As a seasoned commercial snow and ice management professional, I’ve spent enough nights working in this region to know this: “safe by 7 a.m.” isn’t a plan. Staying open between storms is.
Most proposals promise safety, and so do we, but as a property owner or manager, you should expect a lot more. The partner you want is the one who plans, proves, and returns—because lake-effect bands don’t read forecasts, and conditions can flip street-to-street across Grey and Bruce. We’re local, we service Owen Sound and Port Elgin, and we build our approach around that reality.
Instead of listing the most obvious things you should look for when hiring a local commercial snow and ice management company, I got our team to brainstorm some of the less obvious expectations you should have.
A service model built for lake-effect snow
Don’t settle for “we’ll plow once and come back tomorrow.” In active weather, you need clear dispatch thresholds (e.g., after ~2″ of accumulation) and a commitment to return during the event—often multiple passes with salt or sand to keep lanes, docks, and pedestrian routes usable while it’s still snowing. Your contract or RFP should spell out timing, triggers, and levels of service before, during, and after storms; that’s industry best practice, and it’s crucial on the Great Lakes. Also expect a 24/7, emergency-service mindset—supervision, operators, and mechanics ready when the weather turns, not when it’s convenient.
Proof you can rely on
“If it isn’t logged, it didn’t happen.”
Always insist on time-stamped, GPS-stamped records for every visit, paired with local weather data from the nearest station, plus on-site condition notes and photos. In a region with hyper-local conditions, that combination turns “we were there” into a clear, defensible record of what was done, when, and why—useful for safety reviews, audits, and any claims. SIMA’s guidance underscores the value of GPS and electronic reporting for verification and risk management; ask to see sample reports before you sign.
SIMA (Snow and Ice Management Association) sets some of the highest standards for safety and service. As a SIMA Certified Contractor, we hold ourselves to that high standard, and SIMA keeps us accountable.
Planning that prevents damage—plus the capacity to execute
If it isn’t mapped on a dry day, it gets broken on a snowy night. Expect a pre-season site walk and a site map that prioritizes entrances, pedestrian areas, fire routes, loading docks, and clearly marked snow-storage and push-back zones.
Good plans also manage meltwater so it doesn’t refreeze in walkways and doorways, and they keep piles off retaining walls, fences, lighting, and sight lines to prevent cumulative damage over a long winter.
Pair that plan with the right fleet and depth—articulating loaders with power plows, tractor blowers, pickup plows, sanding/salting trucks, and hand crews for stairs and tight spots—so service doesn’t bottleneck when equipment breaks or storms stall.
Compliance and standards (the quiet essentials)
Verify current insurance and safety compliance; reputable contractors treat these as table stakes. Give preference to teams aligned with SIMA standards and professional certifications, because they’re anchored to documented best practices for planning, documentation, environmental responsibility, and slip-and-fall risk management. These aren’t glamour points—but they matter when something goes wrong.
On Georgian Bay, once a day isn’t enough. Choose the partner who keeps your site open between passes, can prove service with defensible reporting, and has the plan and fleet to prevent damage all season. Use your RFP to lock in thresholds, service windows, mapping requirements, and reporting standards up front—so expectations are clear before the first flake.
Give our team a call, and request a free consultation.
