Delivering results for the community

The 2020 National Public Works Week celebrations look different in Vaughan than they have in the past. Instead of coming together to recognize the vital work this team does each and every day by providing programs and services that directly impact citizens and businesses, it is a “new normal” this year with physical distancing and extensive safety measures in place. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has not slowed the City of Vaughan’s Public Works team down though. Instead, they have reviewed and made adjustments to the regularly scheduled spring and summer operations and reprioritized with a focus on the safety and well-being of all citizens. 

Their efforts have included expanding waste collection services to support people at home generating more garbage than usual; moving up the leaf and yard waste collection schedule; taking action to protect front-line waste collectors; launching the annual street sweeping operations and spring cleanup of garbage and debris on public property earlier than in previous years; and closing all facilities within parks – including playgrounds – to break the chain of transmission of the virus, among others. 

Keeping Vaughan clean continues to be a top priority. Here are some highlights to date: 

• The first city-wide round of street sweeping is complete – two weeks ahead of schedule – with 2,250 kilometres of curbs brushed. The second round is scheduled to begin on May 25, weather permitting.
• Litter cleanup continues with more than 1,000 tons of illegally dumped material collected.
• About 45 bags of woodlot litter and debris have been carefully gathered.
• Staff have committed almost 1,000 hours to cleaning up potholes, fixing damaged street signs and doing minor road surface repairs. 

The local business community has stepped up to help with these efforts, too. Joe Johnson Equipment (JJE), Canada’s largest infrastructure-maintenance equipment provider, recently loaned the City a street sweeper and a combination sewer cleaner for 30 days as a service-in-kind donation.  

In addition to using these vehicles for the deep-cleaning required at this time of year, this donation is allowing the Public Works team to explore additional cleaning opportunities. They have already been used to power blast hard surfaces, such as medians, and high-traffic pedestrian areas. 

The Public Works team continues to go above and beyond to provide Vaughan with essential services that safeguard and enhance the quality of life in this growing city. And although events celebrating National Public Works Week – held every year on the third week of May – have been postponed this year, residents can still meet members of the team … online! They are supporting Vaughan Public Libraries’ virtual It’s Storytime program by sharing videos of them reading their favourite children’s books. Check back throughout the week to meet storytellers Zoran, Donald, James, Nadia and Vince. 

The Public Works portfolio is divided into three departments: Environmental Services; Transportation and Fleet Management Services; and Parks, Forestry and Horticulture Operations. Together, they provide a variety of programs and services including winter maintenance of municipal roads, sidewalks and pathways; maintenance of more than 800 hectares of parks, boulevards and open spaces; forestry and horticulture services; fleet management of all City vehicles and equipment; traffic services and administration of the crossing guard program; management of garbage and recycling collection; and water, wastewater and stormwater services. 

They have received many prestigious awards, including the Peter J. Marshall Innovation Award for their winter road maintenance and solid waste collection contracts from the Association of Municipalities Ontario (AMO) as well as the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA) Professional Development Award in the over 100,000 population category. 

To receive the City’s latest COVID-19 updates as they happen, sign up for the City Update eNewsletter at vaughan.ca/CityUpdate and follow the City’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram channels. For more information about City matters, please call Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or visit vaughan.ca. 

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