How to find someone to shovel snow in Toronto?

February 16, 2025 8:44 AM

We had a huge snowfall here. My elderly parents who live across town need someone to shovel their walk. What are ways to find someone? (I understand demand is very high right now, happy to pay a price that reflects this fact)
posted by ManInSuit to Home & Garden (14 answers total)

Neighbors ?
posted by St. Peepsburg at 8:46 AM on February 16 [1 favorite]

Or neighbors kids
posted by St. Peepsburg at 8:46 AM on February 16

Response by poster: Yeah they have neighbours whose kids often help, but they are away
posted by ManInSuit at 8:48 AM on February 16

I'm going to take flak for this, but "r/askTO" is probably not a bad way to go here.
posted by yellowcandy at 8:56 AM on February 16 [5 favorites]

Here in Western Massachusetts I see people asking about this on local Facebook groups with some success. Usually they have been acknowledging in their request that it is last minute or otherwise a more difficult than usual request like you did in your question here, but people have had suggestions.
posted by needs more cowbell at 8:58 AM on February 16 [4 favorites]

Have you tried Taskrabbit?
posted by fruitslinger at 9:02 AM on February 16 [1 favorite]

Is Kijiji still used in Toronto? That’s how I’ve found snow removal and landscapers in the past.

I’ve also used Yardly in the past for one off jobs.
posted by VirginiaPlain at 9:19 AM on February 16

Local Facebook groups are the most likely quick way but I'd try the Reddit if you don't do Facebook. Also a reminder that their public sidewalk will be cleared under the new snow removal policy which is why the senior snow removal service was shuttered. Of course that still leaves the path up to their door which is important.
posted by warriorqueen at 9:20 AM on February 16

Also if it's Guildwood let me know and I know some kids that could help, depending on exactly where in Guildwood (our street hasn't been plowed yet)
posted by warriorqueen at 9:21 AM on February 16

Response by poster: Yonge/Summerhill area
posted by ManInSuit at 9:27 AM on February 16

Local facebook groups seemed to work pretty well in the suburbs of Vancouver during our recent snowfall. Lots of folks asking, lots of folks volunteering.
posted by cgg at 9:35 AM on February 16

There’s an active North Rosedale community group on Facebook
posted by warriorqueen at 9:57 AM on February 16 [2 favorites]

I was having a chat with the guy who shovels our New Jersey neighborhood (or whose college kids work to shovel our area) and he said for him it's best when he can send his crew to just shovel all the pavements and driveways next to each other. When he has to skip some homes or a whole set of homes it just isn't as efficient. So perhaps ask the neighbors of your parents? I would assume that kind of thinking would be as true in Toronto as in my area (???).
posted by forthright at 10:31 AM on February 16 [1 favorite]

Facebook and Nextdoor are the places I would look for this sort of thing in the U.S.—Facebook is where I found some recommendations for a parent recently. A lot of lawn-care places seem to do this during the winter, so those are also companies to look into, even if you don't get specific recommendations.
posted by limeonaire at 12:50 PM on February 16