City of Edmonton’s snow and ice removal looking for extra $24M this winter

Winter will be here sooner than later — and after a record amount of snowfall last year — the city of Edmonton is already making preparations for snow removal.

By Darcy Ropchan

Posted August 21, 2026 7:55 am.

Last Updated August 21, 2026 7:53 am.

It’s not something anyone wants to hear, but winter in Edmonton will be here sooner than later.

And after a record amount of snowfall last winter, the City of Edmonton is already making preparations for snow removal.

“So we have done a lot of engagement throughout the last couple of months,” said Valerie Dacyk, the general supervisor of Edmonton’s snow and ice control program. “We have talked to frontline staff. We’ve talked to other municipalities. We’ve talked to industry. All of the groups that regularly deal with this.

“For the snow and ice program, the biggest thing that we’re working on is timing and availability. We wanna make sure our crews are available and given the tools they need to be out on the roads to help whenever they are in need.”

*A snow windrow waiting to be picked up by a snow loader in Edmonton. (CityNews)*

Those in charge of snow and ice removal with the City of Edmonton say they’ve learned a lot from this past winter, when a massive amount of snow hit city streets, causing havoc for drivers and residents.

When councillors debate the budget this autumn, the snow and ice program will be asking for an additional $24 million in funding to keep streets clear in case of another healthy snowfall.

Dacyk says that includes what they call less downtime for snow- and ice-clearing vehicles, more staff, working with researchers at the University of Alberta to predict weather and ice modelling, and keeping priority roadways and walking paths accessible after a snowfall.

“Edmonton’s climate is changing,” said Dacyk. “I would say that’s probably one of the biggest driving factors. We are also having a boom in inventory growth. A whole bunch of new pedestrian-transit systems are going in, a new transit system is going in.

“So in response to the different types of weather we’re receiving as well as the growing inventory, this package just balances out what we need to achieve those service levels going forward with all of those changes.”

Edmonton city councillors will debate how much to give to the snow and ice program this fall.