Hamilton 'ambassador' thrilled after Chillin' Dylan snowplow named in his honour

After a flurry of votes and community spirit, Hamilton's "positive ambassador" Dylan Atack has inspired the new name of a city snowplow. 

"Chillin' Dylan" is ready to clear the streets this week after the name garnered 3,091 votes in the annual contest, the city announced Wednesday. In second place is Snowbi Wan Kenobi with 437 votes. In all, 10 snowplows out of the city's fleet of 115 will have new names this year. 

When Atack, 35, said he heard the news, he was "really excited."

He volunteers for the Brantford Bulldogs and Hamilton Cardinals, works for the Hamilton Tiger Cats, and is a regular at sports games, pumping up the crowds. That's why, he said, he calls himself a positive ambassador for the city. 

But a few weeks ago, Atack had an eye stroke and permanently lost vision in one eye, he said. He's been recovering at home since. 

The snowplow naming contest has boosted his spirits, he said. 

"I can't wait for it to snow so I can see my plow out salting and plowing the streets of Hamilton." 

For the last three years, the city has run the "name the plow" contest asking residents to submit ideas and vote. The top 10 names each year are then printed in white letters on the back of the blue vehicles. 

Winning names in 2023 and 2024 included Plowy McPlowface, CTRL-SALT-DELETE and Taylor Drift.

When the contest started this time around, Atack decided to have fun and see if people could come up with a creative name for him to enter.

He said he asked Y108 Rocks! to get listeners to help and they came up with Chillin' Dylan, he said. Then his family and friends supported him with their votes.

The 2025 winners are: 

• Chillin' Dylan
• Snowbi Wan Kenobi
• Scoop Dogg
• Icekee Waa Waa
• Blizzard of Oz 
• Eugene Sleddy 
• Sleetwood Mac
• Gordie Plow
• Austin Plowers
• Thaw Patrol