Vaughan’s fight against illegal car rallies recognized with Traffic Safety Excellence Award

The City of Vaughan and York Regional Police have been recognized by the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) for their collaborative and innovative work on Operation Silent Night, earning them the 2025 OACP Traffic Safety Excellence Award.

In 2024, the City partnered with YRP to respond to the growing threat of illegal and dangerous car rallies in Vaughan. From this came Operation Silent Night – which highlights the joint commitment to traffic safety, crime prevention and public order. 

This Traffic Safety Excellence Award recognizes leaders in the field of traffic safety who are dedicated to ensuring public safety on roads through strategic partnerships, innovative solutions and effective enforcement. 

Mayor Steven Del Duca and Members of Council recognized this achievement with a special ceremonial presentation during the Nov. 4 Committee of the Whole (1) meeting.  

The City’s efforts on this matter included amendments to the Special Events By-law (PDF) and Noise By-law (PDF). For more information, visit vaughan.ca/CarRallies.

QUOTES

“Unauthorized car rallies have no business in Vaughan – period. These events often come with excessive noise, speeding, stunt driving and blocking or delaying traffic. They are a nuisance to residents and businesses and pose a significant risk to community safety. I want to express my thanks to the City staff who were instrumental in launching Operation Silent Night in Vaughan. I would also like to thank York Regional Police for their continued collaboration and partnership and for prioritizing the safety and security of our residents. This award is a testament to their dedication to serving our city. Together, we will continue to take every possible action to prevent and stop these types of events from happening.”

- Mayor Steven Del Duca

“Congratulations to the City of Vaughan’s staff – especially those in By-law and Compliance, Licensing and Permit Services and in the Office of the City Solicitor – for working with York Regional Police to respond to car rallies. Operation Silent Night is an incredible initiative that helps ensure our community remains safe for everyone – which is one of our top priorities at the City. I would like to thank Mayor Steven Del Duca for his leadership and vision in launching this initiative. His idea provided a clear direction for staff across the organization to come together and bring it to life. This prestigious award from the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police recognizes the City’s commitment to finding innovative solutions and working collaboratively with partners to address enforcement challenges.” 

- Zoran Postic, City Manager

“I would like to congratulate City of Vaughan staff, including the hard-working members of the City’s By-law and Compliance, Licensing and Permit Services team, along with York Regional Police, for receiving the 2025 Traffic Safety Excellence Award. By-laws are put in place to ensure a safe and orderly community for all who live, work and play in Vaughan. Operation Silent Night is a prime example of how we can positively impact the lives of our residents with the work we do. Congratulations to everyone on this great success.”

- Gus Michaels, Deputy City Manager, Community Services

“I am pleased to congratulate City of Vaughan staff and our York Regional Police partners for receiving this prestigious award from the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police. Operation Silent Night is an important initiative that required teamwork and collaboration. City staff in multiple departments, including our dedicated Legal Services team, and YRP worked together to create an effective plan to help prevent unauthorized car rallies moving forward.”

- Diana Soos, City Solicitor

QUICK FACTS 

• The City of Vaughan and York Regional Police have been recognized by the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) for their collaborative and innovative work on Operation Silent Night, earning them the 2025 OACP Traffic Safety Excellence Award.
• Mayor Del Duca and Members of Council recognized this achievement with a special ceremonial presentation during the Nov. 4 Committee of the Whole (1) meeting.
• The City of Vaughan’s Car rallies webpage
• Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police’s 2025 OACP Traffic Safety Excellence Award recipients

LEARN MORE 

• The City of Vaughan’s Car rallies webpage
• Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police’s 2025 OACP Traffic Safety Excellence Award recipients