In short
- Snow Go is a referral: your agency names a snow contractor working near you, and you pay that contractor the rate you agree.
- Snow Go Assist pays back up to 50% of each snow event, to $250 a season, or $450 for a rural home with an excessively high cost.
- It is for people aged 60 and over or with a disability, income under $51,500 single or $62,000 household, with nobody at home able to do the work.
- Applications for 2026/2027 close on Friday, November 27, 2026.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Snow Go Assist, urban | Up to 50% per event, $250 a season | City of Ottawa, approved applicants |
| Snow Go Assist, rural | Up to 50% per event, $450 a season | City of Ottawa, rural homes with an excessively high cost |
| Snow clearing by one community agency's workers | $30/h | One-hour minimum; an extra hour to return after the City plow |
| Driveway and sidewalk, per visit | $40–$150 | HomeStars Ottawa |
| Seasonal residential contract | $300–$1,800+ | HomeStars Ottawa, per winter |
Sources. Programs, eligibility, amounts, deadline and agency table: City of Ottawa, Get help clearing snow, seen 29.10.2026. Agency pages: Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre, Snow Go Assist, The Good Companions, Snow-Go, Olde Forge, Snow Removal, Ottawa West Community Support, Home Maintenance ($30/h), seen 29.10.2026. Market prices: HomeStars, snow removal in Ottawa, cost section, seen 29.10.2026. City of Ottawa, Snow Angel Program, seen 29.10.2026. City of Ottawa, Clearing snow from your property, seen 29.10.2026. Ontario, Your rights when signing or cancelling a contract, seen 29.10.2026.
Two programs, two different jobs
Snow Go finds you someone to clear the snow. The City calls it a referral service only: your agency gives you the name of a contractor working in your neighbourhood, and you pay that person directly. It covers private driveways and walkways for anyone aged 60 and over or with a disability.
Snow Go Assist helps pay for it. It is a City-funded subsidy run by the same agencies, and it works with a contractor found through Snow Go or with any company or individual you hire, as long as you can show a signed contract or proof of payment.
Who qualifies, and the papers
- aged 60 and over, or a person with a disability;
- income below $51,500 for a single person, or $62,000 for a household of two or more;
- nobody living in the home physically able to do the work.
Proof of income is one of: GIS, ODSP, the Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefit, or Ontario Works, Essential Health and Social Supports or Home Help together with proof of age or disability. The western agency says thresholds can change between winters. The agency hands out the form, screens your income proof and snow contract, and pays back approved applicants.
Which agency serves your street
Some postal codes (K1G, K1V, K2C, K2G) are split between two agencies; the street boundary decides.
| Agency | Area | Postal codes | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montfort Renaissance | French-speaking residents, whole city | City-wide | 613-241-1266 ext. 457 |
| The Glebe Centre | Glebe, Old Ottawa East and South, Carleton Heights, Heron Park, Riverside Park, West Hunt Club | K1S, parts of K1G, K1H, K1V, K2C | 613-230-5730 ext. 328 |
| The Olde Forge | River to Baseline, west of Woodroffe (Clyde south of the Queensway) | K2B, part of K2C | 613-829-9777 |
| Ottawa West Community Support | River to Baseline, Woodroffe to Preston | K1Y, K1Z, K2A, part of K2C | 613-728-6016 ext. 280 |
| South-East Ottawa CHC | Industrial to Hunt Club, St. Laurent to Bank | Parts of K1B, K1G, K1H, K1V | 613-737-5115 ext. 2316 |
| The Good Companions | Queensway to the river, Blair to Preston | K1K, K1L, K1M, K1N, K1P, K1R, K2P, part of K1G | 613-236-0428 ext. 2250 |
| Eastern Ottawa Resource Centre | East end, Cumberland, Gloucester | K1C, K1E, K1J, K1T, K1W, K2G, K4A–K4C, K4R, parts of K1B, K1V, K0A | 613-741-6025 ext. 300 |
| Western Ottawa CRC | West of Fisher, south of Baseline: Bells Corners, Barrhaven, Kanata, Carp, West Carleton, Goulbourn | K2E, K2G, K2H, K2J–K2M, K2R, K2S, K2T, K2V, K2W, part of K0A | 613-591-3686 ext. 315 |
| Rural Ottawa South Support Services | Osgoode, Rideau-Goulbourn, Manotick, Richmond | K1X, K4M, K4P, part of K0A | 613-692-4697 ext. 224 |
Agencies work differently. The Olde Forge says it vets contractors to serve 90 clients a year in its area. The Good Companions’ directory lists contractors with a police check for the vulnerable sector and at least $2 million in liability insurance. Ottawa West Community Support sends its own workers at $30 an hour.
What the subsidy is worth
Snow Go Assist pays up to half of each snow event. At 50%, the $250 urban cap is reached once $500 of clearing has been paid, and the $450 rural cap at $900. HomeStars puts Ottawa driveway and sidewalk clearing at $40–$150 a visit and a residential season at $300–$1,800+, so any season where the paid total passes $500 reaches the whole urban maximum. The City says payouts depend on the number of applicants and the funding left, and the western agency says funds go first come, first served.
Timing for the 2026/2027 winter
The western agency hands out forms every October; the City’s deadline this winter is Friday, November 27, 2026. Apply early in November and ask the agency whether the contract can follow the form by a few days. Book the clearing at the same time; see booking before winter.
What your contract or receipts should show
The agency pays per event, so ask the company for:
- your name and address, season dates and total price, signed by both sides;
- a price per visit, or a dated record of each visit;
- whether walkways and steps are included (walkway and steps);
- whether the City plow windrow is cleared each visit, since the City makes it the owner’s job (windrow clearing);
- HST on its own line.
Ontario’s consumer protection page lists snow removal among the services over $50 that need a written contract; a written estimate in it caps the final price at 10% above unless you sign a change, and a contract signed at home has a 10-day cooling-off period. A plow business needs a City snow plow contractor licence; someone with a shovel or manual snow blower does not.
Neighbours and Snow Angels
The City’s Snow Angel program thanks volunteers who clear snow for older adults and people with a disability. The City keeps no list of volunteers and does not match them with residents. A paid neighbour can still back a claim: the City accepts proof of payment from an individual, so write down each date and amount and both sign it.
Who takes your request here
Ottawa Snow Desk passes your request to one independent local snow removal company, which calls you back, sets its price and does the clearing. If you plan to claim Snow Go Assist, say so in the form, so the written contract lists the season, the visits and the price the agency needs to see.
Questions people ask
My son lives with me but works out of town all week. Can I still apply?
The rule is that nobody living in the home is physically able to do the work. The City also allows special circumstances with detailed proof, so explain the situation to your agency.
Does Snow Go Assist pay the snow company for me?
The agency reimburses approved applicants. You pay the contractor, keep the contract or receipts, and get back up to half of each event within the seasonal maximum.
I am 57. Is there any snow help for me?
Both City programs start at 60, or any age with a disability. The Good Companions and the Eastern Ottawa Resource Centre list their own senior services from 55. Ask the agency for your area.
Is there service in French?
Yes. The City lists Montfort Renaissance, through the Centre de services Guigues, for French-speaking residents anywhere in Ottawa, for both programs.
My income is above the limit. Can I still use Snow Go?
The income limit applies to Snow Go Assist. Snow Go matching is open to anyone 60 or older or with a disability, and you pay the agreed rate yourself.
