Calling all snow angels
Campaign urges neighbours to shovel for disabled, elderly
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/12/2013 (4521 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Winnipeg is on the lookout for snow angels.
Sharon Blady, minister of healthy living and seniors, and Mayor Sam Katz announced an advertising campaign Wednesday geared at encouraging Winnipeggers to become “snow angels” by helping their older or disabled neighbours shovel snow.
Katz said there are already a number of active snow angels in the city.
“Winnipeg is known to be part of friendly Manitoba, and I think it’s very positive to know that there are people who are more than happy to volunteer a little bit of their time to help people in times of need,” Katz said.
The city will distribute advertisements, including posters, to attract volunteers.
Connie Newman, co-chairwoman of the Mayor’s Age Friendly Senior Advisory Committee, said she hopes community organizations such as churches and student groups will volunteer.
“The whole idea of this is to do the neighbourly thing, so look to the left, look to the right wherever you live and see if you can help,” said Newman. “We as a society need to be talking to those living next door to us in some way, shape or form.”
Peggy Prendergast has had a snow angel for the past four winters, even though they didn’t have the title. She is 82 and said she has difficulty shovelling her driveway.
Prendergast said she is able to maintain an active lifestyle in the winter thanks to an 84-year-old neighbour who owns a snowblower.
“I’m out and about because I’m lucky enough to be able to drive. And if my driveway stays shovelled I can,” said Prendergast.
Riley LeBlanc, 16, started volunteering in his neighbourhood as a snow angel this year. He said he hopes to inspire more Winnipeggers to help their neighbours.
“If you give out a hand, some other people will be like ‘Oh wow, I might want to volunteer for somebody and help somebody,’ ” said LeBlanc.
Funds for the campaign come from a $60,000 contribution by the province to support a number of Age Friendly initiatives, according to a press release from the city.
Calgary, Edmonton and Coquitlam, B.C., have already implemented similar snow-angel projects.
Newman encourages people who want to volunteer and those in need of help to contact local seniors organizations such as Seven Oaks Seniors Links.
The organization can be reached by calling 204-612-3888.
rachel.swatek@freepress.mb.ca