After snow-removal company's abrupt closure, West Island volunteers pick up their shovels

Many people in Montreal's West Islandare heading into 2020 with a renewed sense of community and goodwill, helping neighbours after the sudden shuttering of a local snow removal company that had served the area for 30 years.

Bo-Pelouse ceased operations Monday, leavingthousands of customers in Dorval and Pointe-Claire snowed in.

Some 21 centimetres of snow was expected to have fallen by the end of the day Tuesday,and with neighbours worriedaboutseniors, people with disabilities and single parents for whom shovelling out is a challenge, Vicky Jones decided to act.

The Dorval resident created two Facebook pages where people needing help could find volunteers one for Dorvaland one for Pointe-Claire.

Jones said in some cases, the response has been overwhelming.

Help in less than an hour

Dorval resident Anna Campagna said she heard about the Facebook group through Jones's interview on Daybreak.

Campagna, 69, isretired and on a fixed income. She posted a call for help Tuesday morning.

"I had a yearly contract with Bo-Pelouse for snow removal [at $1,036]and in November paid them an additional $450 for clearing a pathway,"she wrote.

She paid extra because she needs apath cleared for the company that delivers her oil, or it won't make the delivery.

"I would appreciate the help of some volunteers today as I try to find a permanent solution," she wrote.

Within an hour of posting to the group, help arrived.

Campagna said she was expecting a group of men, but instead, a womanshowed up in a small car and took out a shovel.

The womancleared the walkway and a path for the oil delivery company, but Campagna stopped her before she could shovel the driveway.

She said she felt bad because the woman had already done so much, andthe driveway was less essential.

"It's so nice to learn that I live in a caring community," Campagna said.

Jones said she hasn't thought about what she'll do with the two groups after former Bo-Pelouse customers have figured out what to do for the rest of the season.

She's considering converting the groupsinto general calls for volunteers within the community.