The Lower Mainland doesn't get harsh winters, and that's exactly the problem. Properties here are rarely built or maintained for snow and ice the way colder regions are, so a single unexpected freeze can catch a building completely unprepared. An unprepared entryway or parking lot isn't just an inconvenience; it's a liability.

Here's what a property should have sorted before the first cold snap.

1. Walkway & Entrance Prep

Slip-and-fall incidents cluster around entrances, stairs, and ramps, which are the highest-traffic and highest-liability points on any property. Confirm salt and ice-melt stock is on hand and that there's a clear response plan for who applies it and when.

2. Parking Lot & Drive Aisle Plan

Know your plowing trigger point (how much accumulation before a crew is dispatched) and your response window before it snows, not during. Waiting until a lot is impassable to make that call costs time you don't have.

3. Drainage Checks

Blocked storm drains and gutters turn a normal rain-into-freeze cycle into ice sheets exactly where people walk and drive. Clear debris before the season starts, not after the first complaint.

4. Roof & Gutter Inspection

Ice damming happens when gutters are already compromised going into winter. A pre-season inspection catches loose fastenings, clogs, and drainage issues while they're still a maintenance item, not an emergency call.

5. Signage & Communication

Temporary caution signage and a clear tenant/resident communication plan reduce both incidents and liability exposure. Decide now who posts it and where it's stored.

6. A Standing Service Agreement

The properties that handle winter well aren't the ones scrambling to find a contractor after the first snowfall. They are the ones with a snow and ice management plan already in place before the season starts.

Fraser Facility Services manages snow plowing, ice control, and seasonal exterior upkeep for properties across the Lower Mainland. If your building doesn't have a winter response plan locked in yet, now is the time, not in the middle of the first storm.