Voting open until Aug. 27, 2026

For immediate release (Aug. 6, 2026) – It's 'snow' joke... the finalists are in and it's time to vote in the City of Orillia's annual Name the Plow contest. After receiving more than 45 creative submissions from the community, the City has shortlisted five names for its painted snowplow, and members of the public are invited to help choose the winner.

The snowplow was painted during the Public Works Week Fun Fest earlier this year, and name submissions were accepted from May 26 to June 30, 2026.

“The Name the Plow contest is a great example of how we can bring a little fun to the important work that keeps our community safe and connected,” said Mayor Don McIsaac. “I look forward to seeing what residents choose and watching the winning name roll through our neighbourhoods this winter.”

If you need assistance filling in the voting form online or do not have access to the internet and would like to vote, please contact Mikaela Mahoney, Manager of Fleet, at 705-325-2272 for assistance.

The winning name will be unveiled this fall and displayed on the painted snowplow throughout the winter season. The plow blade will be clear-coated to help protect the artwork during winter operations.

“Our Public Works team works hard throughout the winter to keep Orillia’s roads safe and accessible,” said Roger Young, General Manager of Environment and Infrastructure Services. “This contest is a fun way to showcase the important work our crews do while adding a little personality to one of the vehicles that helps keep our community moving during the winter months.”

The City of Orillia maintains 455 (lane) km of roads, 132 km of sidewalks, 12 parking lots, 41 signalized intersections, and five bridges. Winter operations include patrolling, weather monitoring, pre-treatment, plowing, de-icing, clearing, snow removal and more.

For more information on the City’s Winter Control operations, visit orillia.ca/WinterControl.