National Public Works Week

National Public Works Week increases awareness across North America of the importance of public works and recognizes the professionals that work behind the scenes.

Public works professionals keep towns and cities running smoothly and safely with well-maintained roads, reliable transit, state-of-the-art water treatment and recycling facilities, first response and forest conservation.

This year’s theme is ‘Connecting the World through Public Works’. York Region proudly provides vital services that connect nine towns and cities and 1.2 million residents. We strive to be a leading utility of the world, a gold standard of performance and innovation.

York Region is celebrating National Public Works Week with a Family Fun Day event on Saturday, May 27, 2023 from 10 a.m to 3 p.m. at the York Region Public Works Operations Centre at 90 Bales Drive East, Town of East Gwillimbury.

The Paramedic Services building next door, at 80 Bales Dr. East, will also be open on Saturday, May 27, 2023 for a Special Response Unit rope repel demonstration, simulator lab walkthroughs, Paramedic Services fleet tours and CPR/AED demonstrations.

Paramedic Services Week is also taking place May 21 to May 27 across Canada. The week is an opportunity to recognize the hard work, dedication and resilience of all York Region Paramedics and the staff who support their efforts behind the front line.

Highlights include interactive displays, Public Works trucks and equipment, mascots, a paint-a-plow blade showcase with designs by participating schools, and a barbeque lunch in support of a local charity. See the full list of activities.

Photo Gallery

Other activities include:

Videos with an inside look into public works facilities and services, including recycling, forestry and water, public transit, traffic operations technology and the road operations fleet
Activity sheets and games representing the broad range of public works
Information about public works careers in York Region

Family Fun Day Activities

Free activities for the entire family will be available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and include:

Interactive displays with information about roads, transit, water treatment and recycling, first response, emergency preparedness, health services and forest conservation
Public works trucks and equipment
Inflatable slide
Face painting
LEGO® building tables
Giant Jenga game
Photos with mascots
Special Response Unit rope repel demonstration
Simulator lab walkthroughs
Clothing swap
Paramedic Services fleet tours
CPR/AED demonstrations
Bus rides to the York Region Transit facility and back
The New 93.7 K Country radio station
Paint-a-plow blade showcase - vote on designs by participating schools
Fresh baked cookie cart
Barbeque lunch with proceeds to a local charity with hamburgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, chips, drinks (11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.)
Tap’d In Mobile Water Trailer – Please bring a reusable water bottle

Paint a Plow Contest

Plow blades designed by students in grade five classes were on display at the Family Fun Day event in celebration of National Public Works Week. The theme for the Paint a Plow design contest was, Connecting the world through public works.

Hundreds of visitors came to the Paint a Plow showcase to cast a vote. They commented on the high level of detail in each design, the skill - and that it was a tough decision. All the designs made quite an impression!

The design that received the most votes is Poplar Bank Public School in the Town of Newmarket.