You asked, we answered

Service Vaughan answers your top winter-related questions

Have a question about a service in Vaughan? Want to know more about a City program? The Service Vaughan team is standing by ready to respond to your inquiries. The City of Vaughan’s contact centre can be reached by phone at 905-832-2281 (toll-free: 1-844-832-2112), email at service@vaughan.ca, online at vaughan.ca/ServiceVaughan or in-person at Vaughan City Hall (2141 Major Mackenzie Dr.).

Below are the top five winter-related inquiries received this month:

1. Where can I enjoy outdoor skating in Vaughan?

You can skate for free at any of the following City outdoor ice rinks:

• Chancellor Community Centre (350 Ansley Grove Rd.)

• Dufferin Clark Community Centre (1441 Clark Ave. W.)

• Father Ermanno Bulfon Community Centre (8141 Martin Grove Rd.)

• Vellore Village Community Centre (1 Villa Royale Ave.)

• Secord Park (65 Secord Ave.)

• North Thornhill Community Centre (300 Pleasant Ridge Ave.)

• Garnet A. Williams Community Centre (501 Clark Ave W.)

• The Sports Village (2600 Rutherford Rd.)

Weather permitting, all outdoor rinks are open daily until 11 p.m., except for Father Ermanno Bulfon, which closes at 10:30 p.m. All rinks are subject to weekly closures for regular maintenance between 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesdays at Chancellor, Dufferin Clark, Father Ermanno Bulfon and Garnet A. Williams community centres. Vellore Village Community Centre is subject to weekly closures for regular maintenance on Wednesdays between 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. 

For the enjoyment and safety of all skaters, everyone is asked to follow the City’s Skating Rink Guidelines (PDF). Rinks are unsupervised unless otherwise stated in the recreational skating and shinny hockey schedule at vaughan.ca/skate.

For more information on the City’s outdoor rinks, including skate schedules, visit vaughan.ca/skate. 

2. How can I stay updated on the City’s winter operations?

The City operates an extensive winter maintenance program, including salting, windrow clearing, plowing and snow removal along more than 2,200 lane-kilometres of roads and 1,200 sidewalks throughout Vaughan. To stay informed on our winter operations, you can:

• visit vaughan.ca/snow.
• contact the SNOW hotline at 905-879-SNOW (7669) or email snow@vaughan.ca.
• follow the City’s official corporate social media channels on X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
• subscribe to Vaughan News.

3. How do I request winter maintenance – like plowing or salting – on my street or sidewalk?

As soon as five centimeters (two inches) of snow accumulates, rest assured Vaughan’s winter crews will be out clearing the streets. You can request winter maintenance, like snow plowing, on your street, a sidewalk or walkway, through Service Vaughan’s online portal under ‘Winter Maintenance.’ Just enter your address or drop a pin on the map to submit a request, and crews will respond in priority sequence.

To report a winter-related municipal emergency or problem that requires immediate attention – like icy roads, sidewalks or crosswalks in a school zone – call Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281. 

For more information and to stay up-to-date on the City’s winter maintenance services, visit vaughan.ca/snow. 

4. How can I book an indoor ice rink rental? Is there a schedule I can view?

You can now book arena ice rentals online at vaughan.perfectmind.com for private recreational activities (skating and shinny hockey only) at the following locations: 

• Al Palladini Community Centre (9201 Islington Ave.)
• Maple Community Centre (10190 Keele St.)
• Rosemount Community Centre (1000 New Westminster Dr.)
• Woodbridge Pool & Memorial Arena (5020 Highway 7)
• The Sports Village (for City-owned ice time only) (2600 Rutherford Rd.)

Bookings are available two to 30 days in advance for a one- to nine-hour timeslot and include the use of two change rooms that are exclusive to the permit holder. Information regarding facility fees is available in the indoor facility fee schedule (PDF). Mandatory hourly insurance fees are required for recreational skating and shinny hockey, and are listed on vaughan.ca/recreation. If you require assistance creating an account or booking arena ice online, email rec@vaughan.ca or call 905-832-2281. Instructions for how to book an ice rental online are also posted on vaughan.ca/recreation.

5. When does the City’s winter recreation programming start?

Winter recreation programming begins on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 at all community centres and the Vaughan Studios & Event Space, so sign up today to reserve your child’s spot! The online registration system is available 24-7 and features enhanced search filters, allowing you to sort by level, location, day and time. If you require assistance creating an online account or registering, call Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281, email rec@vaughan.ca or visit your local community centre.

Check out our full lineup of winter recreation programs, P.A. Day and March Break camps in the Winter Recreation eGuide. View swim lessons and aquatic leadership courses at vaughan.perfectmind.com. Please note the pool at Garnet A. Williams Community Centre remains closed due to ongoing renovations.

For more information, visit vaughan.ca/recreation.

If you have questions about a City matter, call Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or visit vaughan.ca. 

For the latest updates, subscribe to Vaughan News and follow the official corporate channels on X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.