Montreal asks for residents' cooperation as snow clearing operation lags

Montrealers are still dealing with the aftermath of last weekend’s heavy snowfall with only a quarter of the snow removed.

Montreal is still dealing with the aftermath of last weekend’s heavy snowfall — only a quarter of the snow has been removed so far.

It’s a process that city spokesperson Philippe Sabourin said would be moving faster if not for the sheer number of vehicles being towed.

“The total number of cars towed is 8,500,” Sabourin said. “That’s one vehicle every 1.4 minutes.”

And that has a significant impact on the entire snow removal operation.

“Each time a car needs to be towed, it slows down the operation by five to ten minutes,” Sabourin explained.

Roof collapse in Ahuntsic-Cartierville

While snow caused problems on the streets, it also posed a risk to buildings.

In Vaudreuil-Dorion, a Walmart store on De La Gare Boulevard was closed for emergency roof snow removal. Walmart has not answered CTV News’ requests nor has the company provided a timeline for the store’s reopening.

Meanwhile, in Ahuntsic-Cartierville, the roof of an industrial building at 270 De Louvain Street West collapsed Thursday morning under the weight of accumulated snow.

Zachary Jurkowski, who owns a construction company nearby, was shocked to find the parking lot shared by the neighbouring buildings flooded.

“There was about one-to-one feet and a half of water in the parking lot this morning,” he said.

The water has since frozen, leaving a thick layer of ice across the lot.

A realtor managing the property confirmed to CTV News that the building has been vacant for several months.

Jurkowski is relieved no one was hurt but he hopes this incident serves as a wake-up call.

“It speaks to the importance of making sure you’re clearing snow off roofs, evaluating structures, and checking for any damage beneath,” he added.

Especially when it comes to buildings with flat roofs, which were particularly vulnerable, says roofer Gilbert Hajj.

The expert explained that these flat surfaces can lead to uneven weight distribution.

“If the wind blows all the snow into one area, it puts much more weight on that section, increasing the risk of collapse,” said Hajj.

With warmer temperatures expected next week, he warned the situation could worsen.

“If we start getting ice buildup, which is much heavier than snow, then you could have even bigger problems,” Hajj cautioned.

City urges cooperation

Beyond structural concerns, Sabourin urged Montrealers to help facilitate snow removal efforts.

“Move your car at the appropriate time and, if possible, work from home,” he said. “The fewer people we have on the roads, the more efficient snow clearing can be.”

The City also warned large property owners not to dump their snow into municipal disposal sites. Sabourin said Montreal’s 311 service had been flooded with calls, many of them reporting illegal snow dumping.