Vaughan Community Profile - the City of Vaughan

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Vaughan Community Profile - the City of Vaughan
Vaughan
Community Profile

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Vaughan Community Profile - the City of Vaughan
Table of Contents
Members of the Council                     3
Vaughan – The Place the World Calls Home   5
160 Years of Incredible History            6-7
Progressive and Responsive Government      8
Beautiful Seasons                          9
The Faces of Vaughan                       10-11
A Sense of Community                       12-13
A Talented Labour Force                    14-15
Living Well                                16-19
Hospitality                                20
Arts, Culture and Heritage                 21
Shopping and Recreational Pursuits         22
Natural Spaces & Countryside               23
Safe City                                  24
Environmental Leadership                   25
A Leading City                             26
Business Resources                         27
Vaughan Community Profile - the City of Vaughan
Vaughan a World-Class City
                                     Welcome to Vaughan, a dynamic and vibrant city and one
                                     of the fastest-growing communities in Canada. Thousands
                                     of people choose Vaughan as their home every year,
                                     appreciating the advantages of living in a prosperous,
                                     well-managed community.
                                     The City enjoys a wealth of cultural heritage, strong historic
                                     neighbourhoods, ethnic diversity, stable economy, efficient
                                     municipal services and innovative leadership. Whatever
                                     you’re looking for you can find it in Vaughan. Arts, culture,
                                     recreation, and greenspace all serve to attract and delight
                                     visitors, friends and family.
Mayor                     Vaughan has the advantage of being one of the top three
Maurizio Bevilacqua       performing economies in the country. The City is firmly
                          establishing itself as the gateway for economic activity
in the Greater Toronto Area. Located in Canada’s economic centre, Vaughan has
location and accessibility to world markets. The business base is diverse and the
labour force is young, well-educated and highly-skilled.
On behalf of the City of Vaughan and Members of Council, I invite you to discover all
that our great City has to offer. Vaughan, the City we are proud to call our home.

                    Members of the Council 2010-2014

                    Regional Councillor        Regional Councillor        Regional Councillor
                    Gino Rosati                Michael Di Biase           Deb Schulte

Councillor Ward 1        Councillor Ward 2     Councillor Ward 3     Councillor Ward 4          Councillor Ward 5
Marilyn Iafrate          Tony Carella          Rosanna DeFrancesca   Sandra Yeung Racco Alan Shefman

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Vaughan Community Profile - the City of Vaughan
Vaughan Community Profile - the City of Vaughan
Vaughan –
The Place the
World Calls Home
From its earliest beginnings, Vaughan has been a community that
welcomes people of all nationalities. From its agrarian roots, it has
evolved to become a major urban centre rich in culture, history and
natural heritage. Today, it is a City where industrious and entrepreneurial
people have found economic opportunities and proudly built their own
legacies.
We are known for our pro-business and “can-do” attitude. Our civic
brand has attracted investment and high levels of development even
in the most difficult of economic times. Our safe neighbourhoods,
good schools and beautiful parks and trails, as well as our world-class
universities and healthcare attract talented and innovative people who
settle, raise families and reinvest in our community.
Growth is an important part of the Vaughan vocabulary. Council has
set forth policies through Vaughan Vision 2020 and its various master
plans, which will enable municipal staff to effectively and efficiently
deliver services that support the City’s future growth and development
in a sustainable manner. More than providing great neighbourhoods,
prestigious employment areas and enriching work, we believe that
connecting people through learning, recreation and leisure activities
in healthy settings stimulates new ideas and sharing.
We invite you to be part of this dynamic City. Welcome to Vaughan!

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Vaughan Community Profile - the City of Vaughan
160 Years of Incredible History

With a proud and          Vaughan Yesterday
                          Established in 1850, the Township of Vaughan was

industrious heritage,     named after Benjamin Vaughan, a British diplomat and
                          co-negotiator of the Treaty of Paris that signaled the end
                          of the American Revolutionary War. Vaughan originated
Vaughan has               from a collection of rural villages: Woodbridge, Concord,
                          Kleinburg, Maple and Thornhill. Vaughan Township grew
transformed itself from   relatively slowly from the 1840s to 1935 when it had
                          4,873 residents.

a rural township to a     However, World War II sparked an influx of immigration
                          and by 1960 the population stood at 15,957. At the
major urban centre.       same time, the ethno-cultural composition of the area
                          began to change with the arrival of groups such as
                          the Italians, Jews and Eastern Europeans. A new civic
                          mindset also began to emerge, heralding new and
                          innovative commercial and industrial development,
                          as well as a respect for the preservation of the area’s
                          heritage.

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Vaughan Community Profile - the City of Vaughan
With the expansion of water and sewer services
in the 1970s, the Township was transformed from
a series of rural agricultural villages to one of the
fastest growing suburban municipalities in
Canada. Vaughan was incorporated as a Town in
1971.

Vaughan Today

In 1991, just twenty years after its incorporation
as a Town, Vaughan was incorporated as a City.
The decade of the 1990s witnessed explosive
growth, as the population grew to more than
111,000 – a pace that continues into the 21st
century. In 2013, Vaughan’s population
exceeded 315,000 and employment topped
175,000. Provincial and Regional forecasts
predict a population of 416,600 people and
266,100 jobs by 2031.
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Vaughan Community Profile - the City of Vaughan
Progressive and
Responsive Government
Vaughan’s municipal                 Services Delivered
                                      • Municipal Parks

government is led                     • Recreation Facilities
                                      • Libraries
by a nine-member                      • Fire Protection

Council: a Mayor, three               • Waste Management
                                      • Water Services
Regional Councillors                  • Municipal Roads and Infrastructure
                                      • Planning and Development
and five Ward                         • Economic Development

Councillors.                       Where Every Tax Dollar Goes, 2013
                                   (Portions of average residential tax bill, 2013)

                                                                  Hospital 1.2%
    Government Administration
          Canada    Federal
                    Federale                                                          Education
                                                                                      23.8%
                    Provincial    York Region
          Ontario   Provinciale
                                       48.7%
          York      Regionale
                    Regional
                                                                                  Vaughan
          Vaughan Municipale
                  Municipal                                                       26.7%
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Vaughan Community Profile - the City of Vaughan
Beautiful Seasons
Southern Ontario’s continental climate is highly                           In addition to a wide variety of sporting and leisure
modified by the Great Lakes, which provide a                               activities, the City is alive with festivals and events
moderating influence on both winter’s cold and                             that span the entire year. From Winterfest to the
summer’s heat. Vaughan is located in one of the                            Maple Syrup Festival; from the Woodbridge Village
mildest regional climates in Canada.                                       Farmers Market to the Woodbridge Fall Fair, there
                                                                           are recreational and cultural activities to engage
Vaughan is also a four-season destination for year
                                                                           and entertain both residents and visitors.
round recreational activities and outdoor pursuits.

Climate in Vaughan - January to December
                                 J          F         M         A          M      J       J       A      S      O      N      D

Daily Avg. Temp ( C)
                   o
                                -6.3      -5.4      -0.4       6.3        12.9   17.8    20.8   19.9    15.3   8.9    3.2    -2.9

Daily Max. Temp (oC)            -2.1      -1.1       4.1      11.5        18.8   23.7    26.8   25.6    21.0   13.9   7.0     0.9

Daily Min. Temp ( C)
                   o
                               -10.5      -9.7      -5.0       1.0        6.9    11.9    14.8    14     9.6    3.9    -0.7   -6.7

Rainfall (mm)                   24.9      22.3      36.7      62.4        72.4   74.2    74.4   79.6    77.5   63.4    62    34.7

Snowfall (cm)                   31.1      22.1      19.2       5.7        0.1     0       0       0      0     0.5    7.6    29.2

Precipitation (mm)              52.2      42.6      57.1      68.4        72.5   74.2    74.4   79.6    77.5   64.1   69.3   60.9

Source: Environment Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1971-2000, Toronto

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Vaughan Community Profile - the City of Vaughan
The Faces of Vaughan
Vaughan’s residents                                               Age Characteristics
                                                                    Age Characteristics               Vaughan          Ontario

are young,                                                          Total population                  288,300         12,851,830
                                                                  	Median age of
well-educated,                                                      the population
                                                                  	% of the population
                                                                                                        37.9             40.4

entrepreneurial                                                     aged 15 and over
                                                                    0 to 14 years:
                                                                                                        79.7             83.0

and family-oriented.                                                children
                                                                    15 to 64 years:
                                                                                                       58,455         2,180,770

                                                                    working age                       197,650         8,792,735
Strong population growth has been a driving force                   65 years and over:
behind the City’s remarkable economic progress.                     seniors                            32,195         1,878,325
Vaughan’s educated, skilled and affluent residents
                                                                    Source: Statistics Canada, Census 2011
generate substantial demand for an increasingly
diverse array of products and services.
With a 58% population increase between 2001
and 2011, Vaughan is one of the fastest growing                   Family Characteristics
Canadian municipalities with a population of more
than 200,000.                                                        Family Characteristics &
                                                                     Marital Status (selected)           Vaughan        Ontario
                                                                  	Total population 15 years
                                                                    and over                              229,895      10,671,050
Historical and Projected Population Growth
                                                                     Married or living with
                                                                     a common-law partner                 145,465      6,158,605
              450,000
                                                                  	Not married and not living
                                                                    with a common-law partner                84,380    4,512,440
              400,000
                                                                  	Total number of
              350,000
                                                                    census families                         80,835    3,612,205
                                                                  	Average number of persons
POPOLAZIONE

              300,000                                               in all census families                    3.3         3.0
POPULATION

                                                                     Source: Statistics Canada, Census 2011
              250,000

              200,000

              150,000

              100,000

               50,000

                        1981 1986 1991 1996 1998 2001 2006 2031
                                         YEAR
                                         ANNO

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Vaughan is Canada’s
17th largest municipality.
The current population is
approximately 313,000.

                             11
A Sense of Community
                                           Immigration
                                           continues to
                                           play a key role
                                           in the growth
                                           of Vaughan and
                                           its economy.

According to Statistics Canada (2011), nearly 35% of Canada’s   Population by Mother Tongue – Top 10*
recent immigrants chose the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
as a location in which to establish roots. The presence         English                                    141,485
of social support networks and employment                       Italian                                    43,585
prospects were primary factors influencing                      Russian                                    19,185
their decisions.
                                                                Spanish                                     7,890
As part of the GTA, Vaughan is a diverse                        Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino)                5,345
and multicultural community: 46% of the
                                                                Panjabi (Punjabi)                           5,200
population is comprised of immigrants,
compared with the Provincial average                            Hebrew                                      4,975
of 28%. Furthermore, visible minorities                         Portuguese                                  4,795
account for 31% of the population.                              Farsi                                       4,780
More than 99 languages are spoken
                                                                Chinese, n.o.s.   1
                                                                                                            4,685
at home, in schools and
in workplaces.                                                  Source: Statistics Canada, Census 2011

                                                                 *Includes single and multiple responses
                                                                   1. n.o.s. - not otherwise specified

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Newcomers are attracted to Vaughan because of            Ethnic Origin – Top 10
the “complete communities” that are being built here.
Vaughan’s welcoming neighbourhoods and employment                                    Italian                 33.2%
areas feature an eclectic mix of places to shop, dine,                              Other                   12.4%
work, play and worship.                                                             Jewish                  11.8%
                                                                                     Canadian                 7.8%
  International Partnership Cities                                                   Russian                  6.8%
  Sora, Italy (1992)                                                                 East Indian              6.5%
                                                                                     Chinese                  5.8%
  Sanjo, Japan (1993)
                                                                                     Polish                   5.1%
  Ramla, Israel (1993)
                                                                                     English                  4.2%
  Yangzhou, China (1995)                                                             Portuguese               3.3%
  Baguio City, Philippines (1997)                                                    Filipino                 3.1%
  Delia, Italy (1998)                                                             Source: Statistics Canada,
                                                                                  National Household Survey 2011
  Lanciano, Italy (2002)

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In terms of economic
     prosperity, Vaughan
     stands out among
     Canadian cities.

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A Talented Labour Force
Vaughan has one of the top performing                        Labour Force By Occupation
economies in Canada, according to a 2010
Conference Board of Canada report. The                                                  Sales, Service               21.0%
study, which assessed the attractiveness of                                             Business, Finance            19.9%
Canadian cities to skilled workers and mobile                                         Management                   13.4%
populations, ranked Vaughan as one of                                                   Trades, Transport           12.0%
only three cities to earn an “A” for its strong                                          Education, Law,             11.0%
economy.                                                                                 Social, Community and
                                                                                         Government Services
Vaughan’s labour force is young, multi-
linguistic and highly educated, providing an                                             Natural, Applied Science      8.3%
advantage to local businesses and investors.                                          Health,                         4.6%
A strong, diversified and balanced range of                                              Manufacturing, Utilities      4.4%
industries is adding to the City’s continuing                                            Other                         2.7%
prosperity, providing residents with a                                                   Arts and Culture              2.6%
multitude of job and career opportunities.                                          Source: Statistics Canada,
                                                                                    Natural Household Survey 2011

                                                             Top 10 Sectors By Employment

                                                                                        Manufacturing           33.1%
Vaughan’s average household income
                                                                                        Retail Trade            14.3%
is consistently higher than the province
                                                                                        Construction            13.5%
of Ontario.                                                                             Wholesale Trade          9.1%
   Average Household Income                                                             Transport, Warehousing 6.9%
                                                                                      Accommodation            6.5%
			                                          2010                                       and Food Services
   Vaughan 		                             $113,988                                      Professional,           5.3%
   Ontario		$85,772                                                                      Scientific Services
                                                                                         Arts and Entertainment  4.7%
Source: Statistics Canada, National Household Survey, 2011
                                                                                         Other Services          3.3%
                                                                                      Administration,           3.3%
                                                                                         Waste, Remediation
                                                                                    Source: Statistics Canada, Census 2006

                                                             Educational Attainment, 25 to 64 years

                                                                                      University Certificate,        35.8%
                                                                                       Diploma or Degree
                                                                                      High School Diploma            20.9%
                                                                                       or Equivalent
                                                                                      College Diploma              20.5%
                                                                                      No Certificate, Diploma      10.0%
                                                                                       or Degree
                                                                                      Apprenticeship, Trades          6.5%
                                                                                       Certificate or Diploma
                                                                                       University Diploma              6.4%
                                                                                       below Bachelor Level
                                                                                    Source: Statistics Canada,
                                                                                    National Household Survey 2011
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Living Well
                                                               For a downtown urban lifestyle, consider the future
                                                               Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, where condominium
                                                               developments are planned along with great shopping,
                                                               dining, entertainment and a new subway. The future
                                                               downtown is expected to accommodate a resident
                                                               and employment population of more than 30,000.
Housing
                                                               Education
Business competitiveness is increasingly driven by
human and intellectual capital. The City is actively           Learning is a life-long endeavour. Excellent kindergarten
creating a community that offers people the best of all        to Grade 12 education is available at public and private
worlds and a world of opportunity. The best and the            schools and academies. Standardized test scores from
brightest can live anywhere they choose, and Vaughan           the Ontario Education Quality and Accountability Office
makes it an easy choice.                                       demonstrate that York Region students are among the
                                                               best educational performers in the Province.
Singles, young families, mature adults and seniors will
find housing choices to meet their needs. A full range
of housing options from executive-style homes to single        Publicly Funded Schools
family detached dwellings, townhouses, condominiums                                                   York        York
and row housing is available throughout the City.              		                                    Catholic    Region
                                                                Schools*                             District    District   Total
Average Housing Prices in Vaughan by Type
                                                                  Elementary Schools                        34     33        67
     Type of                                                      Secondary Schools                         6       6        12
     House                                          Vaughan
                                                                  Total                                     40     39        79
     Detached house                                 $834,897   *French immersion schools have been included

     Semi-detached house                            $553,996
     Attached/row                                   $527,604   Privately Funded Schools
     Link house                                     $525,400
                                                                  Schools*			                                               Total
     Townhouse condos                               $411,389
                                                                  Elementary Schools			                                      17
     Condo apartments                               $360,510
                                                                  Secondary Schools			                                       6
Source: Toronto Real Estate Board, September 2013
                                                                  Elementary & Secondary			                                  4
                                                                  Total			27
16                                                             *Registered with the Ministry of Education
Post-Secondary Educational Institutes                    Healthcare
		                                       Distance        Modern medical and healthcare services are readily
 Universities                       (kilometres/miles)   accessible in Vaughan through Ontario’s publicly
                                                         funded healthcare system. The Vaughan Community
  York University                          9/6
                                                         Health Centre which opened in 2009 provides primary
  University of Toronto                   33/21          healthcare, health promotion and community-based
  Ontario College of Art & Design         35/22          programs to meet the needs of residents using a
  Ryerson University                      40/25          multi-disciplinary staff team approach.
	University of Ontario                                  Ambitious plans are underway for a new billion dollar,
  Institute of Technology                 60/37          state-of-the-art hospital in Vaughan. The hospital
  McMaster University                     85/53          will be the epicenter of a master planned project
                                                         that includes social and support services; ancillary
  University of Guelph                    90/56
                                                         medical services; long-term care; medical training
  University of Waterloo                 115/71          and education.
  Wilfrid Laurier University             115/71

		                                       Distance
 Colleges                           (kilometres/miles)
  Humber College                          21/13
  Seneca College                          30/19
  Centennial College                      34/21
  George Brown College                    40/25
  Sheridan Institute of Technology        55/34
  Durham College                          60/37
  Mohawk College                          87/54
  Conestoga College                      100/62

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Living Well

                                          City of Vaughan
                                          Inventory of Parks and Recreation Facilities

                                          		                                                Current City
                                          		                                                  Supply
                                          	Active Parkland                                582.1 hectares
                                            (parks with recreational facilities)           (1,438.4 acres)
Recreation and
                                            Passive Parkland                                530 hectares
Library Resources
                                            (natural trails)                               (1,309.6 acres)
Vaughan presents its residents              Community Centres                                    10
and workers with a host of
                                            Arenas (Ice Pads)                                    10
active and healthy lifestyle options.
State-of-the-art community                  Indoor Pools                                         12
centres offer fitness, recreation and       Gymnasiums                                           13
lifestyle programs at affordable rates.     Outdoor Soccer and Sports Fields                    212
Municipal parks and trails throughout
                                            Baseball Diamonds                                    79
the City provide opportunities for all-
season outdoor pursuits. Seven public       Tennis Courts                                       126
library branches encourage learning,        Basketball Courts                                    84
offering special services such as           Skateboard Parks                                     7
online catalogs and databases,
                                            Waterplay Facilities                                 17
special collections, research
assistance and discussion forums.           Playgrounds                                         159
                                            Off-leash Dog Park                                   1
                                            Outdoor Skating Rinks                                5
                                            Library Facilities                                   8
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                                          Source: City of Vaughan, Recreation & Culture,
                                          and Parks & Forestry Operations
$2.6 billion in   Public Transport
                  The City of Vaughan is well served by
public transit    public transit infrastructure. GO Transit
                  provides regional commuter rail and
infrastructure    bus service to downtown Toronto and
                  other points in the GTA during morning
investment        and afternoon rush hours.
                  Considered one of the safest transit
will change       systems in North America, York
                  Region Transit/Viva Rapid Transit
the face          provides all day efficient transit
                  service in York Region and Toronto.
of Vaughan.       In addition, new investment in public
                  transit infrastructure will enhance
                  commuter transit. The development
                  of the Toronto-York-Spadina Subway
                  Extension has begun and subway ser-
                  vice is planned to commence in 2016.
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Hospitality
      Accommodations                                  Banquet Centres and Specialty Shops
      Whether it’s a quaint bed and breakfast or a    Vaughan is host to many of life’s most
      full service hotel, Vaughan’s accommodation     cherished celebrations. Whether it’s an
      options will meet the needs of every traveler   intimate dinner or a lavish gala, Vaughan’s
      and visitor. The City has more than 1,800       banquet halls can cater to the most
      rooms in 16 hotel/motel properties.             discerning guest. In addition, Vaughan
                                                      offers services and specialty shops to take
      Dining                                          care of all your special occasion needs.

      Diners enjoy a smorgasbord of opportunity
      in Vaughan. Eateries range from fine dining     Meeting and Convention Space
      establishments to bistros, trattorias, grills   Vaughan’s hotels and banquet centres
      and buffets. A taste of home is just around     play host to guests at meetings and
      the corner with upscale Italian restaurants,    conferences from around the world. In 2009,
      kosher delis, Chinese specialties,              the City hosted the Communities in Bloom
      Vietnamese pho, churrasqueira take-outs         Conference, bringing guests from across
      and many other international cuisines.          Canada and as far away as Japan, Ireland
                                                      and the UK.

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Arts, Culture and Heritage
Arts                                                   Heritage Districts
Visitors and residents can enjoy some of Canada’s      If you are passionate about history or enjoy local
finest works of art at the McMichael Canadian          arts and crafts, you will find them in the City’s
Art Collection in Kleinburg. This remarkable gallery   historic village cores of Kleinburg, Maple, Thornhill
features the works of the world-renown Group           and Woodbridge. Their heritage districts are home
of Seven as well as First Nation and Inuit artists.    to one-of-a-kind shops, restaurants and galleries.
In addition to docent-led tours, the McMichael
                                                       Visitors and residents look forward to the
offers children’s summer art camps, workshops
                                                       Woodbridge Village Farmers Market and the annual
and adult studio classes in partnership with the
                                                       celebrations of CariVaughan, Kleinburg Binder
Ontario College of Art & Design.
                                                       Twine Festival, MapleFest, Thornhill Village Festival
                                                       and the Woodbridge Fall Fair.
Performing Arts
Vaughan is home to a number of exciting
entertainment venues. In Thornhill, the City
Playhouse hosts outstanding professional and
community-based theatre, dance and musical
performances. At Entertainment Central in the
Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, patrons enjoy the
club atmosphere at Yuk Yuks, Berlin’s and Dueling
Pianos. Concerts are available at the Kingswood
Music Theatre at Canada’s Wonderland.

                                                                                                          00
                                                                                                          21
Shopping and
     Recreational Pursuits
     Vaughan is a                                mall offers 17 anchor stores and 200 retail,
                                                 dining and entertainment establishments

      shopper’s paradise                         within a unique setting that celebrates the
                                                 beauty of Ontario.

         Large regional malls, outlet centres,   Sports Tourism
          small one-of-a-kind shops and
                                                 Recreational and competitive sports
              specialty retail stores can
                                                 enthusiasts have a home in Vaughan. The
                 be found across the City.
                                                 Sports Village and the City’s 10 Community
                  Woodbridge’s Market
                                                 Centres and numerous parks offer facilities
                   Lane and the Village of
                                                 for recreation and sports such as baseball,
                   Kleinburg offer main street
                                                 soccer, tennis, swimming, skating, ice hockey
                      shopping with unique
                                                 and bocce. In preparation for the 2010 Winter
                       shops and cafes.
                                                 Olympics in Vancouver, China’s Women’s
                        The Promenade and
                                                 Hockey Team established their training and
                        Vaughan Mills malls
                                                 practice centre at The Sports Village.
                        feature many national
                        chains as well as
                       unique stores and         World Class Attractions
                        entertainment venues.    Canada’s Wonderland is Canada’s premier
                                                 amusement park. It features more than 200
                         Visited by nearly
                                                 attractions with 69 thrilling rides and Splash
                           14 million people
                                                 Works – a 20-acre water park. The park
                               each year,
                                                 welcomes more than 3.4 million visitors
                                 Vaughan
                                                 annually.
                                    Mills
22
Natural Spaces & Countryside
Preservation   Natural Spaces
               and Countryside
                                                   as 30 sustainable technology
                                                   workshops for the public and
                                                   professionals.
of our         The headwaters of two regional
               river systems – the Don and         Reptilia zoo is the first of its kind
                                                   in the Greater Toronto Area and
countryside    the Humber – are located in
               Vaughan. So too is Southern         adds another destination to
                                                   our growing list of attractions.
               Ontario’s main aquifer, the Oak
and our        Ridges Moraine. Vaughan’s
               new Official Plan places a high
                                                   Visitors can experience and even
                                                   handle some of the more than 75

natural        priority on the protection of the
               Moraine, as well as the Greenbelt
                                                   species of reptiles, including the
                                                   largest crocodile and venomous
                                                   snake in Canada.
amenities is   and the rural countryside. These
               natural heritage ecosystems are
               provincially-significant assets     Golfing Enthusiasts
one of the     that provide source groundwater,
               diverse plant animal habitats,      There are plenty of world-class

City’s top     ecosystems, agricultural lands,
               sand and gravel resources,
                                                   golfing opportunities in Vaughan
                                                   from championship courses
                                                   to link-style golf experiences.
priorities.    economic, health and
               recreational benefits.              Eight public and private golf
                                                   courses are located throughout
               The Kortright Centre for            the City. Designed by renowned
               Conservation, Canada’s largest      architects such as Doug Carrick,
               environmental centre, is an         Robbie Robinson, Howard
               environmental treasure. The         Watson, Arthur Hills and Stanley
               Centre welcomes 135,000             Thompson to name a few, these
               visitors annually and offers more   courses provide a mix of tradition
               than 50 environmental education     and challenging design within
               programs for schools, as well       scenic settings.
                                                                                   23
Safe City
                         The City of Vaughan and the Region of York provide
                         a comprehensive suite of services to protect human
                         life and property. Fire and rescue services are
                         managed by the City’s Fire and Rescue Services

     One of the safest   Department, which is staffed by 260 staff in
                         10 fire station locations. Policing is provided by
                         York Region Police and emergency and paramedic
     places to live      services are delivered by York Emergency Medical
                         Services.
                         In 2011, the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics
                         named York Region as the safest community
                         in Canada for communities of one-million people
                         or more.

24
Environmental Leadership
Environmentally Sustainability is responsible        Examples of LEED Buildings in Vaughan
for championing the implementation of Green           Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED)
Directions Vaughan, the City’s Community              is a third-party certification program and an internationally
Sustainability and Environmental Master Plan          accepted benchmark for the design, construction and
and its goals, objectives, ethics and principles.     operation of buildings, homes and neighbourhoods.
Environmental Sustainability works in partnership     Archetype Sustainable Homes
with internal and external stakeholders to achieve    at Kortright • Platinum Rating
a healthy natural environment, vibrant communities
and a strong economy. This is achieved through        City Hall • Projected Gold Rating
support for residents and businesses resulting        Earth Rangers • Gold Rating
in increased awareness and local action on key
environmental issues such as climate change.          Fire Hall 7-10 • Gold Rating
Further, Environmental Sustainability supports        Joint EMS/Fire Station 7-9 • Gold Rating
research, policy and program development
activities that address environmental priorities      McMichael Canadian
and implements coordinated activities across          Art Collection • Silver Rating
the City’s departments.                               PowerStream Head Offices • Gold Rating
                                                      TRCA Restoration
                                                      Services Centre • Platinum Rating

                                                                          The archetype sustainable houses
                                                                          at the Kortright Centre in Vaughan –
                                                                          LEED platinum rating.

                                                                                                               25
A Leading City
A City of Choice
Vaughan Vision 2020, the City’s corporate strategic     cost efficiencies and maximizing staff effectiveness.
plan, sets out a “vision” of Vaughan’s future growth    Integrity forms the foundation of Vaughan’s Vision,
and development to the year 2020. This plan             promoting respect, accountability, and dedication.
places “people first” by providing service excellence
                                                        Council and City staff are committed to operating
to residents and businesses while ensuring that
                                                        from a leadership position. Our residents and
Vaughan is a safe, sustainable, and environmentally
                                                        businesses can be assured that Vaughan is a
friendly community with a prosperous future.
                                                        well managed municipality with an exciting future.
By focusing on citizens, our strategic plan enhances
the delivery of municipal services while optimizing

26
Selected Business
Resources
 GOVERNMENT OF CANADA                             www.gc.ca
    Citizenship & Immigration Canada              www.cic.gc.ca
    Foreign Affairs Trade & Development Canada    www.dfait.gc.ca
    Industry Canada                               www.ic.gc.ca
    Service Canada Portal                         www.servicecanada.gc.ca

 PROVINCE OF ONTARIO                              www.ontario.ca
    Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs             www.omaf.gov.on.ca
    Citizenship & Immigration                     www.citizenship.gov.on.ca
    Economic Development, Trade, and Employment   www.investinontario.com
    Health                                        www.ehealthontario.on.ca
    Tourism, Culture and Sport                    www.tourism.gov.on.ca

 REGION OF YORK                                   www.york.ca

 CITY OF VAUGHAN                                  www.vaughan.ca
    The Economic Development Office               www.vaughan.ca/business
    Vaughan Business Enterprise Centre            www.vaughan.ca/vbec
    Vaughan Public Libraries                      www.vaughanpl.com

 VAUGHAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE                      www.vaughanchamber.ca

 PUBLIC TRANSIT
    York Region Transit                           www.yorkregiontransit.com
    GO Transit                                    www.gotransit.com
    Metrolinx                                     www.metrolinx.ca
    Viva Rapid Transit                            www.vivanext.com

 UTILITIES
    Enbridge Gas Distribution                     www.enbridgegas.com
    PowerStream                                   www.powerstream.ca

 IMMIGRANT SERVICES
    Costi Immigrant Services                      www.costi.org
    Human Endeavour                               www.humanendeavour.org
    Welcome Centre Immigrant Services             www.welcomecentreimmigrantservices.com

 SENECA COLLEGE - VAUGHAN CAMPUS                  www.senecac.on.ca
                                                                                      00
2141 Major Mackenzie Drive
Vaughan, Ontario, Canada L6A 1T1
Phone: 905-832-2281
www.vaughan.ca

Printed in Canada

© City of Vaughan 2013
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