You asked, we answered

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 at 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.).

Every month, the City releases a series called ‘You Asked, We Answered,’ where common questions received and responded to by Service Vaughan are highlighted. 

Below are the top five inquiries from December:

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

The City operates an extensive winter maintenance program, including salting, windrow clearing and plowing, along more than 2,200 lane-kilometres of roads and 1,200 sidewalks throughout Vaughan. 

To stay informed on our winter operations, visit vaughan.ca/snow. For additional details and to receive the latest information:

• 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, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
• subscribe to Vaughan News.

2. How can I register my kids for P.A. Day and March Break camps?

Get a jump on the new year rush and sign your kids up for P.A. Day and March Break camps on their days off from school! P.A. Day programs will run on Friday, Jan. 31 at select community centres for kids ages three to 14 years old. March Break camps will run at select community centres and the Vaughan Studios & Event Space (200 Apple Mill Rd., third level) for kids ages four to 14 years old from Monday, March 10 through Friday, March 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Flexible drop-off and pickup are available. 

Registration is open and available through vaughan.perfectmind.com. Check out the City’s Winter Recreation eGuide for the full schedule of camps. 

The online registration system is available 24-7 and features enhanced search filters, allowing you to sort by level, location, date and time. Details can be found at vaughan.ca/recreation. If you require assistance creating an online PerfectMind registration account, call Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281, email rec@vaughan.ca or watch this short informational video. 

3. How do I set out my waste in the winter?

In the winter, garbage, blue boxes and green bins should be placed back from the curb approximately one metre (three feet) on the right-hand side of the driveway (when facing the home) where possible, to minimize the chance of bins being knocked over by plows. This allows the City to collect your waste safely and to clear snow effectively and efficiently in residential areas. Do not place bins on top of snow piles as this can be dangerous for collectors reaching for your bins. 

Remember to place all items curbside by 7 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. Staff will not return for materials set out late. Pickup times may be impacted by winter weather.

For more information, visit the Winter Waste Set-out webpage or watch the Winter Waste Collection instructional video.

4. Does Vaughan offer free outdoor skating in the winter?

The City’s outdoor ice rinks are now open for the season, weather permitting. Skate for free at the following locations: 

• Chancellor Community Centre (350 Ansley Grove Rd.)
• Cortellucci Square (300 Maplecrete Rd.)
• Dufferin Clark Community Centre (1441 Clark Ave. W.)
• Father E. Bulfon Community Centre (8141 Martin Grove Rd.)
• Garnet A. Williams Community Centre (501 Clark Ave W.)
• The Sports Village skating trail (2600 Rutherford Rd.)
• Vellore Village Community Centre (1 Villa Royale Ave.)

Weather permitting, the outdoor rinks will be open daily until 11 p.m., except at Father E. Bulfon Community Centre, which closes daily at 10:30 p.m. All rinks are also subject to daily closures for regular maintenance on Wednesdays between 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Vellore Village Community Centre and Cortellucci Square, on Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Chancellor, Dufferin Clark and Father E. Bulfon community centres, and on Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Garnet A. Williams Community Centre. 

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

 5. Is on-street parking allowed in Vaughan?

By-laws are put in place to ensure a safe and orderly community for all who live, work and play in Vaughan. Unless otherwise signed or prohibited by the Parking By-law 064-2019 (PDF), on-street parking is allowed on any street in Vaughan for up to three hours without a permit between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. On-street parking is not allowed between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., unless the vehicle has a valid permit for that date, time and location. Please note, during winter snow events, parking permits are not valid.

During the winter, don’t park cars on the street while snowplows are out to help the City clear streets properly and safely. Remember, as outlined in the City’s Parking By-law 064-2019 (PDF), on-street parking that interferes with snow-clearing operations is prohibited. Vehicles found in violation may be subject to a $85 fine or towed at the owner’s expense.

The Parking By-law is enforced 24-7, all year long. Enforcement officers patrol the city issuing tickets for parking violations. York Regional Police may also enforce parking regulations. 

Parking permit applications are available online at any time. Permits are electronic and do not need to be printed or displayed. Permits are non-transferable between licence plate numbers. Unused permit dates cannot be cancelled and reissued later if the dates have already passed. 

For more information about parking in Vaughan, visit vaughan.ca/parking.

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

For updates and news as they happen, subscribe to Vaughan News and follow the official corporate channels on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.