Stay active in Vaughan this winter

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Stay active in Vaughan this winter

12/5/2020 10:00 AM

There are many indoor and outdoor activities and programs for the entire family

As the weather turns cold and snowy, you might either want to embrace the great outdoors or stay toasty inside – why not do both? This winter, the City of Vaughan is offering many outdoor activities for the whole family to enjoy in addition to exciting online programs.

There is something fun for everyone with these winter adventures:

Toboggan hills

Get outside and feel the wind in your hair while going down one of the City’s two tobogganing hills – they are at North Maple Regional Park (11085 Keele St.) and Uplands Golf and Ski Club (46 Uplands Ave.). The hills are open daily starting today, Saturday, Dec. 5, weather permitting.

If visiting a hill, follow these health and safety reminders: wash and sanitize your hands properly before and after visiting a hill, sneeze and cough into your sleeve or a tissue, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Do not use if you are feeling unwell or exhibit signs of COVID-19, do not share equipment with those outside your household, practice physical distancing by keeping a distance of two meters from others and come back later if physical distancing is not possible. Toboggan hills are also not supervised. Please limit your time to ensure others have a chance to use the hills.

Skiing and Snowboarding

Uncover your inner athlete this winter by hitting the slopes! All ages and abilities can sign up for skiing or snowboarding lessons at Uplands Golf and Ski Club. Season and daily passes are available for purchase online, and equipment is available for rent. Visit the Upland’s website for program schedules, fees and COVID-19 health and safety guidelines.

Outdoor rinks

Lace up your skates at one of the City’s five outdoor skating rinks, open now until March 2021, weather permitting. They are open daily from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., except for the rink at Father E. Bulfon Community Centre, which closes at 10:30 p.m.

Outdoor rinks are located at the following community centres: Chancellor Community Centre (350 Ansley Grove 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.) and Vellore Village Community Centre (1 Villa Royale Ave.).

Boots, shoes, food, drinks, cellphones, electronic devices, animals, balls, chairs and strollers are not permitted on the ice – exceptions apply for sledges required to assist those with physical disabilities (the caregiver must wear skates). To ensure all skaters are safe, speed and figure skating, backward skating, horseplay and skating games, carrying children while on the ice, body contact and checking are all not allowed.

If visiting an outdoor rink, follow these health and safety reminders: wash and sanitize your hands properly before and after visiting a rink, sneeze and cough into your sleeve or a tissue, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Do not use if you are feeling unwell or exhibit signs of COVID-19, do not share equipment with those outside your household, practice physical distancing by keeping a distance of two meters from others and come back later if physical distancing is not possible. Outdoor rinks are also not supervised. Please limit your time to ensure others have a chance to use the rinks. Read the Skating Rink Guidelines for more safety information before visiting a rink.

Trails

Put on your best walking boots and explore the beautiful nature Vaughan has to offer. Trails include: William Granger Greenway nature walk, Mackenzie Glen neighbourhood walk, Sonoma Heights neighbourhood walk, Peter Rupert neighbourhood walk, Rainbow Creek neighbourhood walk, Marita Payne neighbourhood walk, Riverwalk neighbourhood walk, Maple Nature Reserve nature walk, Jersey Creek neighbourhood walk, Sugarbush nature walk, Vellore neighbourhood walk and North Maple Regional Park nature walk.

For more information, visit vaughan.ca/trails or download the Great Walks of Vaughan guide at vaughan.ca/GreatWalks for maps of all the trails.

Virtual fitness classes

Looking to stay active or get fit this winter? Join in the virtual fitness classes via Zoom, free to Vaughan Fitness Members. Classes include yoga, total body conditioning, barre, HIIT circuit training and Zumba. Pre-registration is required at vaughan.ca/RecOnline. Free, full-length fitness classes (40-60 minutes long) are also streamed Monday through Saturday at 10 a.m. on the RecVaughan YouTube channel. For more information on virtual fitness offerings, visit vaughan.ca/fitness.

Virtual recreation programs

Citizens of all ages and abilities can learn something new, get active and stretch their creativity with a variety of virtual programming. Participate in the livestreams of popular recreation programs via Zoom, with topics ranging from creative and culinary arts, health and wellness, to sports, science and technology, and professional development. Register now at vaughan.ca/RecOnline.

During the upcoming December Break, from Monday, Dec. 21 to Thursday, Dec. 31, many holiday-themed, virtual programs will be offered. Children can create winter crafts, sing carols with Santa and ring in the New Year doing confetti science experiments, while adults can bake healthy holiday treats. Residents can also spend their holiday learning something new, such as knitting, Zendoodle and magic, or keep active inside with no-equipment workouts.

In the New Year, there will be something fun for everyone with a fresh lineup of 2021 winter virtual programs starting on Monday, Jan. 4. Individuals can sign up to cook cultural dishes; crochet a blanket; build a website or a robot; act, dance and sing with the City Playhouse Theatre crew; destress doing yoga, karate or boxercise; learn to write speeches; compete in family game night and much more. Educational series are also planned for preschoolers and individuals with special needs. For details and direct links to registration, view the Virtual Winter Programs eGuide at vaughan.ca/recreation.

New virtual recreation resources are also shared on the Recreation Services webpage on an ongoing basis, including arts and crafts, Vaughan Playschool educational worksheets, and Vaughan Playhouse Academy drama activities. To keep the community engaged and entertained, the department also runs fun, family-friendly social media contests. To learn more about online recreational programs currently being offered, visit vaughan.ca/recreation.

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