#PlayVaughanLocal this winter!

Cold winter weather doesn’t mean the outdoor fun has to end! The City of Vaughan invites you to venture outside, be active and enjoy Vaughan’s many rinks, trails and winter activities this season.

Outdoor skating rinks

Take in the crisp winter air while skating on one of Vaughan’s five outdoor ice rinks, open until March 2022:

• Chancellor Community Centre (350 Ansley Grove Rd.)
• Dufferin Clark Community Centre (1441 Clark Ave. W.)
• Father Ermanno Bulfon Community Centre (8141 Martin Grove Rd.)
• Garnet A. Williams Community Centre (501 Clark Ave. W.)
• Vellore Village Community Centre (1 Villa Royale Ave.)

Weather permitting, these outdoor rinks are open daily until 11 p.m., except for Father Ermanno Bulfon which closes at 10:30 p.m. Rinks are also subject to daily closures for regular maintenance between 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesdays at Chancellor and Dufferin Clark community centres, and on Thursdays at Father Ermanno Bulfon, Garnet A. Williams and Vellore Village community centres. Changerooms are not available for use, but washroom access is permitted. Picnic tables are on-site for you to put on and remove your skates.

All rinks are unsupervised, unless otherwise stated in the recreational skating and shinny hockey schedule at vaughan.ca/skate. You can report any concerns to Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or by email at accessvaughan@vaughan.ca. All violations reported through the City’s contact centre will be directed to the By-law and Compliance, Licensing and Permit Services department for investigation.

For the enjoyment and safety of all skaters, please follow Skating Rink Guidelines (PDF) and abide by all York Regional Public Health COVID-19 safety measures, including physical distancing and sanitizing your hands. Stay home if you are feeling unwell. As a reminder, do not skate or play on stormwater management ponds – they are not designed or intended for recreational use.

Snowshoe program

The City’s snowshoe program is back again this year by popular demand! Snowshoes are loaned, free of charge, on a weekly basis for four days, Thursday to Sunday, and include one set of snowshoes per person registered while quantities last. A refundable deposit of $50 and a signed mandatory waiver (PDF) are required at the time of registration.

Snowshoes are available for curbside pickup anytime between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursdays at the registered rental location: Al Palladini Community Centre, Dufferin Clark Community Centre, Maple Community Centre, North Thornhill Community Centre or Vellore Village Community Centre. Register at vaughan.perfectmind.com or watch this video demonstration on how to register for a drop-in program for instructions. If you require further assistance with registration, call Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or email RecCSD@vaughan.ca.

Tobogganing

Feel the wind in your hair while sliding down one of the City’s two tobogganing hills, located at North Maple Regional Park (11085 Keele St.) and Uplands Golf and Ski Club (46 Uplands Ave.). Toboggan hills are unsupervised and open daily, weather permitting.

Winter hiking and cycling

Vaughan’s cycling and multi-use recreational trails network is growing and consists of cycle tracks, bike lanes, multi-use pathways and multi-use recreational trails.  Stay active this winter by exploring the Vaughan Super Trail, the Bartley Smith Greenway, the William Granger Greenway (Humber Trail) or Clark Avenue cycle tracks. When winter hiking or cycling, please remember to do so according to winter conditions. This means dressing for the weather, wearing reflective gear and ensuring your bike is equipped with proper lighting if cycling. Learn more at vaughan.ca/trails and vaughan.ca/cycling. Vaughan cycling facilities are also included in the York Region Cycling Map.

Neighbourhood walks

Take a walk around your city this winter! You can choose from 12 different trails and neighbourhood walks throughout the city: Jersey Creek Neighbourhood Walk, Mackenzie Glen Neighbourhood Walk, Maple Nature Reserve Nature Walk, Marita Payne Neighbourhood Walk, North Maple Regional Park Nature Walk, Peter Rupert Neighbourhood Walk, Rainbow Creek Neighbourhood Walk, Riverwalk Neighbourhood Walk, Sonoma Heights Neighbourhood Walk, Sugarbush Nature Walk, Vellore Neighbourhood Walk and William Granger Greenway Nature Walk. There’s a trail for all ages, abilities and comfort levels.

Visit vaughan.ca/GreatWalks for more information and maps of top trails or the Parks and Trails webpage for an interactive view of all trails and parks throughout the city. The Great Walks of Vaughan walking trail guide (PDF) and the City’s Great Walks of Vaughan map legend (PDF) are also available.

Skiing and snowboarding

Uncover your inner athlete this winter by hitting the slopes! All ages and abilities can sign up for skiing or snowboarding lessons at Uplands Golf and Ski Club. Season and daily passes are available for purchase online, and equipment is available for rent. Visit golfnorth.ca/uplands for program schedules, fees and COVID-19 health and safety guidelines.

If you take pictures while enjoying the outdoors in Vaughan, share your good times on social media with the hashtag #PlayVaughanLocal. Let your followers know there is plenty of fun to be had in Vaughan’s beautiful outdoors – just steps away from home. Visit vaughan.ca/PlayVaughanLocal for more information on all outdoor activities within the city.

Remember to be safe

The City urges you to continue to do your part to help stop the spread of COVID-19 while visiting outdoor amenities. It’s important to follow all York Region public health guidelines – including practising physical distancing and washing and sanitizing your hands thoroughly and often, among others.

If you feel unwell, and believe you have symptoms related to COVID-19,  contact York Region Public Health at 1-800-361-5653 or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000. For additional information and resources on COVID-19, visit York Region's website at york.ca/COVID19.

For the latest updates, subscribe to Vaughan News and follow the official corporate channels on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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