Austin Plowers, Taylor Drift among top names from Chatham-Kent residents for snowplows

The results are in. Chatham-Kent residents have selected the names they want for the snowplows that will be clearing their streets this winter.

The southwestern Ontario municipality has announced the results of its annual snowplow naming contest, and mayor Darrin Canniff said "they are all great names."

The winning names are:

• Skip the Ditches.

• Plow Patrol.

• Austin Plowers.

• Taylor Drift.

• Snowtorius B.I.G.

• The Big LePlowski.

Canniff said members of the public submitted more than 200 names for consideration. The list was then narrowed down to about 25 or 30, from which the top names were chosen by way of a vote.

"It's pretty scientific. We get about 20 people, they vote to decide and we eliminate any ones that are inappropriate," Canniff told CBC Radio's Afternoon Drive host Colin Butler.

"We're super excited because now we have about 26 plows named but we have in Chatham-Kent about 70 plows so we've got lots more room to name names."

The competition was first held when lockdowns were in place during the COVID-19 pandemic and the municipality was "looking for some fun stuff" for people to do, Canniff said.

But with predictions of a warmer winter and less snow, Canniff said it might be a while before people see the plows bearing the 2023 names.

"I'm very hopeful that actually we don't have to take them out this year because that means we don't have snow," he said.

"I don't appreciate snow maybe as much as other people do but we've also got software so you can go track all these online."

Canniff said the snowplow naming competition is "one of those things [that sees] the community coming together."