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A Good Samaritan is helping keep sidewalks clear in Medicine Hat

Feb 9, 2018 | 4:34 PM

 

MEDICINE HAT, AB. – The recent snowfall has city crews still busy clearing streets and one Medicine Hat resident is looking to lend a hand.

Gordon Paulson lives in the South Ridge area and is known around his neighbourhood as the man with the backpack.

“Pretty much everybody in my cul-de-sac seems to stay in the house until I come out and blow snow,” he said.

Paulson said he has taken to social media to take his snow machine outside his neighbourhood.

“I usually tweet out when there is a lot of snow,” he said. “If some older people need some help shovelling their snow or need some help cleaning their drive way, I just try to give them a little bit of a hand with it.”

In the last 24 hours, Paulson says he has responded to 10 calls for help.

“Honestly, not a lot of people ask, but the odd person does send me a private message,” he said.

If residents don’t have their own good Samaritan helping clean their walk ways, city by-law does require sidewalks around private property be cleared within 24 hours of a snowfall.

Community Peace Officer Darren Bender, said they do issue warnings if they haven’t had a chance to clear their sidewalks after a storm.

“We like to give people a little bit of a chance to get it done before we show up,” he said. “If it’s very obvious that they haven’t done it all year, we do issue tickets for it.”

Bender said they will issue a fine for $100 if residents fail to clear their sidewalks.

“I think it’s really important to be proactive with it,” he said. “If you find it hard to muscle that amount of snow, shovel it two or three times instead of just once at the end.”

Paulson says he is only a tweet away if anyone needs help with their snow removal, it’s his way of giving back.

“You know a lot of people do things in this community for people, it’s just kinda what I’ve embraced,” he said. “You always feel good when you’re able to help somebody out.”

If you would like to contact Paulson for help, he can be reached on Twitter @houseguy4410