City of Toronto update on services, programs and activities during the holiday period

Received from the City of Toronto

Vaccination

Team Toronto continues offering multiple COVID-19 vaccination opportunities throughout the holiday season. The City of Toronto is encouraging residents to book their third-dose vaccination appointment as soon as possible which ensures residents have an extra layer of protection against the new COVID-19 Omicron variant (B.1.617.2) and ongoing Delta variant. Residents who have not yet received their first or second COVID-19 vaccine shot are also encouraged to do so.

In addition, residents should continue following public health measures such as mask wearing, good hand hygiene and physical distancing. More information about COVID-19, vaccination clinics and how to book an appointment is available at www.toronto.ca/covid-19.

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Services and programs:

Waste Collection

There will be no service impacts for curbside residential waste collection during the holidays.

Drop-off depots and transfer stations will be closed to the public for drop-off of garbage, yard waste, recyclables, household hazardous waste and electronics on December 25, December 27 and January 1.

For more information, please visit the Holiday Collection & Drop-Off Depot webpage at www.toronto.ca/services-payments/recycling-organics-garbage/holiday-impacts/.

Permit Parking Office

The Permit Parking Office and phone service will close at 2 p.m. on December 24 and 31, 2021. Temporary visitor permits are available online at www.toronto.ca/services-payments/streets-parking-transportation/applying-for-a-parking-permit/.   

Snow clearing

City’s snow clearing services will continue as usual during the holidays. Salt trucks will be sent out as soon as snow begins to accumulate. Road plows are deployed to expressways when snow accumulation reaches 2.5 cm and to major roads and transit routes when accumulation reaches 5 cm. Plowing on residential streets begins when the snow stops falling and if there is at least 8 cm of accumulation.

City crews start clearing sidewalks when accumulation reaches 2 cm, but it is up to residents and businesses to clear their sidewalks of snow and ice if accumulation is below 2 cm. Crews clear bikeways at the same time as adjacent roads, and residents are reminded not to push snow into roads and bikeways when shovelling.

Do not contact 311 when the snow is falling. Wait about 16 hours first or use the PlowTO map at toronto.ca/PlowTO to track road or sidewalk plows in your area. 

More information is available at toronto.ca/snow.

City parks and green spaces
This holiday season, the City will continue many of the park access enhancements put in place last winter, including access to more than 140 winter washrooms, additional snow clearing in 40 new park locations and enhanced winter maintenance in 35 parks. More than 1,500 parks are open to the public this winter and High Park car-free weekends will continue to allow more walking and safe cycling in the park. Check out the more than 800 playgrounds and 30 parks with outdoor fitness equipment or discover the City’s 68 dogs off-leash areas alongside your dog. In addition, the City also offers a variety of outdoor sport courts for winter play, including 60 tennis courts with nets in place, 70 locations with outdoor table tennis and 60 with chess tables. Learn all about the City’s parks and green spaces in winter at https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/festivals-events/welcome-to-winter/.  

Walking Paths
The City will provide winter maintenance on select pathways across the city. These pathways will provide residents an opportunity for longer walks over the holiday season. Find a list of walking paths at www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/festivals-events/welcome-to-winter/.

Skiing and snowboarding
The ski season is scheduled to start on January 1 at Centennial Park (https://www.toronto.ca/data/parks/prd/facilities/complex/914/index.html) and Earl Bales Park (https://www.toronto.ca/data/parks/prd/facilities/complex/2766/index.html), (weather and snowfall dependent). Learn about winter recreation programs at https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/recreation/winter-recreation-programs/.

Skating
Residents and visitors to Toronto can enjoy the City’s more than 50 outdoor ice rinks. Reservations are not required this year. Outdoor rinks will be open as follow:

• Christmas Eve – all rinks open until 6 p.m.
• Christmas Day – 29 locations open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Boxing Day – 29 locations open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• New Year’s Eve – all rinks open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• New Year’s Day – 29 locations open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Participants are encouraged to arrive fully dressed for their skate. For more information on skating in the city, locations and hours, please visit www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/recreation/skating-winter-sports/public-leisure-skating/.

Tobogganing
There are 26 designated toboggan hills in neighbourhoods across Toronto. Tobogganing hill locations and safety tips are available at www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/recreation/skating-winter-sports/tobogganing/.

 Snow Loops
Explore seven snow loops for walking and snowshoeing at four of the City’s golf courses, with loops ranging from one to two and a half kilometres. For more information, please visit the Snowshoeing & Cross-Country Skiing webpage at https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/recreation/skating-winter-sports/snowshoeing-cross-country-skiing/. 

Disc Golf
Try your hand at disc golf at seven disc golf locations, including 18 holes at Scarlett Woods Golf Course and a new nine hole course at Dentonia Golf Course. For more information, please visit www.toronto.ca/data/parks/prd/facilities/disk-golf-course/index.htm.

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City attractions and Community Recreation

Farms and Gardens
Riverdale Farm is open every day between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Reservations are not required; however, indoor exhibits are currently closed. Staff will be on-site to monitor the safe operation of the farm, which includes physical distancing.

High Park Zoo is open every day between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Reservations are not required, but visitor capacity is reduced to 75 per cent. Staff will be on-site to monitor the safe operation of the zoo, which includes one-way foot-traffic and physical distancing.

Allan Gardens and Centennial Gardens Conservatories are open every day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Visitors must wear a mask. Only 25 visitors will be allowed inside every 30 minutes, for a maximum of 30 minutes. Physical distancing of two metres is required. While Allen Gardens is undergoing renovations, washrooms inside the conservatory are closed. Portable washrooms are available outside by the playground.

Fitness and Recreation Centres
Beginning December 19, provincial regulations require that fitness centre capacity be reduced to 50 per cent. Masks are required while engaging in physical activity.

In addition, the capacity in recreation centres has been reduced to 50 per cent.

All recreation centres will be closed on December 25 and 26, and on January 1. Centres will close at 4:30 p.m. on December 24 and 31. Some facilities may have modified hours between December 20 and January 3. Contact the facility directly for more information. For all recreation centres, please visit www.toronto.ca/data/parks/prd/facilities/recreationcentres/index.html.

There are no impacts to Holiday CampTO, which continues to follow provincial guidelines. For more information, please visit the CampTO webpage at https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/recreation/campto/.  

Indoor Pools

Drop-in lane swim and Aquafit times can be reserved, with some spaces available for walk-ins.

Beginning December 19, provincial regulations require that leisure swim capacity be reduced to 50 per cent. Beginning December 24, when current reserved bookings expire, lane swims will be reduced to three people per lane. Find out more information about pool locations and reservations at  www.toronto.ca/data/parks/prd/facilities/indoor-pools/index.html.

Museums and Farmers’ Markets

Colborne Lodge and Mackenzie House are currently both closed due to construction work. Fort York, Gibson House, Montgomery’s Inn, Scarborough Museum, Spadina Museum, and Todmorden Mills will be closed from December 25 to 28, as well as January 1.

More information and hours is available at www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/museums/plan-your-museum-visit/.

Montgomery’s Inn Farmers’ Market is closed until the New Year and will resume operating every Wednesday, from 2 to 6 p.m. starting January 5.

Market Gallery is closed from December 25 to 28, as well as January 1.  

Cultural
Cedar Ridge is currently closed until the New Year and will resume regular business hours on January 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Assembly Hall will be closed for the holidays from December 24 at 1 p.m. until January 3. Regular business hours will resume on January 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fireworks
Residents are reminded that fireworks in City parks and on beaches is prohibited, extremely unsafe and could result in fines. The City and Toronto Police Service will monitor hot spot parks and respond to complaints about fireworks, focusing on issues that pose the greatest risk to health and safety. A permit is required to set off fireworks on residents’ own private property on New Year’s weekend. Residents may be fined $1,000 for setting off fireworks without a permit on days other than Victoria Day or Canada Day. Fireworks have the potential to cause serious injury and damage. Inappropriate use of fireworks including setting off fireworks from apartment balconies, can poses a risk of fire, injury to people or damage to property. Learn more about fireworks rules and how to keep your pets safe at www.toronto.ca/city-government/public-notices-bylaws/bylaw-enforcement/fireworks/.  

Residents are also reminded that amplified sound such as DJ equipment, littering and bonfires (outside of City-designated fire pits, which require a permit) in parks and on beaches are not permitted.

Changes to City services as a result of COVID-19

For the most up to date information on changes to City services as a result of COVID-19, visit www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/affected-city-services/.