Two teenagers shoveling a residential sidewalk.

The City of Edmonton is partnering with Edmonton-based schools to promote the School Snow Heroes Challenge during the 2025-2026 winter season.

The City of Edmonton is partnering with Edmonton-based schools to promote the School Snow Heroes Challenge during the 2025-2026 Winter season. Through a series of educational activities, we aim to inform, educate, and promote communal responsibility among students, encouraging them to volunteer to help clear snow for those who need assistance, such as seniors or individuals with disabilities. 

Elementary Students (1-6): Snow Heroes Challenge!*

Through our Snow Heroes Challenge, elementary students will learn the importance of snow removal to keep Edmonton safe and accessible for everyone. 

*All activities will include certificates, charts, stickers, and buttons. 

Activities for Elementary Students (1-6): Snow Heroes Challenge!
  • What happens when it snows in our community?
  • Who removes snow, and why?
  • Why can’t some people remove snow?
  • We can all help our neighbours, especially those who need us the most.

Exploration on snow removal can be adjusted to grade level, but it is recommended that children have their parents' approval and support.

We offer:

  1. A free Snow Removal Presentation: A 45-minute presentation on the importance of Snow Removal is available for participating classrooms and can be presented by a City of Edmonton ASRP staffer, or it can be delivered by the teachers themselves. Available October to December.
  2. Snow Heroes Challenge: Students will be invited to become Snow-Shovelling Heroes and help as many neighbours as possible. They can then fill out the Snow Removal charts as they clear snow in their communities, including at home. The school can also organize walks in the community to help students identify snow removal issues. (All winter season)
  3. Enter To Win A Free Pizza Party for Your Snow Heroes: A draw will be held for 15 Pizza Parties to participating schools that send us their final evaluations and results. A maximum of 30 students will be accepted per event. The pizza party will include special considerations for any food allergies and dietary restrictions, such as Halal, Kosher, vegetarian, or others. To be awarded between March 1, 2026, until April 30, 2026.

Junior and High School Students: Celebrating Community Service!

Junior and high school students can help their communities and celebrate their service with a pizza party at their school! The activities are designed to increase volunteerism in their communities, which supports seniors and people with disabilities, and open a conversation about empathy and civic responsibility in our city.

Activities for Junior and High School Students

Students in junior and high school grades will learn:

  • Snow Removal as Community Service.
  • How to support your neighbourhood
  • What is the City’s role in community well-being?
  • How do government vs. non-government organizations help with snow removal?
  • Bylaws and Citizen Obligations
  • Why do certain community members need extra support clearing snow?

Discussions on snow removal can be tailored to each grade level and according to school subjects that teachers deem relevant to the contest.

We offer:

  1. A free Snow Removal Presentation: A 45-minute presentation on the importance of Snow Removal is available for participating classrooms and can be presented by a City of Edmonton ASRP staffer, or it can be delivered by the teachers themselves. Available October to December.
  2. A Snow Removal Goal Chart: Schools will be given a Snow Removal Goal Chart for students to record snow removal services they perform in their communities to help reach the school’s goal! Participants can be students in specific classes, such as Community Service and Social Studies, or members of other school groups, like Leadership, Outdoors, or Band.
  3. Enter To Win A Free Pizza Party For Your Snow Heroes: Once the chart is completed, schools can enter to win a draw for a pizza party at the end of the season. A total of 15 Pizza Parties will be awarded to participating schools across Edmonton that submit their final evaluations and results. Enough pizza for 30 students will be provided. The pizza party will include special considerations for food allergies and dietary choices, including Halal, Kosher, vegetarian, and others. To be awarded between March 1 until April 30, 2026.

Application Intake

Applications will be open from October 1, 2025, until February 28, 2026, or until registration is full.

Funding is limited, and the City reserves the right to accept applications on a first-come, first-served basis. The Winter Together Grant Coordinator can refuse applications on any reasonable basis for reasons they deem reasonable. Incomplete applications will not hold their place in the queue.

Applications submitted without all the required information will receive only one email notification requesting the missing details. However, incomplete applications will have to be resubmitted and restart the approval process. If you need assistance with your application, please contact assistedsnowremovalprogram@edmonton.ca.

Apply for the Snow Heroes Challenge
 

Review and Approval Process

Edmonton-based schools must complete the Snow Heroes Application. Approval is contingent on the applicant schools meeting all requirements. Schools are also expected to abide by the Snow Heroes Challenge Safety Guidelines.

The City's funding approval does not constitute approval of any internal school activity details or site maps. Schools are responsible for obtaining additional authorizations related to the event, including approval from the children's parents or guardians. For any changes to the activity, the school must notify the Assisted Snow Removal Grant Coordinator to identify potential outcomes.
 

The Assisted Snow Removal Pilot Program supports seniors and Edmontonians with disabilities and mobility challenges by clearing snow from accessible walkways, driveways and public sidewalks adjacent to private property.

The Winter Together grant is directed to non-profit organizationsto celebrate neighbours helping neighbours during the winter season.