Coquitlam Snow Angel program pairs volunteers with seniors who need help clearing sidewalks this winter

Each winter in Coquitlam, every property owner faces the same legal obligation: clear the City sidewalk next to their home within 10 hours of a snowfall. For many people that is a straightforward job. For seniors and people with disabilities, it can be impossible to do alone.

The City's Snow Angel program, part of its broader Winter Wise initiative, tries to close that gap. On November 9, 2026, the City opened recruitment for volunteers for the 2026-2027 winter season, asking residents to sign up at coquitlam.ca/SnowAngels.

Who the program is for

The Snow Angel program has two groups of participants.

Volunteers must be Coquitlam residents, at least 16 years old, and physically capable of clearing snow. Team leaders must be at least 19. Families and groups can register together. After screening, the City gives each volunteer a kit with a shovel, toque, scarf, ice cleats, a safety vest, and mitts.

Residents who need help must be 65 or older, or under 65 with a disability, and must be unable to clear the sidewalk on their own. They must also have a City sidewalk adjacent to their property and complete an application form that includes a waiver.

Volunteers commit to helping at one or two homes per session throughout the season, which runs until March 31, 2027.

What volunteers actually clear

Snow Angels clear the City sidewalk next to the recipient's home. Private driveways and front walkways are the property owner's own responsibility and are outside the program's scope. The 10-hour window that triggers the obligation is set by City bylaw.

That bylaw draws its authority from the BC Community Charter. Section 39(e) of the Charter gives councils the power to require property owners to take actions needed to maintain the cleanliness or safety of a highway next to land they own or occupy. Coquitlam uses that authority to make sidewalk clearing a legal responsibility for every property owner.

Why the 10-hour rule matters

The 10-hour window is meant to keep sidewalks passable for pedestrians, including people using wheelchairs or walkers, as quickly as possible after a snowfall ends. For a resident who is physically unable to do the work, the program provides a matched volunteer who takes on that sidewalk clearing obligation.

The City's sign-up page is clear that the program cannot guarantee a match for every applicant. Residents who apply should still have a backup plan in case a volunteer is not available when snow falls. Early sign-ups give the City more time to find a match before the first snowfall.

A season-long commitment

The City describes the program as a season-long arrangement. Volunteers who sign up commit to 1 to 2 homes per session for the duration of the winter. That consistency helps recipients know who is coming and allows volunteers to build a routine.

For anyone who wants to sign up but needs to talk to City staff first, the program phone line is 604-927-6076. Staff take calls Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., from October 1 through March 31.

What the law says about sidewalk clearing in BC

Provincial law gives Coquitlam and other BC municipalities the authority to require sidewalk clearing. The BC Community Charter, in section 39(e), gives councils the power to pass bylaws requiring property owners to take actions needed to maintain the cleanliness or safety of a highway next to land they own or occupy. Under that authority, Coquitlam's bylaw sets the 10-hour window for clearing adjacent City sidewalks after a snowfall.

The legal obligation applies to every property owner, including seniors and people with disabilities. The Snow Angel program is the City's way of helping those residents meet a legal requirement they cannot meet on their own. A resident who cannot clear their sidewalk and has no volunteer assigned remains responsible and could face a bylaw notice.

The Province of BC provides home and community care services for seniors. The Snow Angel program is part of how the City of Coquitlam supports residents through the winter months alongside those provincial services.

Who is eligible to receive help

Eligibility for recipient registration is specific. A resident must be 65 or older, or under 65 and living with a disability. The sidewalk next to their property must be a City-maintained sidewalk, and the resident must be unable to clear it on their own. An application form and waiver are required to register.

The City's sign-up page states that the program cannot guarantee a match for every applicant, and that property owners remain legally responsible regardless of whether a volunteer is assigned.

Signing up now

The City published its call for volunteers on November 9, 2026. With Remembrance Day on November 11 and the winter season now underway, the City is asking residents to sign up before the first snowfall arrives.

Residents who want to volunteer can register at coquitlam.ca/SnowAngels. Seniors and people with disabilities who want to request help can apply at the same address or call 604-927-6076. The City also runs the Snow Angel program through its Parks and Community Services department, reachable at 604-927-6300 for general questions.

The program runs until March 31, 2027. Residents who have questions about whether their sidewalk is maintained by the City can check the City's online mapping tool at coquitlam.ca or call City Hall at 604-927-3000.