The Town of Innisfail’s Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) Coordinator is encouraging residents to register with the national Snow Angels Canada program.
The program connects community volunteers with residents who may not be able to clear snow from their property during the winter months.
The national program will now serve the community in place of the local program previously run by Innisfail FCSS staff. Innisfail FCSS will assist residents and volunteers making the transition to the national service to ensure the process is seamless.
“This move allows us to expand our ability to provide additional services. We will no longer be duplicating work already being done through the national program,” explains Karen Bradbury, Innisfail FCSS’s Community & Social Development Coordinator. “Additionally, we are creating further opportunities for random acts of kindness and encouraging all residents to be neighbourly by watching out for one another. While Innisfail FCSS will no longer directly facilitate this volunteer-matching program, residents may continue the practice of being a Snow Angel voluntarily.”
The national program increases opportunities for volunteers as they are also encouraged to register with the national Snow Angels Canada program. The national database makes it possible for volunteers to view all local residents requiring the service. Previously, each volunteer was matched to one specific resident.
For those who do not want to register for the Snow Angels Canada program, Innisfail FCSS has signs available that residents can display in windows, on front steps, or in front yards indicating that a visit from a Snow Angel volunteer is welcome.
Other options may be available as well. Residents in receipt of the Alberta Seniors Benefit may be eligible to receive funding for snow removal under the Special Needs Assistance for Seniors program.
There are several local businesses that provide snow removal or lawn maintenance services for a fee. A listing of local businesses that provide such services is available through the Innisfail FCSS.
Residents can register with the Snow Angel Canada program online at snowangelscanada.ca. Residents wishing to obtain a sign or an information package, or those who wish to participate in the Snow Angels Canada program but do not have access to a computer, can contact the Innisfail FCSS at 403-227-3376 ext. 233.
