Getting ready for the ice and snow

Winter readiness event to help prepare Chestermere drivers for the winter

Anyone who’s lived, and driven, through an Alberta winter knows that conditions can be quite tricky once the ice and snow starts sticking to city roads.

Driving in the winter can be particularly challenging if one’s vehicle hasn’t been maintained.

“We spend a lot of time responding to accidents and dealing with things that could have been avoided with…proper tires or maintenance on your vehicle,” said Chestermere Municipal Enforcement Peace Officer Shawn Press.

To try and help residents have a safer winter on the roads this year, the city has partnered with Jiffy Lube to provide a Winter Readiness Vehicle Check on Nov. 25.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Chestermerians are invited to come down for a free 13-point inspection on their vehicle.

“From windshield wipers to tires transmission fluid, engine oils things like that,” said Press.

“We wanted to put together a program that helps the people in the community be prepared for the season,” he said.

The vehicle inspection will be complimentary with drivers receiving a report with the technician’s recommended work for the vehicle to get it ready for winter.

“You can come back and get it done in the future or take it to your preferred mechanic after the fact,” said Press.

While the technicians are busy inspecting cars, Press, who is certified as a car seat technician, along with one of his colleagues will be offering car seat inspections.

“To make sure that they’re safe riding around with mom and dad this winter,” said Press.

Peace Officers provided the car seat inspections in the summer which received a lot of positive feedback said Press.

And while Press hopes that the warm weather holds at least as long as the winter readiness event, he knows that sooner or later winter is coming.

“I’m a fan of the nice warm weather, I’ll take this all day long but one way or another it’s inevitable we’re going to get the cold season, we’re going to get that snap of really bad weather,” he said.

Regardless of the weather, there will be hot drinks provided while drivers wait for their cars to be inspected.

Press’s goal for this event, which he hopes will become an annual one, is to make Chestermere drivers a little more confident in tackling the upcoming winter season.

“We want to make sure that the vehicles in our community are able to handle that,” he said.

When press prepared the inspection checklist, he made sure to include the kinds of things that are often missed or the work people tend to procrastinate about getting done.

“If you’re anything like me you procrastinate when it comes to oil changes and things like that,” said Press.

The technicians will be checking the oil, fluids, tire tread, tire pressure, windshield wipers, and running lights.

“It’s quite often that we pull vehicles over or we have conversations with vehicle owners that their head lights are not working properly,” said Press.

Visibility is a huge issue, Press said that all the traction in the world won’t help if the other drivers on the highway can’t see a vehicle.

Press hopes that the event will help keep Chestermerians from being involved in accidents or breaking down on the side of the road this winter.

“Hopefully the community comes out and supports the event…and we can make sure everybody’s safe this year,” said Press.

In response to Canada's Online News Act and Meta (Facebook and Instagram) removing access to Canada's local news from their platforms, Anchor Media Inc encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this site and downloading the Rogue Radio App. Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to info@anchormedia.ca.

About the author

Staff Writer

Staff Writer

In response to Canada's Online News Act and Meta (Facebook and Instagram) removing access to local news from their platforms, Anchor Media Inc encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this site and downloading the Rogue Radio App. Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to info@anchormedia.ca


What's Playing on CFTR

Launch Player in New Window 


What's Playing on CFTR

Launch Player in New Window