‘Snow angels’ lend hand to neighbours following major Sask. winter storm

Another major winter storm hit Saskatchewan this past weekend and that meant many were forced to dig out.

Some people spent hours shovelling their sidewalks to try and get them back to walking condition. Others didn’t just tend to their own walks, but they also helped neighbours in need.

Julie and her husband are seniors who live just outside North Battleford on a rural property. The two got a major surprise from their neighbour Slavko on Sunday.

“We had probably close to three feet of snow where we are. I went out and was starting to look at the snow and said, ‘OK, we’ve got to get this stuff moved,’ and then I see this Bobcat come flying down our driveway with this big snow bucket on it and he’s clearing out our driveway for us,” Julie said. “He didn’t even ask, he just started doing it.”

According to Julie, her driveway is 700 feet long.

“(Slavko) had a big smile on his face and he was having fun doing it, actually,” she explained. “That was absolutely amazing and I can’t believe he came over and did this for us. He also lives on a big acreage with a big driveway and that would’ve been a lot of work for them.”

Julie and her husband had the equipment available to dig themselves out, but given their physical conditions, she said it would’ve taken them a long time to clean everything up.

“My husband is disabled and I have health issues too. It would’ve taken us days to dig ourselves out. (Slavko) probably didn’t even take a half-hour,” Julie explained.

Julie added she couldn’t be more grateful for his help.

Doug Drover lives in The Battlefords and suggests everyone in his area was helping out when it came to getting rid of all the snow.

“The whole street is involved,” he said. “Snowblowers, shovels — the city has come through to clear the roads as well. We’ve had a lot of vehicles stuck on our road, so of course you drop what you’re doing and go to shovel them out and give us a push. We all pitch in to help.”

Diane Anderson lives in Montgomery Place in Saskatoon and said both of her neighbours helped dig her out without any questions being asked.

“I have a large driveway and I was set to go out and start moving some snow a week ago with the storm and I look out and my neighbour two doors over already finished cleaning my driveway,” she explained.

“(On Sunday), the same thing happened. I moved some snow in the morning and then when I went out in the afternoon, there he was again clearing the snow. What a relief.”

Anderson lives alone and mentioned she was only planning on clearing half the driveway because of just how much snow there was.

“I had sort of given up. Half of it was going to go. (My neighbour) blew it out so it’s mostly clean again,” Anderson said. “I’m very fortunate.

“It’s wonderful to hear people are just willing to help out other people.”