Play safe this August Civic Holiday

Aug. 3, 2020 10:00 a.m.
​Check ahead for today’s Simcoe Day updates

Thinking about hiking outdoors or playing at a local park in Vaughan today? The City is reminding residents to remain vigilant and stay safe this August Civic Holiday – Simcoe Day in Vaughan.
 
The following outdoor facilities are open today:
  • Basketball courts
  • Benches
  • Bocce courts
  • Off-leash dog park
  • Outdoor exercise equipment
  • Parking lots
  • Picnic tables and gazebos
  • Playgrounds
  • Premium/artificial fields and diamonds (by permit)
  • Skateboard parks
  • Splashpads (hours extended to 9 p.m. daily)
  • Sports fields and baseball diamonds
  • Tennis courts
  • Trails
  • Washrooms 
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 social circles; avoid gatherings of more than 100 people outdoors; do not share play 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 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. 
 
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, Vaughan Playschool resources and the Virtual Summer Adventures program.
  • kid-friendly pollinator activities such as scavenger hunt tools, crossword puzzles and a Whose Home? interactive game.
  • the City’s corporate art gallery on Flickr.
  • the Waste-less Virtual Visits program for one-on-one video coaching on how to divert more materials into blue and green bins. Book a session by contacting 905-832-2281 or accessvaughan@vaughan.ca.
  • the new temporary bin exchange program, allowing residents to replace broken City blue boxes and green bins through home delivery. To request an exchange and arrange a delivery, call Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281.
  • the Service Vaughan reporting tool at vaughan.ca/ServiceVaughan for non-emergency service requests about garbage, roads, traffic lights and more.
  • the digital permitting portal at vaughan.ca/PermitPortal and vaughan.ca/DEPermits for citizens and building industry professionals to apply, track and pay for permits online.
  • the online pet licensing platform for purchases of numbered City tags. Tags must be purchased within 30 days of acquiring a new dog or cat.  
CLOSURES
As a reminder, the below closures are in effect:
  • Continued City facility closures including: City Playhouse Theatre; community centres (with the exception of registered in-person camp participants during the week); indoor and outdoor pools; Joint Operations Centre; public library branches; Vaughan Animal Shelter and Vaughan City Hall.
  • Access Vaughan, the City’s contact centre, is closed today. However, a live agent will be available to respond to municipal emergencies, including COVID-19-related inquiries, at 905-832-2281. 
REMINDERS
The City is advising residents to be mindful of the following:
  • Fireworks are not permitted on Simcoe Day. 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 by Simcoe Day. Citizens should have waste safely 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 – items will not be collected if the box contains any of these items. To receive customized notifications, download the Recycle Coach mobile app. 
MORE INFORMATION
Residents looking for more information can visit:
This is the first year the City of Vaughan will formally recognize the August Civic Holiday as Simcoe Day.
 
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