Planning for a safe Thanksgiving

Oct. 6, 2020 11:00 a.m.
​Check ahead for reminders and closures in effect on Monday, Oct. 12

Traditionally, Thanksgiving is a time that brings families, friends and neighbours together to share delicious food and celebrate the holiday. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, the City of Vaughan is reminding citizens that everyone has a role to play in protecting the community from further transmission of the virus.
 
When making holiday plans, remember to remain vigilant, take precautions if visiting recently reopened facilities and amenities, and explore virtual options for connecting with loves ones instead. Residents must also adhere to the new Provincial limit for the number of people allowed to attend an unmonitored social gathering or organized public event – 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors while still practicing physical distancing. This includes functions, parties, dinners, gatherings, barbecues or wedding receptions held in private residences, backyards and parks.
 
By-law and Compliance, Licensing and Permit Services is working closely with York Region Public Health and York Regional Police applying and enforcing the limits on gatherings as well as other new regulations of the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020, Ontario Reg. 364/20 as amended, which was passed by the Ontario government on Sept 26, 2020. The amendments also include:  
 
  • making restrictions on the hours of operation of all eating establishments to 12 a.m. except for takeout and delivery.
  • making additional restrictions on service and consumption of liquor/alcohol by licensed establishments to 11 p.m. for sale and service, and 12 a.m. for consumption. 
  • mandating the use of face coverings in all public indoor settings across the province.
Any violations can be reported to Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or accessvaughan@vaughan.ca.
The City is also advising residents of the following service-level updates and closures in place on Monday, Oct. 12:
 
WHAT’S OPEN
The following outdoor amenities will be open on Thanksgiving:
  • Off-leash dog park
  • Outdoor basketball courts
  • Outdoor bocce courts
  • Outdoor exercise equipment
  • Outdoor volleyball courts
  • Park benches
  • Parking lots in parks
  • Park public washrooms
  • Picnic tables and gazebos
  • Playgrounds
  • Premium/artificial fields and diamonds (by permit only)
  • Skateboard parks
  • Splashpads – weekends only until Oct. 13
  • Sports fields and baseball diamonds
  • Tennis courts
  • Trails   
The Great Walks of Vaughan nature trails and community walks are also open to explore. Visit vaughan.ca/GreatWalks for additional information, including maps, locations, distances, scavenger hunt tools and more.
 
When using reopened park amenities or nature trails, residents must: stay at least two metres (approximately six feet) away from others not in their household; not share equipment such as tennis balls and racquets; and keep dogs on a leash if not in an off-leash area. Playgrounds are neither supervised nor sanitized and require everyone to take precautions – including washing hands before and after visiting.
 
Any park violations can be reported to Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or accessvaughan@vaughan.ca. Reports of this nature will be referred to the City's By-law and Compliance, Licensing and Permit Services department for investigation. Fines in the amount of $105 to $400 under the Parks By-law and $500 to $100,000 under the Emergency Measures By-law may be laid. 
 
CLOSURES
The following closures are in effect on Thanksgiving:
  • City facilities including community centres and Vaughan Public Libraries. Vaughan City Hall, the City Playhouse Theatre and the Joint Operations Centre remain closed until Jan. 4, 2021 at the earliest.
  • Access Vaughan, the City’s contact centre. However, a live agent will be available to respond to municipal emergencies, including COVID-19-related inquiries, at 905-832-2281. 
REMINDERS
Vaughan residents are encouraged to be mindful of the following on Thanksgiving:
  • Fireworks are not permitted. The City of Vaughan’s fireworks by-law (PDF) allows consumer fireworks – family fireworks set off in a private, at-home display – to be lit without a permit on Canada Day and Victoria Day only. Visit vaughan.ca/fire for more information. Violations can be reported to Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or accessvaughan@vaughan.ca.
  • Regular waste collection will not be affected. Citizens should have waste safely set out by 7 a.m. on their regular collection day. To help protect front-line workers, place all personal protective equipment, such as gloves, masks, wipes and tissues, in the garbage. Do not place these items in the blue box or green bin – otherwise they will not be collected if they contain any of these items. To receive customized notifications, download the Recycle Coach mobile app. 
VIRTUAL PROGRAMS
Feel like staying in? Many programs continue to be offered online, including:
  • Vaughan Public Libraries programs, such as virtual story time, reading clubs, audiobooks and other digital programs.
  • Recreation Services activities, such as virtual fitness classes and Vaughan Playschool resources.
  • Virtual fall programming for children and youth, including STEM, French, dance and more. Programming starts Oct. 13. Register at vaughan.ca/RecOnline.
  • Kid-friendly pollinator activities, which include a scavenger hunt, crossword puzzle and Whose Home? interactive game.
  • Business workshops and webinars hosted virtually across York Region to support local businesses and entrepreneurs.  
  • The City’s digitized fine art galleries on Flickr. Enjoy unique online experiences through four virtual art exhibitions: Treescapes, Waterscapes, Earthscapes, and Reflections on Jewish Heritage; and the City’s corporate art collection - featuring the 77 art acquisitions by local and GTA-based artists housed permanently in the collection.
  • visitvaughan.ca – a new visitor website that offers an exploration of all there is to see and do in Vaughan. The “explore online now, visit later” platform, developed in partnership with Tourism Vaughan and Central Counties Tourism, offers interactive content, including museum tours, cooking lessons, educational webinars, roller-coaster rides and more.
  • Vaughan Culture Days - a month-long celebration of Culture Days featuring virtual events that can be enjoyed from the comfort of home. With more than 50 virtual events and interactive programs scheduled in Vaughan, there is something for all residents to enjoy.
  • The Service Vaughan reporting tool at vaughan.ca/ServiceVaughan for non-emergency service requests about garbage, roads, traffic lights and more.  
MORE INFORMATION
For more information, contact Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or accessvaughan@vaughan.ca. Residents can also visit:
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