Winter water safety tips

Did you know the City of Vaughan maintains more than 150 stormwater management ponds? Unlike natural bodies of water, stormwater ponds are designed and built to collect rainfall and surface water runoff. They may look safe for skating, fishing or playing on – but they are not! Stormwater ponds are not made or intended for recreational use, so keep a safe distance away.

Stormwater ponds temporarily hold water before releasing it slowly back into the environment at a controlled rate. This process means water constantly flows in and out of the pond, so water levels are always changing. Additionally, the thickness of the ice is highly unpredictable, which makes any activity on it unsafe.

If you’re looking for a safe place to skate in Vaughan, visit one of the City’s four outdoor rinks located at Chancellor Community Centre, Dufferin Clark Community Centre, Father E. Bulfon Community Centre and Vellore Village Community Centre, weather permitting. For information on hours of operation and safety guidelines, visit vaughan.ca/skate.

In addition to Vaughan’s outdoor rinks, the City has built a new skating trail at Sports Village (2600 Rutherford Rd.) that is now ready for everyone to enjoy. The project was granted funding through the Government of Canada’s Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program and is among five applications the City was awarded in 2022. To celebrate the opening of this exciting new winter destination, Mayor Steven Del Duca and Members of Council will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m., weather permitting.

To learn more about the City’s stormwater ponds, visit vaughan.ca/stormwater.

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