snowfall in Toronto. The City operates 303 sidewalk ploughs and can deploy more than 400 additional pieces of equipment.

The Toronto area has had 3 times the average February snowfall this month and today's only the 13th, with more snow expected on Friday. Torontonians are getting tired of shovelling.

Oh well..... this is Canada in February, people. Don't complain. We should enjoy this old fashioned snowy winter. It's just a little different from the milder snow-free winters that we have become used to.


Meanwhile, meet my new neighbour.

The name's Frost... Jack Frost.

His friends call him Frosty.



22 comments:

  1. Winter Wonderland poor you.
    Nice shots tho.

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  2. Finally! Somebody knows the proper thing to do with snow! Snowmen!!

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  3. 60 F yesterday; 20 F today. I'd rather have some consistency, thanks!!

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  4. That's a lot of snow! I bet Frosty is glad for it.

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  5. I hear you, ex-S.. loud and clear. We've been shoveling far more often than I can remember in semi-recent years. And those snow banks are high.

    Love your snowman.. but he looks a bit.. pail. ;)

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  6. It can be a nuisance, it can be dangerous, it can even be expensive to clear, but oh how I miss it down here in Devon UK.

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  7. Frosty looks like a happy guy. I suppose if there's no warming trend he'll continue to look happy.

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  8. I suppose that especially kids must have enjoyed a real winter!

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  9. Enjoy the snow. Tomorrow it will be gone.

    Happy Valentine's Day.

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  10. Bag some up and post it back to your old home town (village), our boys would love it on the hills around here!

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  11. Happy Valentines Day to you and all your family.
    come
    and see my Valentines message

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  12. That's the one thing I don't miss about Toronto... Down here it gets really awful when it snows, but we get a lot less snow, thankfully.

    I will always love Toronto, it's a very special city...

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  13. Snow is a beautiful thing, isn't it?

    I hope you have safe roads and clear traffic for that all-important drive to the hospital. Has baby been informed that people are waiting? Anyway, may it be a good delivery whenever it happens. ...I'll be praying. :-)

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  14. Ooh my that is a one beautiful snow man.
    That is a lot of snow you have there.
    Happy Valentine's Day

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  15. I love seeing the snow on your blog, how i would love just a little, our weather has turned wontery again but the sun will be out by the weekend.

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  16. wow what a high cost to clean the snow!!! But I like to look at it, I hope you don't mind me saying that? I enjoy snow:)

    Come and see my DUTCH skywatch,
    and listen to my favorite music while watching...

    Greetings JoAnn
    Enjoy your weekend:)

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  17. Thank-you for your comments on my blog!! Great snowman! My son's snowman melted a bit last week. I will be stopping by your blog from now on.

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  18. That last picture of "Frosty" realy shows the Beauty of Snow, but, I know I would not be able to take that kind of weather any more....It has been a good 40 plus years since I had to deal with snow on a regular basis...And even that particular year, I was alreadt out of the habit. Now? Well, let's just say, I am grateful I don't have to anymore. I hope you get some relief very very soon!.

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  19. No snow here ;-) although a "kind" neighbour emailed me a photo of our mailbox back in Michigan...or to be exact, an area where are mailbox should have been!
    It's snowed under!

    Is the baby late? What is s/he thinking? ;-)

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  20. Still snowing?
    Did I ever tell you I lived in Toronto for about 18 month, but got sent back to England in disgrace!
    Your video made me feel quite nostalgic!

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  21. Terrific snowman!! That's the only thing I like about snow is that we could build a snowman,
    We have ZERO snow this winter, which is fine with me. We had one snow last Feb, and it was very light.
    Move to southern/middle Arkansas and enjoy warmer winters!!
    My mom, daughter, and I visited Tornonto about two years ago. We had fun there!
    Hey, no baby yet???
    That kid is making you feel suspense.
    How exciting to be waiting for the baby's arrival!!!!

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  22. Yes, you do have to post a new picture each Friday but you don't have to participate every Friday. Just join in on the Fridays when you have a picture.

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