Plowing through the holidays

The holidays are here and no matter how you celebrate, the last weeks of December and the coming New Year always put a buzz in the air. December can be busy, stressful even, but it pays off in the end with friends and family coming together.

“Unwrapping the presents on Christmas morning has always been one of our traditions,” says Bob Stone, City of Kelowna Equipment Operator, “but sometimes that doesn’t work out and you have to pick up and leave.”

Bob Stone, City of Kelowna Equipment Operator

Bob spends his winters driving a plow for the City, which comes with an unpredictable schedule. He can remember one Christmas morning in particular where he was called out at 5 a.m.

“The kids weren’t awake yet so I just kissed my wife goodbye and headed out for the day,” he says. “I didn’t end up getting home until after 6 p.m. that night.”

Ask any plow operator across Canada and they’re sure to have a similar story. Terry Lesko, another City of Kelowna Equipment Operator, says it’s generally arranged so they either have Christmas morning or Christmas dinner with their families in the case it snows. 

“You have to be available. It’s just part of the job,” he says. “My wife used to be a nurse so we’re both used to shift work. Sometimes it works out and other times it doesn’t.”

Terry and Bob have both been driving a plow for more than 20 years. They’ve been doing this work for a long time and they love it.

“I really like driving the plow truck,” Terry says. “Some of my happiest days are when I’m out in a snowstorm driving the truck. There’s a reason I’ve been doing this so long.”

Bob agrees. “When the road is completely covered and I can come through in a grader and clean it right off, it’s a pretty good feeling,” he says.

Of course, the job isn’t always as pure as the driven snow. The hours can be long and snowfall comes with frustrations that we’re all familiar with, like the snow a plow leaves behind at a driveway. 

“I go home after my shift and shovel out my own driveway, so I do understand,” Bob says. “We do our best to avoid it but it’s hard with the number of driveways we have.” 

There are roughly 39,000 driveways in Kelowna and clearing them would require investments in equipment as well as personnel, and it would slow down snow clearing efforts during and after a snowfall.

Terry Lesko, City of Kelowna Equipment Operator

The City runs two 12-hour shifts when a snow event is underway – 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. Plow operators’ shifts are capped at 12 hours because of Provincial regulations and for safety. It makes for a long day, but you won’t find Bob or Terry complaining. They understand the weather doesn’t work nine-to-five.

One of the benefits that comes with being on the job for a couple decades is seniority.

“I can take Christmas off,” Bob says. He’ll be spending the day with his two children and four grandkids this year. They’re all in town and Bob’s looking forward to the time together. 

Even with the time booked off, Bob could get called in if he’s needed. The City keeps 85 percent of its team on the job over the holidays and plow operators know they’ll have to be available if there’s heavy snowfall and they’re needed. 

Take Terry, for example. He’ll be on standby for this holiday season. His children are also grown and he also has grandkids. They’ll make the holidays work as they always have, by being flexible and enjoying the time they have to share.

“If I’m needed, I’ll be out plowing Route 23 as I’m assigned,” Terry says. “I always come in if I’m needed.”

Find out more about winter roadways maintenance and snow clearing priorities at kelowna.ca/snow.