‘A way to give back:’ Regina man helps neighbours as weather warms

Much of Saskatchewan is seeing warmer temperatures, and that means melting snow and ice building up.

But in one neighbourhood, a Regina man has taken it upon himself to chip away at the ice near a drain to keep the water flowing.

Tony Arkles said that his street is terrible for ice accumulation, and the water has to go somewhere.

“The drain on the other end (of the street) had been kind of picked away, but the one on this side was just a big puddle surrounding it, so I got out the tools and started smacking the ice and breaking up with a pickaxe,” he said.

Arkles added that while his neighbours are appreciating his work, he didn’t do it for recognition.

He said this isn’t the first time he’s done some outdoor work for his neighbours. His dad gave him a snow blower, which he used to clear snow for others around the neighbourhood.

“I’m not just going to do my own house – I’ll just do the whole street,” Arkles said.

“It’s not that much extra work and it’s helping everyone out.”

He said he feels like it’s a way of giving back to the community.

“We’ve got a pretty great community. We just all try to help each other out. It’s an easy way for me to contribute back,” he said.

“While I was doing it the neighbour across the street came over and gave me a pack of sausage.”

He said he plans to continue to do chores around the neighbourhoood to help out his community.

“I’m already in my snowsuit and walking around anyway,” Arkles said.