No business like snow business

And then there was Andrea Katz. The Kirkland resident and single mother had signed on with Avalanche snow clearing for the winter – a service which had cost her $200 – a lower-than-average price which enticed her to sign on.

"I'm a single mom," she said. "Every little bit helps."

Problem is, the plow assigned to Katz' home never showed up. She waved down a passing plow from a rival company and that driver cleared her driveway, refusing payment.

Since then, Avalanche snow clearing has been the subject of dozens of phone calls from angry clients demanding to know why the service had not lived up to its end of the bargain.

It gets better. Monday morning, four days after the snowstorm ended, irate clients were still in front of Avalanche's headquarters on Labrosse Avenue in Pointe Claire, demanding to know when their driveways would be cleared and their contracts honoured. Some were even demanding a full refund and wouldn't be satisfied until they had one.

It's simply the latest salvo in the seemingly ongoing war between snow-clearing clients and the companies who sign them on in the West Island.

Two winters ago, Syljack snow clearing was the subject of heated criticism for its policy of charging $40 on top of the contract's cost after more snow fell than the company had budgeted for. Now, a company that was happy to take clients' money before the white stuff hit seems unable or unwilling to live by the terms of some of the contracts. And that's a shame.

One snow-clearing company owner we spoke to said this type of sketchiness is far too prevalent in the industry, and especially in the West Island, where prices per driveway per year average about $100 to $150 less than in other suburban enclaves such as Laval and the South Shore. The issue of unqualified plow operators and driver fatigue also popped up, with the company owner saying with some companies running hundreds of plows onto West Island streets, there simply isn't enough qualified, rested talent to fill out a roster

"There needs to be more oversight," he said. "Right now, there are too many under-qualified kids out there operating plows and damaging cars and homes," he said. "Lord only knows how many of these drivers are working all night and then working all day because of a storm. There needs to be some sort of structure in place."

Some West Island cities make services that operate within their limits register with City Hall, but the practice isn't widespread.

So if you decide that shoveling isn't for you, we would advise West Islanders to spend a little extra time getting to know your snow-clearing companies before signing on.

Until then, just remember that shoveling is great exercise.