Sammy Snowplow Goes Back to School

Thousands of elementary school children will have an old friend back to teach them how to be safe around snowy Nova Scotia roads this winter, and this year he's bilingual.

Today, Dec. 4, at Three Mile Plains District School in Hants County, Sammy Snowplow kicked off his winter season of visits to Nova Scotia school children. Students saw an interactive DVD featuring Sammy, an animated character who promotes winter safety, and got a close-up look at one of the Department of Transportation and Public Works' snowplows.

Sammy was introduced last winter when Transportation and Public Works' snowplow operators took his winter safety message to schools all over Nova Scotia. This year a French version of the DVD has been produced so Sammy (known in French as Sammy le Chasse-Neige) can appear in French-language classrooms.

"Sammy was a big hit last year," said Dave Kelly, area manager for Transportation and Public Works in Hants County. "Our drivers found that he was very effective holding the attention of younger children and helping them get the message of winter safety."

The program creates awareness about the importance of winter safety and ensures that children remember the key safety tips throughout the season. The DVD presentation is backed up by materials such as bookmarks and activity books that are left behind at schools.

"Our snowplow drivers are very enthusiastic about this program because they were the ones who helped us develop it," said Angus MacIsaac, Minister of Transportation and Public Works. "This proactive approach to winter safety may save a child's life."

For more information, and to meet Sammy Snowplow, see the website at www.sammysnowplow.ca . Sammy the Snowplow was produced by Communications Nova Scotia.