Toronto Ramps Up Snow Removal After Record Storm

Toronto officials are ramping up snow removal efforts following a record-breaking winter storm that dumped up to 56 centimeters of snow on the city over the weekend, leaving sidewalks impassable and prompting thousands of resident complaints. The storm struck on Sunday, January 26, 2026, marking the second major snow event of the year and contributing to January's total snowfall of 88.2 centimeters, the highest monthly accumulation since records began in 1937.

City Manager Paul Johnson acknowledged the challenges during an update on Wednesday at a snow storage site in North York, stating that crews had identified gaps in sidewalk clearing. "Yesterday, operationally, we realized that sidewalks have become an issue where we're just not doing enough and we need to improve," Johnson said. He noted that the city has received 3,000 to 4,000 daily calls to its 311 service line, with sidewalk-related requests now dominating winter complaints. Data from councillors' offices and on-the-ground inspectors confirmed the need for enhanced efforts, leading to the deployment of full crews to clear sidewalks over the next 24 hours.

Mayor Olivia Chow emphasized the scale of the response,...