November 1, 2019
Sandra
Yeung Racco
WARD 4 COUNCILLOR
Remembrance Day Event and Exhibit

The City of Vaughan’s annual Remembrance Day event is on Friday, November 1 at 10:00 a.m. at Vaughan City Hall. The event will launch the commemorative Remembrance Day exhibit that pays respect to and celebrates the brave Canadians who risked their lives to save others. Our new exhibit highlights the achievements and sacrifices of the First Special Service Force (FSSF), one of the most elite Allied units of the Second World War.

The community is invited to pay tribute to those who sacrificed their own lives for the freedom of others and share thoughts of remembrance on the City Hall Poppy Wall. Click here for event details. 
Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua and Members of Council invite you to join in the fun at the City of Vaughan Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Experience the excitement as the outdoor Christmas tree comes to life! Celebrate the season with festive music and holiday goodies.
Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua and Members of Council invite you to join in the celebrations of the City of Vaughan Menorah Lighting Ceremonies. Celebrate the season with festive music, holiday goodies and fun activities.
Vaughan Winterfest 2020
Vendors and Volunteers Wanted

Vendor Booth Opportunities:
Showcase your business or not-for-profit organization!
 
 
For vendor/participant booth opportunities, please contact  [email protected] .
 
Volunteer Opportunities:
Get involved in your community!


For volunteer opportunities or inquiries, please contact  [email protected]
McNaughton Road East Sidewalk & Multi-Use Pathway Construction
Planned Work
The City of Vaughan is constructing a 3.0 meter wide asphalt multi-use pathway for shared use by pedestrians and cyclists on the south and west side of McNaughton Road East, between Keele Street and Major Mackenzie Drive (approximately 1.5 km in length). This construction began September 23, 2019 and is expected to be completed by December 16, 2019.

Pedestrian Access
  • Pedestrian access westerly from the GO Station to Keele Street is available on the south side of McNaughton Road.
  • Pedestrian access easterly from the GO Station to Major Mackenzie Drive is available on the north side of McNaughton Road.

Traffic Impacts
  • McNaughton Road will remain open to vehicular traffic during construction and driveway accesses to businesses will be maintained.
  • The eastbound curb lane on McNaughton Road will reopen to vehicular access on November 1. The City of Vaughan appreciates your co-operation and patience as we work to improve the multi-use path connections in your neighborhood as quickly and efficiently as possible. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding this project, please contact Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281.
Sustainable transformation requires collaboration between established businesses and start-ups with big ideas. By working together to identify opportunities for transformation and to develop innovative solutions, collaboratively-minded businesses will play a critical role in creating an environmentally sustainable future. 
 
Join the Activate!Vaughan Innovation Network to collaborate on business ideas that will advance environmental sustainability in key industries.   

Pitch your Solution
Activate!Vaughan is calling entrepreneurs and start-ups to present solutions which will disrupt traditional ways of doing business to transform manufacturing, supply chains, business processes, revenue models, and customer engagement channels. Start-ups are invited to pitch their ideas for a sustainable future at the Activate!Vaughan Innovation Challenge for a chance to earn a $5,000 provincial grant.    

Partner with Vaughan Businesses
Activate!Vaughan is calling on business leaders looking to develop and implement innovative sustainability solutions to join the program and provide insight into their industry. Corporate partners are invited to present opportunities they see in their industry at the Activate!Vaughan Innovation Challenge. For more information please contact  [email protected] .  

Mentor Future Leaders
Activate!Vaughan is calling on business experts to mentor future leaders. Business mentors are invited to share their advice and expertise with entrepreneurs to help them develop their business ideas, perfect their pitch and amplify the impact of their solutions.  

Breakfast Networking and
Roundtable Discussion
Thursday, November 7
8 a.m. to 10 a.m. 

Activate!Vaughan Innovation Challenge Thursday, November 28
12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information, click here .
Smart Centres Place Terminal will Begin Operating on November 3rd

Smart Centres Place bus terminal is located in the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre at Millway Ave. and Applemill Rd. and will begin regular operations on Sunday, November 3.

The terminal will primarily serve York Regional Transit (YRT) buses. Some features of the terminal include:

  • Nine bus bays
  • Space for a future retail business
  • Washrooms
  • Seating area with tables and chairs
  • A passenger pick-up and drop-off area
  • A pay parking lot adjacent to the site
  • An underground pedestrian tunnel providing access to the the Highway 7 rapidway as well as the TTC Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station

The Smart Centres Place terminal will provide the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre with a central transit hub allowing for easy travel within Vaughan and the Greater Toronto Area. For more information please visit here .
Learn About your Property Tax
and Water Budget

Residents are encouraged to be involved in the City's budget planning.

The City of Vaughan's budget is built on the principles of integrity, accountability and responsibility. It is focused on keeping property tax rates low, respecting taxpayers' hard-earned money and delivering quality public services that residents, businesses and visitors rely on each day. The Property Tax Budget funds the many programs and services families enjoy and expect, including garbage collection, snow clearing and fire prevention education. The Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Budgets fund the water, wastewater and stormwater-related programs and services.

The City invites you to be part of the budget process and learn about how your hard-earned tax dollars are being invested. There are many ways for you to get involved.

  • Attend public meetings in Council Chamber at Vaughan City Hall or watch the meetings live online:
  1. Monday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m.
  2. Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m.
  3. Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m.

For more information and to stay up to date on the process, please visit vaughan.ca/budget .
New Portion of the Viva Highway 7 Rapidway Opened

The 2.6-kilometre segment of Viva bus rapid transit (rapidway) along Highway 7, from Bathurst Street to Richmond Hill Centre Terminal (Yonge Street) has opened.

  • Bathurst & Highway 7 Station, located on the Highway 7-Bathurst Connecting Road.
  • Shared-use path for pedestrians and cyclists, along both sides of Highway 7. 

The City of Vaughan is taking steps to reduce energy use and costs to residents and businesses by changing approximately 20,000 streetlights to LED technology through the City-wide LED Streetlight Retrofit Program. This project reflects the City’s commitment to environmental stewardship by reducing greenhouse gas emissions while improving roadway safety for pedestrians and drivers.

The project will begin by the end of October 2019. Visit here for more information. 
Citizens and business owners can now use an online tool to receive an estimate of development charges that could apply when creating new residential units or non-residential spaces, or changing the use of existing industrial spaces. To use the tool, input the required information about the development, such as the number of new residential units, the square metres of space being constructed or the area being converted to retail space. The estimation tool does not consider applicable credits or area-specific rates at this time. For more information, click here
We are excited to announce that Rogers Hometown Hockey will take place in the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre from Saturday, January 11 to Sunday, January 12 . The event is free to attend.

More details to be shared in the coming months.
We are still looking for crossing guards for the 2019/2020 school year.

  • Forest Run Blvd and Ten Oaks Blvd (Forest Run Public School)
  • Forest Run Blvd and Vanguard Rd (Forest Run Public School)
  • Thomas Cook Ave and Lebovic Campus Dr (Nellie McClung Public School)

This is a great opportunity to contribute to the community. To apply or learn more about the program, call Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281, or email [email protected] with “Crossing Guard” in the subject line.

School crossing guards are an important part of the community. These dedicated individuals work every school day to protect and assist children walking across the streets of Vaughan. The City of Vaughan recruits, trains and hires crossing guards, conducts pedestrian studies, selects crosswalk locations and installs appropriate signage and pavement markings.
Bass Pro Mills Drive Extension

To support future growth and to improve the flow of traffic, the City of Vaughan is proceeding with the construction and extension of Bass Pro Mills Drive from Romina Drive to connect with Jane Street at Locke Street.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of November of this year. For more information please visit here .
The City of Vaughan uses contractors for our Fall Maintenance Program. Here is a breakdown of the services:

Street Sweeping:
The regular 4-5 week street sweeping rotation is expected to carry on through the Fall. Here’s how you can help to ensure sweep crews can efficiently clean and maintain our city.:
  • Don’t park vehicles on the road
  • Ensure vehicles do not overhang onto the road
  • Keep basketball or hockey nets off the road and away from the edge of the curb
  • Ensure waste containers are not placed on the road

For more information or to view the street sweeping map, click  here .

Snow Removal:
The weather is changing and ANYTHING is possible so just a reminder, the City of Vaughan provides residents with a high level of snow-removal services. Whether it's reducing ice on roads, removing snow from roads or clearing it from paths, sidewalks and windrows, the City's Public Works crews strive to ensure residents and visitors can travel safely despite the weather. For more information, click  here .

For more information about Vaughan's Fall Maintenance Program...
 Please visit Vaughan's Roads Division department website here for more information. To speak to a customer service representative about an issue, please contact Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or [email protected].
Friday, November 1
10:00 a.m.
Vaughan City Hall - Atrium

November 3-7
Various Times
Bathurst Clark Resource Library & Dufferin Clark Library

Thursday, November 7
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Pierre Berton Heritage Centre

Sunday, November 24
1:30 p.m.
Canada's Wonderland to
Vaughan City Hall

November 28
12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
KPMG Building- Vaughan Metropolitan Centre

Wednesday, December 4
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Vaughan Animal Services

Block 18 District Park - Open House
Thursday, December 5
6:00 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Vaughan City Hall - Multi Purpose Room

Friday, December 6
7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Vaughan City Hall Courtyard

Monday, December 23
3:30 p.m.
Vaughan City Hall

Sunday, December 29
3:30 p.m.
Garnet A. Williams C.C.
The Carville Multi-Use Complex will be located at Thomas Cooke Avenue and Valley Vista Drive.

Planning and design for the complex will be underway this winter, and updates will be provided as they become available. The complex will include a community centre, library and district park when complete.

For more information on this project, please visit here .
Vaughan Fitness Bingo

Complete 12 of 16 fitness activities in the month of November for your chance to win one of 6 grand prizes.

Bingo cards are available at customer service desk or fitness office. For more information please visit here .
A Groundbreaking Collaboration Puts Healthcare in Vaughan at the Forefront

In a first-of-its-kind initiative in Vaughan, the City is leading a collaboration to transform an 82-acre parcel of land at Jane Street and Major Mackenzie Drive into the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed on Wednesday, October 2 between the City of Vaughan, York University, Mackenzie Health and ventureLAB to identify transformational opportunities to maximize the best use of lands surrounding the site of the Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital through a feasibility study. Read the news release to learn more.
Overflowing Blue Box?

Did you know you can upgrade to a larger container? The City of Vaughan accepts up to 121 litre/32 gallon-containers for recycling. You can purchase one at your local home improvement store. For heath and safety reasons, containers with attached lids and wheels cannot be used. And remember, there is no limit to the number of recycling bins you can put out. For more information on blue box recycling, visit vaughan.ca/waste
Looking for a fun way to pass the PA Day? Vaughan Recreation is hosting PA Day Camps where your kids will enjoy a day of activities, including games, sports, arts and crafts, cooking, cowling and special events. Learn more and register here .
Lace Up Your Skates

It's officially skate and shinny hockey season! Vaughan’s indoor arenas are now open for supervised, recreational skate and shinny hockey times. For schedules, visit vaughan.ca/skate .

Outdoor rinks will open in December, weather permitting.
Green Thumbs Up!

Green Directions Vaughan, the City’s sustainability plan, has been a guidepost since 2009 for making environmentally responsible decisions and actions. Thanks in part to the community’s ongoing feedback, the City completed a review and update of the plan with refreshed priorities and guiding principles. Read the draft plan, give it a green thumbs up and visit the pop-up booth at an upcoming City event. Learn more at vaughan.ca/GreenDirections
Recreation Services regularly has a number of promotions to take advantage of.

Currently, they are offering:

  • 2x free recreational ice skating admissions.
  • 2x free recreational swimming admissions.
  • 3x free fitness studio admissions.

Available for all Vaughan households. Offers valid until December 31. More information can be found here .
Elderly Homeowners Tax Assistance Program for the Year 2020

A tax credit in the amount of $377 is provided to elderly homeowners who qualify. For more information, click here.
Tattoos are living images that reveal important stories about an individual. My Story, My Tattoo is a travelling art exhibit from the Wellington County Museum and Archives, featuring 32 thought-provoking images and stories about amazing tattoos. Come by the exhibit at the Civic Centre Resource Library through to Tuesday, December 31.
Explore the life of Sir Arthur Currie, one of Canada's most accomplished generals, with this 3D travelling exhibit at Bathurst Clark Resource Library through to Friday, November 15. This exhibit is provided by Museum Strathroy-Caradoc.
Recording Studio

Get a basic introduction to the recording studio and how to troubleshoot common issues with the equipment and software at Civic Centre Resource Library . Multiple dates are available. Rock on!
Join amateur writers in overcoming the challenges of writing every month at the Civic Centre Resource Library . Each session will focus on different elements of writing like plot, character, prose style.
The Way We Were: Archives Collection of the Month
When the First Special Service Force (FSSF) was created in 1942, it was an unprecedented  joint venture between Canada and the United States. The FSSF was and remains the only joint Canadian-American military unit seen in action. This elite force went through months of grueling training to emerge as one of the most highly trained military units that saw action during World War II.

Following a series of successful missions in Southern France from July to November 1944, the Canadian portion of the FSSF was dissolved on December 5, 1944. Many Canadian members were transferred into the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, ironic as many original Canadian members of the Force had originally been recruited under the guise of joining the 1CPB in 1942. The FSSF’s legacy continued past the WWII, however, with the creation of the US Special Forces in 1983 and then the Canadian Special Operations Regiment in 2016. The FSSF attained its objective of demonstrating what could be done by a small group of highly-trained individuals. 

To find out more about the City of Vaughan Archives, visit  Vaughan.ca/archives.
facingNORTH: art | symbol | story exhibition
The City of Vaughan is featuring a curated exhibition titled facingNORTH: art | symbol | story now in the on the SLATE Atrium Gallery at Vaughan City Hall until Tuesday, Dec. 24. It includes stone and bone sculptures and wall hangings that interpret traditional Inuit legends, myths and ways of life. Visit vaughan.ca/art for details.
Leaf and Yard Waste Collection

Fall Collection
Tuesday, October 22 to Friday, December 13
Collected WEEKLY

Click here to view Acceptable and Unacceptable Items and a Set Out Requirements.
Upcoming Council and Committee Meetings

November 5
Committee of the Whole (1)
3:00 p.m.

Committee of the Whole (Public Hearing)
7:00 p.m.

November 12
Committee of the Whole (2)
1:00 p.m.

Committee of the Whole (Closed Session)
5:00 p.m.

November 14
Committee of Adjustment
6:00 p.m.

November 19
Council
1:00 p.m.

November 20
Heritage Vaughan
7:00 p.m.

November 25
Older Adult Task Force
3:00 p.m.

November 27
Accessibility Advisory Committee
7:00 p.m.

Full meeting information  here
 Live broadcast  available.
Ward 4 Councillor's Office
Contact My Office:
Sandra Yeung Racco
905-832-8585 ext. 8342
Executive Assistant:
Cindy Furfaro-Benning
905-832-8585 ext. 8198