Toronto recently experienced a significant snowfall, triggering memories of a historic blizzard that gripped the city nearly three decades ago. Sunday’s storm, while substantial, prompts a compelling comparison to the relentless winter of 1999 – a time when the city teetered on the brink of complete standstill.
Environment Canada reported Toronto’s city centre received approximately 56 centimetres of snow on Sunday, with Pearson Airport recording 46 centimetres. However, dedicated volunteer observers measured even higher accumulations, reaching 61 centimetres downtown and a staggering 65 centimetres in Scarborough. This intense snowfall, fueled by a powerful low-pressure system, created treacherous conditions across southern Ontario.
The 46 centimetres at Pearson Airport marked a new daily record, and the total January snowfall of 88.2 centimetres is the highest the city has seen since 1937. Transportation networks were severely disrupted, with subway lines and GO Transit experiencing significant delays. The roads became perilous, with visibility reduced to near zero in blowing snow.
Provincial police responded to approximately 200 collisions and aided over 150 vehicles stranded in ditches. City crews, bolstered by 600 plows and 1,300 personnel, worked tirelessly to clear roadways and sidewalks, with Mayor Chow promising a complete clearing operation. The focus quickly shifted to residential streets, where space for snow removal is particularly limited.
The winter of 1999 unfolded as a series of escalating storms. The month began with an initial dumping of 40 centimetres, followed by another significant snowfall the subsequent weekend. But it was the blizzard that struck less than a week later that truly brought Toronto to its knees.
That final storm delivered a massive 78 centimetres, bringing the cumulative snowfall by January 13th to an astonishing 118 centimetres. The city was paralyzed; roads were impassable, the TTC ground to a halt, flights were cancelled, and schools were forced to close. The situation was dire, demanding an unprecedented response.
Faced with a city brought to its knees, then-Mayor Mel Lastman made the extraordinary decision to call in the Canadian military. Hundreds of soldiers from Petawawa were dispatched to assist with snow removal, a move that drew both relief and ridicule from across the country. It was a bold, and some argued, dramatic step.
After two days of invaluable service, Lastman stood down the military, expressing his gratitude for their assistance in clearing crucial catch basins and fire hydrants. He defended his decision to call for aid, stating firmly that the safety of Toronto’s citizens was paramount. “Better safe than sorry,” he declared, unapologetically.
Beyond clearing snow, the soldiers provided critical support to stranded travellers and transported individuals to hospitals when ambulances were unable to navigate the snow-choked streets. Their presence offered a lifeline during a time of profound crisis, demonstrating the power of collective action in the face of overwhelming adversity.
