Vaughan is winter ready!

The City of Vaughan’s Public Works team prepares for winter long before the snow flies. As we gear up for the first flurries, we’re launching a weeklong educational campaign on how we keep Vaughan safe and moving. 

Tune in to The Weather Network tomorrow morning from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. to learn all you need to ‘snow’ about our winter maintenance operations! Mayor Steven Del Duca and City staff will be on camera sharing lots of important updates live! 

Keeping the community safe, informed and moving throughout the winter is a top priority. Understanding what our winter maintenance program involves, when each service begins and what can impact our operations will help you prepare for the upcoming season. 

Whether it’s reducing ice or removing snow on roads or clearing it from paths, sidewalks and windrows, our crews strive to ensure everyone can travel safely throughout Vaughan despite the weather. We have a fleet of more than 230 vehicles to clear and maintain more than 2,200 lane-kilometres of roads and more than 1,200 kilometres of sidewalks and park walkways. 

During this week-long campaign, you will learn about many of our services!

• Anti-icing 
• Snowplowing
• Salting 
• Windrow clearing
• And more!

And you’ll also find out how you can help:

• Keep parked cars off the street while snowplows are out to help the City clear streets properly and safely. On-street parking is not permitted between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. in Vaughan. As outlined in the City’s Parking By-law (PDF), on-street parking that interferes with snow-clearing operations is prohibited. Vehicles found in violation may be subject to a $75 fine or towed at the owner’s expense.
• Clear snow and ice from sidewalks bordering your property to help ensure roads and sidewalks remain safe, as stated in the City’s Snow Clearing By-law 227-2022 (PDF).
• On waste collection days, set waste bins back from the curb approximately one metre on the right-hand side of your driveway, where possible (when facing the home). They should never be placed on top of or behind snowbanks. 
• Keep fire hydrants clear and accessible (one metre all around). Blocked, concealed or difficult-to-access fire hydrants can impede emergency fire response.
• Help keep catch basins and culverts clear of snow, ice and debris to prevent potential flooding during temperature fluctuations, if it’s safe to do so. 
• Remove anything from your property that may interfere with or be hazardous to plow crews. This includes landscaping features, such as fencing, decorative stones, pots, bird baths, furniture and more, as stated in the City’s Encroachment By-law 034-2017 (PDF). These items should not be within 30 centimetres of a sidewalk or one metre of a street curb.
• Be mindful of where shovelled snow is placed. It is illegal to shovel snow or ice onto the road under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act and the City’s Dumping By-law 103-2020.
• Clean snow off all vehicle surfaces before driving and keep a safe distance from snowplows and salting equipment.  

For more information on our winter maintenance operations, visit vaughan.ca/snow.

QUOTE

“No matter what Mother Nature throws our way, the City of Vaughan is winter ready! Tomorrow morning, we’re excited to kick off this year’s winter maintenance operations live on The Weather Network from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Tune in to find out how we’re working behind-the-scenes to prepare for this season. Our snowplows, salting equipment and dedicated staff are well-equipped to take on any kind of weather because Vaughan’s Public Works team prepares year-round to ensure the community stays safe and keeps moving. Their commitment to delivering Service Excellence is contributing to a high quality of life in our community and ensuring you can make the most of this winter season.”

- Mayor Steven Del Duca

QUICK FACTS 

• The City of Vaughan provides residents with a high level of winter maintenance services. Whether it’s reducing ice or removing snow on roads or clearing it from paths, sidewalks and windrows, the City’s crews strive to ensure everyone can travel safely throughout Vaughan despite the weather.
• The City has a fleet of more than 230 vehicles – including salter/snowplow units, windrow machines, sidewalk machines, pickup trucks equipped with plows and salters, cul-de-sac-clearing machines and anti-icing units – to ensure residents are provided with high-quality winter services. The City uses this equipment to clear and maintain more than 2,200 lane-kilometres of roads and more than 1,200 kilometres of sidewalks and park walkways. 

LEARN MORE 

• City’s winter maintenance webpage