Kenora’s Age-Friendly Committee is recommending a new program to make it safer to walk during the winter.

It’s called Snow Moles.

Mary Bawden is chair of the committee and says winter can pose a number of hazards, particularly to seniors.

“Winter conditions can make walking dangerous, particularly for older people and those using mobility aids,” Bawden told Kenora city council this week.

“Older adults can become housebound and socially isolated in winter months, fearful of falling on ice and unable to climb over high snowbanks.”

Bawden says Snow Moles would work with the city’s roads department to identify walking hazards and address them.

“Volunteers would be recruited from various parts of the city, including Keewatin.  They would then be asked to keep track of barriers or obstacles they come across on their various walks and report them to the roads department.”

Bawden adds they borrowed the idea for Snow Moles from the City of Ottawa and a number of communities in eastern Ontario are also using the initiative.