Ritchot contest gives snow plows new nicknames

Residents gave the Rural Municipality of Ritchot’s snow plows a new personality following the municipality’s inaugural nickname contest for the machines.

The winning names for the Name A Plow contest were announced on Jan. 12 for Ritchot’s eight machines, with two dedicated in each ward.

“Everybody really enjoyed it, and now they can all see their plow go by,” said Danielle Peters, the rural municipality’s community engagement coordinator.

The contest for 18 years old and under launched in Dec. 8 and 35 submissions were received by the Dec. 15 deadline, she said. The idea for the naming contest came after the City of Winnipeg held a similar campaign for its snow clearing equipment, Peters said. Ritchot attempted to run the contest last year, but it didn’t get planned in time, she added.

“We thought it’d be fun to try it in our little neck of the woods here in Ritchot,” Peters said.

Municipal staff and councillors voted on the winning names. Peters’ favourite winning name was Big Gus because a three-year-old named the machine after his golden retriever puppy.

“Meeting him and seeing his face light up when he got to go on the plow (was special). I just thought Big Gus was really funny,” Peters said.

She hopes to run the contest again next year and give the snow equipment new names.

The contest winners were awarded a certificate, a gift card and a photo with the machine.

Ward 1 winners:

La Grosse Gratte – Miguel Bale

Frosty the Plowman – Ben Guilleminot

Ward 2 winners:

Big Gus – River Calais

The Otter Express – Luc Potvin

Ward 3 winners:

Mac n Cheese – Crosby Feaster

The Plowlar Express – Alexandre Bouchard

Ward 4 winners:

Snow-Be-Gone Kenobi – Edison Bohrn

Scoop Dogg – Chloe Van Acker