City of Markham is ready for winter

52 road plows and 48 sidewalk plows operate 24/7 to ensure streets remain safe and accessible 

MARKHAM, ON – December, 2025 – Winter has arrived a little early this year, and that means residents will have even more time to enjoy the adventures and comforts of the season. Our Operations staff are geared up and ready to keep roads, sidewalks, and pathways clear so residents can enjoy all our community has to offer this time year!

“Winter may have arrived early, but we were ready to go,” said Mayor Frank Scarpitti, “thanks to our dedicated Operations team.  Day or night, they maintain more than 2,000 KM of roads and over 1,000 KM of sidewalks.  So leave the work to us and enjoy the winter beauty in our many parks, and pathways, with the many activities Markham has to offer.”

Markham’s dedicated winter maintenance team is ready for the season! The team maintains more than 2,100 kilometres of roads and 1,175 kilometres of sidewalks, keeping them safe and clear throughout the winter months. The City’s fleet includes 52 road plows and 48 sidewalk plows that operate 24/7 to ensure streets remain safe and accessible for everyone.

Winter may bring cold and snow, but it also brings plenty of fun! Residents are encouraged to bundle up and explore Markham’s Winter Parks and Pathways Maintenance Program, which includes approximately 26 kilometres of maintained asphalt or concrete pathways across the city.

The City always has a lot to offer during the winter months including, the Santa Claus parade, a Christmas tree lighting, and five outdoor public skating rinks that will also be open again this season. Residents are reminded to always check the status of a rink before heading out at markham.ca/Skating. The rinks maintained by the City are located at:

• Huntington Park (lit at night)
• Victoria Square Park (lit at night)
• Milliken Mills Park (lit at night)
• Markham Museum
• Milne Dam Park

A flag system at each location will signal when the ice is safe to use. Onsite parking is available at all rink locations, and the Markham Civic Centre outdoor refrigerated ice rink will also be open this winter.

Please stay off Markham’s ponds, stormwater ponds and waterways as the ice is unsafe. These ponds are designed to have water flowing in and out of them all year long, making the ice unpredictable and an unsafe place to play.

During the winter months, our Operations staff work around the clock to ensure roads are kept clean and safe. Snow clearing begins with Markham’s largest and busiest roads (known as primary or arterial roads), followed by secondary roads that serve schools, community centres, and commercial areas, and finally, local neighbourhood roads and lanes. Primary and secondary roads are salted and/or plowed until pavement is bare, 24 hours per day, 7 days a week throughout the winter season. Local roads and rear lanes are cleared within 12 to 16 hours once snow reaches 7.5 centimeters, at the end of a snowfall. Residents are reminded not to park on city streets during snow-clearing operations so that plows can move safely and efficiently.

Salt or liquid brine are used to prevent roads from becoming icy while a sand/salt mixture is used to treat sidewalks. Remember, salt is only effective at temperatures of -12 degrees Celsius and above. The City’s Salt Management Plan promotes environmentally friendly salt use, storage and transportation. If you do not see plows immediately after a snowfall, please be patient and check plow status using the Winter Maintenance App at markham.ca/Winter.

After plowing, it’s normal for some snow to be left on the surface of the roads and lanes – especially on local roads. It is still safe to drive on snow-covered roads, however please exercise caution by driving according to weather and road conditions.

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Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti's Office:
mayorscarpitti@markham.ca.

All other media inquiries / interview requests for the City of Markham:  
media@markham.ca.

About Markham: Markham, an award-winning municipality with over 370,000 residents and the largest of nine communities in York Region, is home to over 650 corporate head offices and more than 1,500 high tech and life science companies. Markham is a leader in attracting foreign direct investment with more than 234 foreign companies located in the City. Founded in the 1790s, today Markham is Canada’s most diverse community and enjoys a rich heritage, outstanding community planning and services, and a vibrant local economy.

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