Waterloo region digging out after a messy winter storm
Residents in Waterloo region continue to dig out after Wednesday’s winter storm.
According to Environment Canada, around 18 centimetres fell in Kitchener, with close to 20 centimetres in northwestern areas of Waterloo and Wellington.
The snowfall caused hazardous road conditions on Wednesday.
Waterloo regional police reports there were 67 crashes from 8:30 a.m. Wednesday to 8:30 a.m. Thursday. Police said six of those crashes caused injury.
ROADWAY CLEAN-UP
Snow events were declared in each of the Tri-Cities on Wednesday, banning parking on city streets while crews worked to clear the mess.
As of 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Kitchener was set to lift its snow event at 8 p.m, while snow events in Waterloo and Cambridge were expected to end at midnight.
CTV News reached out to both the cities of Kitchener and Waterloo, as well as the Region of Waterloo for comment on snow removal efforts, but interviews were not granted.
“City crews were kept busy clearing and re-clearing main and arterial roads as the snow continued," a spokesperson for the City of Waterloo said in an emailed statement. "Once the snow stopped falling, they were able to make their way into neighbourhoods to begin clearing residential roads. The street parking ban remains in effect until midnight tonight, when we expect crews to have completed their routes.”
RESIDENTS DIG OUT
Some residents who spoke to CTV News said they didn’t mind the winter wallop.
“We can’t complain. Getting our first big snowfall at the end of January, there’s only eight more weeks left in winter, so it’s all good,” said area resident Shirley Fraser.
Another resident said snow can be fun.
“I have granddaughters that I’m going to watch this afternoon and I know they’re going to be out in it making snow angels and snowmen so you got to look at snow through the eyes of a kid, right? Then you can enjoy it,” said Linda Johnston.
Temperatures are set to drop over the coming days so the snow is expected to stick to the ground instead of just melt away.
"[It] wasn't too bad, typical end of January weather," said Kitchener resident Jamie Carey. "I'm sure more is going to come in February."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Deceased found in St. Lawrence River were trying to cross U.S. border: police
The six people whose bodies were recovered from the St. Lawrence River Thursday consisted of two families of Romanian and Indian origins who were likely trying to enter the U.S. illegally, police said Friday.

Trump to be arraigned Tuesday to face New York indictment
Former U.S. President Donald Trump will be arraigned Tuesday after his indictment in New York City, court officials said Friday, his formal surrender and arrest presenting the historic, shocking scene of a former U.S. commander in chief forced to stand before a judge.
'Rust' set manager convicted in death of cinematographer
Dave Halls, first assistant director on Western "Rust, was sentenced on Friday for the on-set shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, marking the first conviction for the 2021 fatality which shook Hollywood.
Ottawa gives final approval, with conditions, for Rogers' $26B purchase of Shaw
The largest telecommunications deal in Canadian history will go forward after Rogers Communications Inc.'s $26-billion takeover of Shaw Communications Inc. received approval from Ottawa on Friday.
These are the conditions -- and penalties if violated -- of the Rogers-Shaw deal
Canadian Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne has approved Rogers Communications Inc.'s $26-billion takeover of rival telecom Shaw Communications Inc., but there are conditions attached and penalties of up to $1 billion if the companies violate them.
Syphilis cases in babies skyrocket in Canada amid health-care failures
The numbers of babies born with syphilis in Canada are rising at a far faster rate than recorded in the United States or Europe, an increase public health experts said is driven by increased methamphetamine use and lack of access to the public health system for Indigenous people.
N.S. doctor denies alleged negligence in case of woman who died after long ER wait
A doctor named in a lawsuit after a Nova Scotia woman died in hospital following a long wait to see a physician has denied allegations from the family that he failed in his duties.
Former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole not seeking re-election, leaving this spring
Former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole says he will not seek re-election and plans to resign his seat this spring. The Ontario MP led the Conservatives and served as official Opposition leader from August 2020 until February 2022, when a majority of his caucus voted to remove him from the post.
Carole Baskin's Florida animal sanctuary, Big Cat Rescue, to close and move big cats to Arkansas, husband says
Most of the big cats at Carole Baskin's Florida animal sanctuary profiled in Netflix's 'Tiger King' series will be moving to a sanctuary in Arkansas and Big Cat Rescue's land will eventually be sold.