Faced with another winter of heavy snowfall, a coalition of Edmonton merchants is taking a novel approach to keeping their customers safe and their doors open. The Alberta Avenue Business Association (AABA) has secured a significant financial boost to tackle the perennial problem of hazardous sidewalks.
A Collective Solution to a Winter Problem
The Edmonton City Council has granted the AABA permission to take out a loan of up to $100,000 to fund a coordinated snow and ice removal program. This group initiative aims to fill the gaps left between individual property owners' efforts and city street clearing, creating a continuous, accessible path for pedestrians along the bustling 118 Avenue corridor.
"We were grateful that council approved us to move forward with it," said Erick Estrada, executive director of the AABA. "It's basically helping our membership provide patrons—the community in general—a more accessible space for everybody." Estrada emphasized that the core motivation is accessibility, ensuring safe passage for parents with strollers, individuals using wheelchairs, and all community members during Edmonton's challenging winters.
From Pilot Project to Full-Scale Program
The loan approval builds on a successful pilot project conducted by the AABA two years ago. During that trial, from November to April, participating properties received guaranteed sidewalk and doorway clearing every 24 hours during snow events, along with ice removal and post-storm cleanup. The cost to merchants was calculated based on their property's frontage length.
The initiative received a further boost when the community league donated a snow blower, which was repaired and put to work. "We were able to clear 12,000 linear metres of sidewalk in the area we identified as one of the most walkable portions of our district," Estrada reported, highlighting the scale of the initial effort.
Investing in Equipment and Efficiency
The new funding will allow the association to upgrade its equipment. The next planned purchase is a walk-behind machine capable of handling heavy, compacted snow. This equipment, combined with a dedicated clearing team, will make the process more efficient and effective than relying on individual shoveling.
The financing, which can be spread over up to five years, will be passed on to the AABA's 267 member businesses as a levy. These businesses make up the improvement area located between NAIT and the former Northlands grounds.
118 Avenue, one of Edmonton's oldest streets, has undergone two decades of revitalization, including a major Streetscape Project in 2008. This snow-clearing program is seen as the latest effort to support the area's economic vitality and community spirit. By ensuring safe, clear walkways, the Alberta Avenue merchants are investing not just in snow removal, but in the continued success of their businesses and the well-being of their neighborhood.
