Winnipeg, MB – We asked Winnipeggers to get creative in the spirit of naming some snowplows. And, boy, did Winnipeggers deliver … just like our hard-working snow clearing crews do every winter.
“Thank you to all the Winnipeggers who brought the creativity, humour, and local references to our first ever Name that Plow contest,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham, who today unveiled the winners and presented each with a commemorative sign. “The submissions were incredible and the names are a fun way to celebrate the hardworking crews who keep our streets, sidewalks, and pathways cleared all winter long.”
We received more than 1,700 individual entries to our inaugural Name that Plow contest, with monikers ranging from local celebrity send-ups to plays on the Taylor Swift. (Taylor Drift, anyone?)
After narrowing the list to our favourite 51 – we couldn’t pick just 50! – Winnipeggers cast their votes and decided the 12 winning names:
- Dancing Blade (submitted by Jennifer Doering)
- Melt Stegall (submitted by Adam Kroeker)
- Emperor Plowpatine (submitted by Justin Willcott)
- Kevin ShovelSnowOff (submitted by Gord Koshelanyk)
- Sled Penner (submitted by Shelley Giesbrecht)
- Grady Oliveira (submitted by Brent Rombough)
- Hellebuycket (submitted by Mat Guerra)
- Slosh Morrisey (submitted by Liam Stoopendaal)
- Greg (submitted by Zoe Vander Aa)
- Mark Shovele (submitted by Todd Zdebiak)
- Winnie the Plow (submitted by Kyle Mitchell)
- Mr. Plow (submitted by Miles Hie)
The names are now displayed on the side of 12 City-owned pieces of snow clearing equipment, where they will remain until the next Name that Plow contest in a future snow-clearing season.
Name that Fleet
Winnipeggers also cast their votes for their favourite “team” name for a group of sidewalk and pathway clearing machines.
We asked local classrooms to submit for this category.
Top picks included the Storm Walkers, Snow Patrols, and the Snow Busters … but it was the Brrrrr-ger Kings, submitted by Mme. Tugby’s class from Ecole Van Belleghem that came out on top.
“This team should be treated like royalty for working so hard in the cold for our community,” said the winning classroom entry. “Plus, they all deserve burgers (and a coffee or hot chocolate) after a hard day’s work.”
Mme. Tugby’s class will join Mayor Gillingham for a pizza party at City Hall to celebrate their win.