Winter didn’t knock this year — it kicked the door in.
Across the Interior of BC, we didn’t get the luxury of a few light snowfalls to ease into the season. No test runs. No gentle reminder that winter was coming. Instead, the first snowfall showed up heavy, wet, and relentless, creating one of the most challenging starts to winter operations we’ve seen in years.
For most companies, that’s a nightmare.
For us at Lyons, it’s a test — of preparation, discipline, and people.
When Training Has to Show Up Before the Snow Does
In a “normal” winter, smaller snowfalls help teams shake off the rust. Equipment gets dialed in. Routes get adjusted. New operators get real-world reps with lower risk.
This year?
There was no training snowfall.
That’s the hard part people don’t see. You can train in classrooms, run scenarios, and prepare equipment — but nothing replaces real snow on real pavement at 3:00 a.m. when clients are counting on you.
When that first storm hits hard, there’s no learning curve allowed.
Equipment Ready. Systems Ready. People Ready.
We don’t rely on luck. We rely on process, preparation, and people who care.
Our equipment was ready because it’s maintained year-round.
Our systems were ready because we don’t wing it.
And our teams were ready because they train, communicate, and take ownership.
Was it challenging? Absolutely.
Did we grind through it? Every single route.
That’s what happens when you raise the standard before the storm arrives.
Why Lyons Operates Differently
Lyons is a vertically integrated contractor, and that matters — especially in winter.
We don’t shut down and disappear.
We don’t lay people off and “rebuild” every season.
We don’t scramble for help when weather turns.
We keep our teams employed full-time, year-round because we believe something simple:
If you take care of your people, they’ll take care of the work — and the client.
Winter operations aren’t just about snow removal. They’re about leadership, consistency, and trust. Trust from our clients that we’ll show up. Trust from our team that we’ve got their backs.
This Is the Journey
We’re proud of how our crews handled this first major snowfall — not because it was easy, but because it wasn’t.
This winter will bring more challenges. More storms. More long nights. And we’ll keep showing up, learning, adjusting, and improving — together.
If you want to follow a company that:
- Invests in people
- Operates year-round with discipline
- Leads multiple service divisions under one standard
- Raises the bar for the industry
Then follow our journey.
Because winter doesn’t care about excuses —
and neither do we.
– Lyons
