Happy Lunar New Year!
Gung Hei Fat Choi!
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Join us for the 2019 Vaughan Lunar New Year
Celebration to welcome in the Year of the Pig!
The celebration will include a traditional lion dance & eye-dotting ceremony, various cultural performances, activities and refreshments.
Sunday, February 3, 2019
Vaughan City Hall
2141 Major Mackenzie Drive
1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Official welcome at 2 p.m.
For more information, please visit our
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This free, fun-filled winter carnival offers FREE first-class entertainment, indoor and outdoor activities, an Official Welcome by Mayor and Members of Council, as well as midway rides and inflatables, face painting, arts & crafts, a photo booth, horse-drawn wagon rides, a free pancake breakfast, and so much more!
Sunday, February 10th
Vellore Village Community Centre
10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Free shuttle bus service to and from the event will be provided across the city. There is no parking at event site.
A FREE pancake breakfast will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. as a free Winterfest Giveaway (while quantities last).
Click
here
to view brochure for full Show and Meet & Greet times. For More Information, be sure to check the
WinterFest Page
on the City of Vaughan website.
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REDELMEIER POND RESTORATION PROJECT PUBLIC MEETING
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The Redelmeier Valleylands will be undergoing restoration alterations this year. The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority invites you to a public meeting for the Redelmeier Pond Restoration Project.
Tuesday, February 12
th
, 2019
North Thornhill Community Centre Activity Room B
300 Pleasant Ridge Ave.
6:00 – 7:30 pm
You are encouraged to attend the scheduled public meeting for further information regarding work completed to date, a summary of outcomes from the last meeting, and a presentation and discussion of the restoration work to be completed in 2019.
To view meeting notice click
here
.
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City Of Vaughan's Outdoor Ice Rinks Are Open For The Winter Season
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You can take the family to the outdoor rinks located at Chancellor C.C., Dufferin Clark C.C., Father E. Bulfon C.C. Garnet A. Williams C.C. and Vellore Village C.C. for fun on the ice.
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Each year, the City of Vaughan passes a budget to determine how funds will be spent. The Property Tax Budget and the
Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Budgets
are discussed at the same time. The Finance, Administration and Audit Committee discusses the draft budget and listens to resident input during a series of
meetings
.
Budget discussions are underway, the final public meetings are set for February:
Monday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m.
Departmental reviews,
public deputations and wrap-up
Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m.
Special Council Meeting to approve the budget
Throughout the budget process there are a number of opportunities for you to give input.
Meetings are held at Vaughan City Hall and can be
watched live
online.
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After close to 5 hours of listening to residents on whether Vaughan should permit the sales of cannabis through authorized private retail outlets in Vaughan or not, Council voted 8 -1 to OPT-OUT of the province's private cannabis retail model.
The recommendation approved by Council is as follow:
”Whereas the legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada came into effect on October 17, 2018; and
Whereas the Province of Ontario currently controls the sale of cannabis on-line through the Ontario Cannabis Store; and
Whereas legislation introduced by the Province of Ontario permits the sale of cannabis through authorized, private retail outlets as of April 1, 2019; and
Whereas Members of Vaughan Council have actively engaged and listened to their constituents about the issue of recreational cannabis and the presence of cannabis retail stores in the community; and
Whereas a Special Committee of the Whole meeting on January 21, 2019 was held to provide another opportunity for residents and community groups to participate in debate and voice their concerns on the issue of licensed retail cannabis in Vaughan; and
Whereas the health and safety of Vaughan's children, youth and all citizens remains of paramount importance to Vaughan Council; and
Whereas municipalities need dedicated, predictable and substantial funding from both the Canadian and Ontario governments to help ensure the administration and consumption of recreational cannabis is done in a safe, informed and responsible manner;
It is therefore recommended:
1. That this resolution of Vaughan Council be submitted to the Province of Ontario informing the provincial government that the City of Vaughan is formally opting-out of the province's private cannabis retail model; and
2 That City of Vaughan Staff continue to work closely with other levels of government, community partners, including York Region Police, and the broader community to address and monitor evolving and developing issues and information surrounding cannabis legislation; and
3. That this resolution be forwarded to the Attorney General, the Ministry of Municipal Affiars and Housing, Vaughan's MPs, MPPs, AMO, York Region Police and the Region of York.”
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North Thornhill District Park Walkway
is Open for Use
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I am very pleased to announce on behalf of all the many staff that worked on this project that the North Thornhill District Park walkway connection is now open for public use.
The project scope includes a new asphalt pathway (+/- 220 meters long) with pedestrian lighting, re-grading, armor stone walls/ curbs, various site furnishings, handrail and tree planting, and it provides a much anticipated pathway connection between two previously separated parcels of land that make up North Thornhill District Park. This connection was identified as an important project and involved an agreement with YRDSB to construct the pathway connection through Stephen Lewis Secondary School property.
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New Small Business Programming (Pilot) in Vaughan
Provided by VentureLab and Vaughan Small Business and Entrepreneurship
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Small Business (1-20 employees) accounts for almost 80 per cent of Vaughan’s nearly 12,000 businesses.
Economic and Cultural Development, through Small Business and Entrepreneurship, are engaging the local Regional Innovation Centre – ventureLAB – to deploy their programming in Vaughan on a pilot basis.
Economic and Cultural Development deliver Province of Ontario Small Business Enterprise Centre programming in partnership with the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE). Regional Innovation Centres (RIC) are partners in the ONE. VentureLAB, based in Markham, is York Region’s RIC.
Pilot programming with ventureLAB will be delivered from January to March of 2019 to serve Vaughan’s innovation-based scaling entrepreneurs.
VentureLAB Orientation/Information Sessions:
- Friday, February 22, 9:30 a.m.
- Friday, March 22, 9:30 a.m.
Innovation Entrepreneur-in-Residence Office Hours
- Friday, February 22 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Friday, March 22 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Seminars:
- Business Model Canvas Workshop
Wednesday, February 13, 2:00 p.m.,
Thursday, February 28, 10:00 a.m.
Tuesday, March 19, 2:00 p.m.
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Short Term Rentals -
Public Consultation Meetings
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The City of Vaughan values the opinions of citizens and stakeholders. Opportunities for public consultation with the community and key stakeholders is an integral part of understanding the current situation of short-term rentals in Vaughan.
Short-term rentals are generally understood to be private individuals renting out their residence, or part of their residence, for short periods of time (generally less than 30 days) through internet-based platforms such as Airbnb, HomeAway and VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner), in exchange for a fee.
To continue community engagement on issues and concerns regarding short-term rentals. The input received from the public consultation process will be considered by staff when preparing the comprehensive technical report, with recommendations, anticipated to be brought forward to Council towards the end of Q2 of 2019.
A Short Term Rentals - Public consultation meeting is scheduled on:
Monday, March 4, 2019
7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Thornhill Community Centre
Activity Rooms A & B
300 Pleasant Ridge Avenue
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The City of Vaughan operates an extensive winter and road maintenance program to ensure public safety during the winter months and severe weather events. This year, the City will build on it's success - a performance-based contract, dedicated customer service representatives, and more efficient plowing and windrow clearing - to continue to deliver Service Excellence to all citizens.
Clearing the way - Plowing
The City aims to plow all roads within 16 hours after snowfall has ended. Main roads are plowed and salted first within 4 hours to keep them clear for emergency and transit vehicles. The City begins to plow as soon as five centimetres (two inches) of snow is accumulated on public roads. Residents of Vaughan are reminded to keep cars off the street while snowplows are clearing the road to assist the City in ensuring streets are properly and safely cleared.
Road safety is our priority - Salting
As soon as snow or ice begin to accumulate, our salting/sanding crews are out and about on the City's main roads. Our goal is to complete this first round of salting on main roads within
4 hours
. Residential roads are salted within
12 hours
after snowfall has ended.
Windrow Service
The City operates a residential windrow clearing service to remove about 80 per cent of snow left by plows at the end of driveways within four hours after the plow has passed. Citizens must remove anything that may interfere with or be hazardous to plow crews. This includes landscaping features, such as fencing, basketball nets, decorative stones, pots, bird baths, etc. The City of Vaughan is the only municipality in the GTA to offer a windrow clearing service to residents.
Keeping City Sidewalks Safe
As soon as
5 centimetres (2 inches)
of snow accumulates on public sidewalks,sidewalk plowing will begin. Sidewalks on main roads are serviced first, including sidewalks with York Region Transit stops and along schools. During heavy snowfall, these main sidewalk routes may be salted and plowed more than once before residential areas are serviced. Sidewalks in residential communities are plowed once primary sidewalks complete. Following that, our plows service paths and walkways within parks and private roads.Main road sidewalks are cleared within eight hours of a snowfall ending, with residential streets being cleared within 16 hours.
How citizens can help:
- Citizens are mandated by By-law 300-93 to clear snow and ice by shoveling and/or throwing down salt on sidewalks bordering their property within 24 hours after snowfall has ended to help ensure sidewalks remain safe for the community.
- Please remove anything that may interfere with or be hazardous to plow crews, including landscape features, basketball nets, decorative stones, pots and bird baths.
- Please ensure cars are not parked on the street while snowplows are working, so road crews can carry out plowing operations safely.
- Please make sure fire hydrants near their property are clear of snow.
- Please be mindful of where snow is placed. It is illegal to shovel snow or ice onto the road as per the Ontario Highway Traffic Act
- Please ensure garbage, recycling and composting bins are placed on the right side of the driveway when facing the house from the street. This allows for safe waste collection and for the City to clear the snow effectively in residential areas.
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For more information about Vaughan's Winter Maintenance Program...
click
here
.
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Sunday, February 3
1:30 p.m.
Vaughan City Hall
2141 Major Mackenzie Drive - Atrium
Tuesday, February 5
8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 10
10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Vellore Village Community Centre
Wednesday, February 20
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
70 Tigi Court, Unit 47
Black History Month Observance Ceremony
Sunday February 24
2:00 p.m.
Vaughan City Hall, Atrium, Level 100
Presented by TACCA
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Subsequent to our Council meeting on the Provincial Bill 66 discussion - the proposed "Restoring Ontario's Competitiveness Act, 2018" - and more specifically the proposed changes to Schedule 10 of the Planning Act, City staff did forward Council's approved resolution to our MPP's and to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
It is our understanding that the Ministry received many concerns from other municipalities and stakeholders as well. As such, Minister Steve Clark of Municipal Affairs and Housing announced that when the legislature returns in February, they WILL NOT proceed with Schedule 10 of Bill 66.
This is welcome news as it means that our Greenbelt and Oak Ridges Moraine and other provincial interests like water quality or public health and safety will be protected; including the protection of our lakes, waterways and groundwater from pollution. Thank you MPP's for listening to us, the residents and taxpayers of Vaughan and Ontario.
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Black History Month Poetry Readings
Poem Readings with Jamaican Canadian Poet/Author/Art Educator
Rap along with Poet, Author and Art Educator Nadine Williams in an interactive session of storytelling, poetry and songs.
Nadine engages young participants in a fun and interactive session of reading and creating lyrics to a rap beat for an awesome African Canadian cultural experience.
Dates and Location
Pleasant Ridge Library Tuesday, February 19
7:00 p.m.
Pierre Berton Resource Library
Monday, February 25
6:30 p.m.
Vellore Village Library Tuesday, February 26
6:30 p.m.
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Winter pet safety tips
Here are some tips to help your pets be safe and healthy during the winter:
- Never leave your pet alone in a cold car or outside in extreme temperatures.
- Wipe your pet’s paws after being outside. Road and sidewalk salt can irritate the pads on your pet's feet.
- Put together a pet emergency survival kit and keep it with your family’s emergency kit.
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Protect Your Pets
Keep your pets safe and healthy by getting them vaccinated and microchipped.
Vaughan Animal Services 70 Tigi Court, Unit 47
Call 905-832-2281 to make an appointment.
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The
City of Vaughan
is prepared with high-level plowing, road maintenance and windrow services.
You can use the
Where is my snowplow
?
online lookup tool which provides residents with real time updates, indicating the streets that have already been plowed. For more information visit
vaughan.ca/snow
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Outside the Box
These unconventional portraits taken by accomplished photographers help depict the
outside the box
mantra of the mavericks who have positioned Vaughan’s economic and social leadership at the vanguard of urban transformation.
Date:
Now until
April 12, 2019
(Monday - Friday)
Time:
10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Location:
Vaughan City Hall (on the slate Atrium Gallery)
If you're interested take a moment, stop by City Hall and take a look.
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Artrepreneur Youth Program in Vaughan
The Artrepreneur Youth Program is a one-week intensive for youth interested in entrepreneurship and the arts.
The program serves York Region-based artists working in all artistic disciplines, such as visual arts, dance, theater, film, music, jewelry, fashion, augmented reality and game design.
By the end of the program, participants will have a business plan, allowing them to launch their business through various grants programs such as
Summer Company
.
The application deadline is Monday, Feb. 18.
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The Way We Were: Archives Collection of the Month
The Bowes Family fonds is one of the City’s smaller archival collections, consisting primarily of genealogical records compiled in the 1970s.
As one of the earlier families to settle in the area, Anthony Bowes and his family arrived in Vaughan Township in 1831, occupying lot 3, concession 2 in the Concord (present day Steeles and Dufferin area).
As the family grew, additional lots in the area were purchased for children and grandchildren (including: lot 7, concession 2 and lots 10 and 11, concession 3), with several Bowes Family Farms in existence well into the 1950s.
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The 2019 Spring and Summer Recreation Guide will be delivered to Vaughan homes early February.
Copies will also be available at community centres and libraries after February 1.
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Upcoming Council and Committee meetings at Vaughan City Hall
February 4
9:30 AM
Finance and Administration Committee
February 4
2:00 PM
Committee of the Whole
February 4
7:00 PM
Finance and Administration Committee
February 5
1:00 PM
Committee of the Whole
February 5
7:00 PM
Committee of the Whole Public Hearing
February 6
9:30 AM
Committee of the Whole Working Session
February 7
6:00 PM
Committee of Adjustment
February 12
1:00 PM
Council
February 13
7:00 PM
Heritage Vaughan
February 20
7:00 PM
Special Council (Budget)
February 21
6:00 PM
Committee of Adjustment
Full meeting information
here
.
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