Midland residents can get a first-hand look at how the town fights snow this winter at its annual Winter Operations Open House on Thursday, Nov. 5. The free event gives people a chance to speak directly with the Operations staff who plow and salt the community's roads and sidewalks when the weather turns.

According to a Town of Midland news release, crews maintain 270 lane kilometres of roads and 105 kilometres of sidewalks across the municipality every winter. The open house is billed as an opportunity for residents to learn about the town's maintenance standards and get answers to questions about how streets and sidewalks are kept clear.

"Our Operations team works day and night through the winter to keep Midland's roads and sidewalks safe," said Thayer O'Neill, the town's Manager of Operations, in the release. "The open house is a chance for residents to talk with the people behind the plows, see how we prioritize routes during a storm, and learn how they can help keep the community moving."

The event includes two sessions, and residents are welcome to drop in at any point during either one. There is no cost to attend. Details are posted on the Town of Midland's community calendar.

What's on the town's snow page

Ahead of the open house, the town is also pointing residents to its winter maintenance webpage at midland.ca/snow. The page lays out snow removal responsibilities — including what property owners are expected to clear themselves — along with the town's service levels, answers to frequently asked questions, and the Plow Tracker, which lets residents follow plows as they work their routes during a storm.

For a town that clears more than 250 lane-kilometres of roadway each season, the open house is also a reminder that winter readiness is a shared job. Staff will be on hand to explain how routes are prioritized when a storm hits — main roads first, then the rest of the network — and what residents can do to help crews move quickly and safely.

The open house comes as the first lasting snowfall of the season typically arrives in Simcoe County over the coming weeks, and it gives Midland residents a chance to raise concerns, ask about specific streets, or simply put a face to the crews who work overnight shifts through the winter.

Anyone with questions about winter maintenance before or after the event can find full details at midland.ca/snow.