YardShift
Barrhaven, Ottawa
Snow shoveling in Barrhaven
YardShift connects Barrhaven homeowners with local teenagers who shovel driveways and walkways nearby. Every teen is parent-approved before their first job, and you pay through the app once the work is done — never cash in a snowbank.
How it works
- 1
Post the job
Describe what you need, pick the area, and set your own price. Nothing is charged yet.
- 2
Approve who claims it
Nearby teens who offer this service see your job. You review who claimed it, including their rating, and approve the one you want.
- 3
Pay when it's done
Your card is only charged once you've seen the finished work and released the payment. You can add a tip afterwards.
Built for an Ottawa winter
Ottawa averages well over 200cm of snow a season, and the worst part usually isn't the storm itself — it's the ridge the plow leaves across the end of your driveway hours after you've already cleared it. Because YardShift teens live within a couple of kilometres, posting a job the night before a forecast snowfall generally gets it claimed before the snow starts.
Why parent-approved teens
A parent signs off first
No teen can claim a job until a parent or guardian approves their account through a one-time link and signs a liability waiver. There's no way around that step.
No cash at the door
Payment is authorized when you approve someone and only captured once you release it. Neither side handles cash, and there's a record of every job.
They actually live here
Teens only see jobs inside the radius they set around their own home, so the person mowing your lawn is a neighbour, not someone driving in from across the city.
Common questions
How much does snow shoveling cost?
You set the price, starting at $20. Barrhaven driveways are commonly posted between $25 and $45 depending on size and how much snow is coming. YardShift adds a 12% service fee on top (minimum $3) — it's never deducted from what the teen earns, so they keep the full amount you posted.
Can I book it before a storm?
Yes, and it's the better way to do it. Post the job when you see the forecast rather than the morning after — teens claim jobs in advance, and everyone is looking for the same help once 30cm has already fallen.
Does it include the walkway and steps?
Whatever you write in the job notes. Shoveling jobs cover the driveway by default; if you also want the front walk, steps, or a path to the shed, say so when you post and the teen sees it before claiming.
What about salt?
Say so in the notes and leave it somewhere the teen can reach. Most homeowners who want salt down leave a bag in the garage and mention where it is.
Need snow shoveling in Barrhaven?
Post a job in a couple of minutes. You set the price, and you only pay once the work is done.
Get started