Virtual programming continues
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COVID-19 Updates
City of Vaughan news is released on a daily basis and kept on vaughan.ca for reference purposes. For the most recent updates and news as they happen, visit vaughan.ca/COVID19, subscribe to Vaughan News and follow the official corporate channels on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
The COVID-19 pandemic keeps evolving – and so does the City of Vaughan’s approach to delivering Service Excellence to the community. The City continues to offer a multitude of online programs, services, activities, tools and resources for residents and businesses to access from the safety and comfort of home.
Below are some examples of how the City has enhanced traditional services and digital platforms to support residents throughout the global pandemic.
RECREATION SERVICES
The City is offering new virtual recreation program sessions starting in May, with activities ranging from arts and crafts, baking, cooking and dance to martial arts, fitness, sports, science, and life skills. A full list of online programs is available in the spring Recreation eGuide. All sessions run once a week for up to five weeks, for 45 minutes to one hour via Zoom. Online registration is now available at vaughan.perfectmind.com. For assistance registering, call Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or email RecCSD@vaughan.ca.
Children four to nine years old can also participate in virtual playdates and parties to enjoy some much-needed social time. Hosted by a recreation instructor via Zoom, there are seven different themed options available, seven days a week for one hour. Activities include acrylic painting, building a windmill, crafting, playing clubhouse games, hip hop dancing, ninja training and dressing like a royal! Book now by calling Recreation Services at 905-832-8500 and pressing 2. For more information, please visit vaughan.ca/PartyTime or email RecCSD@vaughan.ca.
VAUGHAN PUBLIC LIBRARIES
Join Vaughan Public Libraries (VPL) for many fun, educational and creative online programs for all ages, hosted via Zoom. Register for kids French book clubs, adult book clubs, trivia nights, online escape rooms, storytimes for little ones and more. For details and a list of upcoming programs and events with VPL, visit vaughanpl.info/programs. Residents can also access a wide variety of free online Audiobooks and eBooks from the comfort of home at vaughanpl.info/materials.
Citizens are invited to take part in the next instalment of VPL’s monthly virtual lecture series titled Reflecting on Racism and Discrimination. Join tomorrow, Wednesday, April 28, at 7 p.m. for a focus on building an anti-racist vocabulary – including unconscious bias, white privilege, microaggression, allyship, BIPOC and more. The session will be presented by the Urban Alliance on Race Relations, a non-profit organization working proactively with the community and public and private sectors to provide educational programs and research addressing racism in society. For more information, visit VPL’s website. Registration is available through Eventbrite.
Even though all Vaughan Public Libraries are currently closed following Ontario’s stay-at-home order, select libraries are offering curbside pickup. Visit vaughanpl.info/libraries for more information and curbside hours of operation.
WASTE SERVICES
The City offers an online sorting tool to help residents understand what waste items go where. The Recycle Coach app for mobile phones is also available for download and provides waste-less tips and a personalized waste schedule with optional alerts for what to put to the curb. Struggling to meet the three-item garbage limit? The City offers one-on-one video coaching on how to divert more materials into blue boxes and green bins in a Waste-less Virtual Visit. Book a session by contacting Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or accessvaughan@vaughan.ca.
The 2021 Waste Collection Schedule (PDF) is also available online. The schedule includes Double-Up Days, leaf and yard waste collections, sorting tips and other important waste reminders per zone.
Through Service Vaughan online, residents can purchase garbage tags, blue boxes and green bins, and exchange a broken City bin. For more information about waste and litter in Vaughan, visit vaughan.ca/waste.
HAVE YOUR SAY
The City values the voice of the public and is dedicated to having constructive dialogue with the community that is open, transparent, accessible and inclusive. There are always virtual public engagement opportunities in the works, including the Parkland Dedication Guidelines survey and the upcoming Carrville Community Centre, Library and District Park Public Information Session.
Visit vaughan.ca/HaveYourSay to learn more about these city-building projects and others, get involved in current projects, and stay up to date on upcoming feedback opportunities.
COUNCIL MEETINGS
Electronic-participation Committee of the Whole and Council meetings continue. Upcoming agendas can be viewed at vaughan.ca/CouncilMeetings. While Vaughan City Hall remains closed to the public, visit vaughan.ca/HaveYourSay to learn more about how to participate virtually, including speaking live to Council via teleconference or telephone. Email and written communications are also accepted. Citizens can watch the meetings by tuning in to the live broadcast at vaughan.ca/LiveCouncil.
PLANNING AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT
Through the City’s digital platform, Service Vaughan, building-industry professionals and members of the community can easily apply for a building permit, track its progress and pay for it all in one place. The latest feature is the Building and Development option. Users can submit, review and pay for development engineering permit applications, including for gradings and pools, in addition to applying for building permits and estimating development charges.
Additional information on obtaining development engineering permits for pools, grading for sheds, home additions and more is available at vaughan.ca/DEPermits.
Planning applications can be submitted to the City’s Planning Technicians, Michael Torres at michael.torres@vaughan.ca and Michelle Perrone at michelle.perrone@vaughan.ca. For details on the application, visit the City’s Development Planning website. All planning applications and supporting materials are available online on the PLANit Application viewer.
The City’s Development Planning and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC) teams have innovated their processes to ensure planning approvals and shovel-ready projects can move forward during the pandemic. These include digital new development applications, electronic-participation Pre-Application Consultations and virtual Heritage Vaughan and Design Review Panel meetings.
BY-LAW AND COMPLIANCE, ENFORCEMENT SERVICES
Online payments of administrative monetary penalties, such as parking tickets, can be made via payvaughanticket.com. To arrange an alternative method of payment or schedule a dispute appointment, call 905-832-2281 within 15 days of receiving a ticket. At the time of the call, individuals will be asked their preferred option for a screening – phone or online. If an online screening is requested, an online form will be sent via email. Once completed, the Screenings Officer will review the information and inform the resident of the decision by email, in addition to any applicable next steps.
For business licensing and permit inquiries, visit the City’s webpage, call 905-832-2281 or email accessvaughan@vaughan.ca.
VAUGHAN ANIMAL SERVICES
While the Vaughan Animal Services shelter remains closed, residents can still purchase pet tags and licences online at Service Vaughan. For individuals interested in adoption or pet recovery services, call 905-832-2281 or email animal.services@vaughan.ca to book an appointment.
To report a sick or injured animal or other urgent concerns, please contact Animal Services at 905-832-2281 or, animal.services@vaughan.ca for general inquiries. For more information, please visit vaughan.ca/AnimalServices.
BUSINESS SUPPORTS
Virtual programs and new services are continually being offered to further support local businesses, including:
- the vaughanbusiness.ca website with a dedicated COVID-19 information page.
- virtual business advisory services to support with business registration, business planning, government assistance program access and more. Local businesses can reach these services through this online form.
- sector-specific eNewsletters to keep businesses up to date on government announcements, funding and relevant programming. Businesses can subscribe here.
- online resources such as the #ShopVaughanLocal campaign and the Open For Business webpage.
- access to all events and webinars hosted virtually for businesses across York Region via vaughanbusiness.ca/events.
- vaughanbusiness.ca/Summer-Company for students 15 to 29 years old who are seeking mentorship from Vaughan’s business community.
- season two of the Vaughan Rising Podcast, which examines the resilience of Vaughan’s business community and talks to leaders who are pivoting, innovating and doing what it takes to make it through to the other side of the pandemic.
OTHER SERVICES AND PROGRAMS FOR CITIZENS
Many services continue to be offered online, including:
- kid-friendly pollinator activities, which include a scavenger hunt, crossword puzzle and a Whose Home? interactive game.
- the City’s digital Flickr gallery, which features images from local artists housed in the City’s permanent Art Integration Collection. It also displays pictures and artifacts from local individuals and organizations, arranged into several historical albums from the Vaughan Archives.
- the Service Vaughan reporting tool at vaughan.ca/ServiceVaughan for non-emergency service requests about garbage, roads, permits, traffic lights and more.
- 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 the Tourism Vaughan Corporation and Central Counties Tourism, offers interactive content, including museum tours, cooking lessons, educational webinars, roller-coaster rides and more.
LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION?
For more information, contact Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or accessvaughan@vaughan.ca. Residents can also visit:
- vaughan.ca/COVID19 for up-to-date information on the City’s efforts to combat COVID-19 and what’s open and closed in Vaughan.
- vaughan.ca/CityUpdate to sign up for the City’s eNewsletter and receive news as it is released.
- the City’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn channels to stay informed on the latest news.
- york.ca/COVID19 for COVID-19-related resources, online tools and more information from York Region Public Health.
- ontario.ca/COVID19 for news and updates on provincial public health measures.
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