A motorized ice resurfacing machine probably isn’t the best thing to be using to remove snow from your driveway — but it certainly can’t be the worst.
Some readers will recall the heavy snowfall events in the Greater Victoria area in years past and attempts to dig out. We recall one story of having to nail a 2x4 plank to a slab of plywood in order to have a makeshift snow shovel — the stores having sold out of them hours before. Not that stores carried many of them at the time in the first place.
So, when local farmer Marko Kardum put his second hand Zamboni to use on Monday evening, we shouldn’t be surprised. Especially since it was a case of a family member trying to do a good turn to another family member — and their neighbours.
That’s the thing about snow here on the Island. It can bring out the best in people — those willing to lend a hand to their neighbours and dig them out, offer rides to people whose vehicles are less than ready to tackle the weather, and so on.
Of course, snow can also bring out the worst in people — namely, drivers. And we don’t need to go on and on about that.
In the case of the snow-removing Zamboni, however, that was a good deed. Even if it didn’t last long.
In this case, the people who decided to report the Zamboni to the police might have stopped to consider the intent of its use and ask themselves, “what harm is it really causing?”
In the end, the Central Saanich Police realized that, and let Kardum drive it home.
No need for a ticket.
Its owner was about to reach untold levels of local and world wide fame, after all.
Not bad for a machine designed to create ice, rather than scooping up snow.
And sure, it might not be the best thing for the job, but don’t we all just have to drive a little slower, have a little patience and wait a few days for it all to melt?
I think we can be thankful that’s the typical snow pattern on the Island and try to ease up a little on all the snow rage.