[ OUR CITY ]
more about one’s ability to be a servant leader.” Bevilacqua outlines his
vision for a “Purpose-Driven City,” describing it as “a place where we
focus on our character strengths and virtues; a place where the genuine
and authentic self is achieved by individuals and collectively as a city.”
He adds: “Ultimately I want people to live fulfilling, meaningful lives
where we improve the human condition. If we don’t work toward
this ultimate goal, then what are we doing here?”
The Council under the leadership of the Mayor is now more focused on an agenda, which includes several major projects including the new Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension, and the Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital. All
these important city-building initiatives have seen dramatic progress
and continue to inspire confidence in the residents about Vaughan’s
which helps our city attract investment, businesses and visitors.”
Vaughan has more than 11,200 businesses that employ more than
200,000 people. We have a healthy job market with low unemployment and sustainable economic growth.
When he first coined Vaughan as “The Place to Be” one has to
wonder whether he could have foreseen this kind of progress and
development. The Mayor has a deep sense of dedication and
possesses a determination that is aimed at achieving results by
embracing the diversity of opinions and bringing out the best in
people. He believes now more than ever that, “In order to fulfill
our destiny to build the greatest city that we can, we must be confident to realize our potential, and achieve excellence as individuals
and collectively.”
Mayor Bevilacqua sharing his insights on why Vaughan is the place
to be on Bloomberg's The Daily Brief with host Pamela Ritchie
Welcoming professional
soccer to Vaughan, TFC II
bright future. Not only has the image of the
city changed from within, but this transformation has also been noted outside the city
borders. Mayor Bevilacqua says, “More people
are becoming aware of the Vaughan Advantage
and the many reasons why residents are proud
to live, work and play here. This is evident as MoneySense
Magazine recently released its 2016 Best Places to Live report that
ranked Vaughan 20th out of 219 cities in Canada. We have come
a long way from where we were – 38th place in 2015 and 56th in
2014 – and with these major city-building initiatives underway, we
are positioned to continue to top this list for years to come.” Profit
magazine has also ranked the City as the second best to do business
in the province of Ontario.
In 2015 Vaughan was part of a select group of global cities recognized and ushered into the World Council on City Data (WCCD) –
it is only the second city in Canada to be recognized by the WCCD.
Vaughan has received this prestigious certification and is leading
the way in Canada and abroad reaching new heights globally.
Vaughan was selected to participate in this worldwide platform for
city data that can be used in the planning process and decisionmaking, demonstrating that the City has reached the highest standards in collecting and using research as part of delivering service
excellence to residents. Some of the other cities represented in the
WCCD are Johannesburg, Shanghai, Melbourne, Barcelona, London, Los Angeles and Dubai.
Mayor Bevilacqua says, “This reflects our commitment to putting
citizens first, and also the pride we take in the Vaughan Advantage
10
Celebrate Vaughan / 2016
Setting the last spike in the Toronto-York
Spadina Subway Extension
And what can we expect for Vaughan in the
near future? He quickly replies, “The best is
yet to come.” There are many projects on the
go – the Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital is slated
to open in 2020, the Toronto-York Spadina Subway
Extension is opening in late 2017, the Yonge North
Subway Extension is in the planning stages and the Highway
427 Extension is underway. The Vaughan Metropolitan Centre is
rising from the ground, with anchor tenant KPMG and a new
265,000-square-foot, SmartReit mixed-use, office project that will
be home to PwC as well as at-grade retail, a state-of-the-art YMCA,
City Library and Community Centre.
This year marks Vaughan’s 25th Anniversary and there is much
to be proud of. As a city that has become one of the fastest
growing in Canada, the Mayor says, “Vaughan’s journey has been
nothing short of impressive. We started off as a town with a pride
of citizenship and an unwavering desire to aim higher. Our values
are rooted in humility, optimism and hope. As we look ahead
to an exciting future, I am inspired by the passion and energy that
exists in every corner of our community.”
Now in his second term as Mayor, he is encouraged by Vaughan’s
accomplishments. “Our agenda for positive change has proven
successful. Together, we h ave built a first-class administration, supported the development of major city-building initiatives including
the Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital, the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre and the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension, welcomed
professional sports with the TFC II, and maintained a great quality
of life and standard of living. For our city, the best is yet to come.”