Your City Update: News featuring Celebrate Canada Day and...

June 17, 2019

City Update eNewsletter

Celebrate Canada Day

The City of Vaughan's annual Canada Day celebration takes place on Monday, July 1 at the newly opened North Maple Regional Park, 11085 Keele St. The party begins at 2 p.m. and includes FREE admission, activities, live performances, inflatables, arts and crafts, and more. This year the headliner is MAGIC! - the two-time JUNO award winner and multi-platinum global reggae-pop quartet. Happy Birthday, Canada. Learn more at vaughan.ca/CanadaDay.

Major Mackenzie road closure from June 17 to Aug. 30

York Region will be performing work on Major Mackenzie Drive West from Avro/McNaughton roads to St. David's Parish from Monday, June 17 to Friday, Aug. 30. You can watch a video explaining more about the project. For more information on planned detours for motorists, public transit users, pedestrians and cyclists, visit york.ca/MajorMackClosure.

Order of Vaughan: honouring exemplary citizenship

To mark Vaughan's 25th anniversary in 2016, Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua championed the creation of the Order of Vaughan to recognize exemplary citizenship in a meaningful and lasting way. Do you know someone who stands out as a dedicated, compassionate and accomplished leader? Nominate them for the 2019 Order of Vaughan by July 31. Visit vaughan.ca/OrderOfVaughan for the nomination form and the complete list of past recipients.

Mayor's Gala 2019

On June 13, Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua hosted the 2019 Mayor's Gala - with an audience of nearly 1,000 people. At the event, Mayor Bevilacqua announced a historic $40-million donation by the Cortellucci family to the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital.

Agostino Park expansion - official opening

The entire community is invited to join Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua and Members of Council at the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly expanded Agostino Park. The event will be held rain or shine on Tuesday, June 25 at 7 p.m. and will include free ice cream and face painting for kids. Parking is available onsite at 535 Confederation Pky.

Thornhill Outdoor Pool is open

The Thornhill Outdoor Pool, located at 28 Centre St., is open. From Saturday, June 15 to Thursday, June 27, enjoy recreational swim on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The full swim and aquafitness schedule will be in effect from Friday, June 28 to Monday, Sept. 2. For more information, visit vaughan.ca/swim.

Mark your calendar: Concerts in the Park in June

Concerts in the Park is heading to a park near you. Check out Matt Cage - A Tribute to Elvis on Wednesday, June 19 at Sonoma Heights Community Park and Neon Nostalgic - Retro Rock Revue on Wednesday, June 26 at Chancellor District Park. Concerts start at 7:30 p.m., weather permitting. Visit vaughan.ca/concerts for more information and to see this year's lineup.

Raptors make history with NBA Finals championship: Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua

On June 13, Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua issued the following statement after the Toronto Raptors won the 2019 NBA Finals, defeating the Golden State Warriors.

Government of Canada launches the Canada Business App

Are you a small business owner with questions about your business? The Government of Canada has launched a Canada Business App that helps businesses easily interact with federal government programs and services. It provides tailored recommendations and personalized notifications on funding applications and allows you to connect with a Business Assistant via an online chat feature. Download now from the App Store or Google Play. You can also visit vaughan.ca/business for info on City of Vaughan business assistance programs and services.

Firework safety

Residents are responsible for what happens to a firework before and after it is lit. The City of Vaughan has a fireworks by-law that allows consumer fireworks on Victoria Day and Canada Day only. For displays on other days, residents must apply for a permit. Residents are encouraged to attend public fireworks displays hosted by a responsible organization. Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service has more tips to help you handle fireworks safely.

Barbecue safety tips

To ensure your barbecue is functioning safely, be sure to take the following steps at least once a year:

Use a pipe cleaner or wire to remove any obstructions, such as rust, dirt or cobwebs, from the burner ports.
Check that the hose and all cylinder connections are in good condition.
Clean out grease traps and keep grill areas clean.

Remember to place your barbecue in a safe area away from combustibles, buildings and fences. Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service has more tips to help you clean and operate your barbecue safely.

Save your spot

Kids can do anything and everything at Vaughan Summer Camps. With more than 60 programs, there is something to keep your sporty, techy and creative kids busy. Register now at vaughan.ca/RecOnline and get ready for the best summer ever.

Students: work at a Vaughan community centre

Recreation Services is a major youth employer with close to 1,000 part-time staff - mainly students. Work at Vaughan community centres to earn spending money or savings for school, and gain life-ready skills, like teamwork, communication and problem-solving, to help your resume stand out from the crowd. View the recreation employment opportunities and start your career here.

Explore the Great Walks of Vaughan

This summer, explore the great outdoors with Vaughan's 12 nature walks and trails, including the NEW North Maple Regional Park Nature Walk! Photos, maps, distances, difficulty levels and additional trails are at vaughan.ca/GreatWalks.

City employee recognized for selfless actions during Amber Alert

Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua and Members of Council recognized Enforcement Officer Ryan Kay for his selfless actions in response to an Amber Alert. While off duty, Enforcement Officer Kay spotted a car described in an Amber Alert and contacted 911. He relayed critical information to the 911 operator that helped the authorities locate the vehicle.

Vaughan Lifesaving Club celebrated as provincial and national champions

Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua and Members of Council recognized the Vaughan Lifesaving Club for becoming provincial and national champions. The team includes current and former City staff as well as some citizens. The Lifesaving Society organizes annual competitions to support drowning prevention.

Public Works honoured with two awards

Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua and Members of Council congratulated the City's Public Works team at a ceremonial presentation on June 4 for receiving two awards that reflect the City's commitment to Service Excellence. The City of Vaughan is the recipient of the 2019 Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators Professional Development Award for a municipality with a population over 100,000 for Vaughan Innovators - an employee engagement program encouraging operational performance and staff engagement. The City was also honoured with the Tereo Award from the Canadian Network of Asset Managers for successfully developing and implementing asset management approaches within the corporation.

Mayor Bevilacqua presents Max Eisen with Key to the City

On June 11, Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua presented Vaughan's official Key to the City to Holocaust Survivor Max Eisen, at York Regional Police District #4 Headquarters, during an event held to commemorate the naming of the Max T. Eisen Community Room.

Mayor Bevilacqua celebrates Pride Week

Following a flag-raising ceremony outside Vaughan City Hall on June 11, Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua issued a statement to recognize this year's York Region Pride Week.

Mayor Bevilacqua meets with Hon. Jean Augustine

Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua issued the following statement after meeting with Hon. Jean Augustine.

Mayor Bevilacqua celebrates Canadian Multiculturalism Day

Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua issued the following statement after proclaiming at a Council Meeting on June 12 that June 27 will be recognized as Canadian Multiculturalism Day in Vaughan.

Mayor Bevilacqua reflects upon recent successes

Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua delivered the following remarks at the June 12 final Vaughan Council meeting before the summer recess.

Mayor Bevilacqua recognizes Eid Al Fitr

Please see Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua's message to the community recognizing Eid Al Fitr.

Mayor Bevilacqua recognizes 75th anniversary of D-Day

Read a statement by Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua on the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

f acingNORTH art | symbol | story art exhibition at Vaughan City Hall

In recognition of June as National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, the City of Vaughan is featuring a curated exhibition titled facingNORTH: art | symbol | story. The exhibition is featured in the on the SLATE Atrium Gallery at Vaughan City Hall from Friday, June 14 until Tuesday, Dec. 24. It includes stone and bone sculpture displays and wall hangings that interpret traditional Inuit legends, myths and ways of life. For more information, visit: vaughan.ca/culture

There's still time to register: Outdoor Spinathon and Yoga in the Park

The 13th annual Outdoor Spinathon and Yoga in the Park is Saturday, June 22 at Maple Community Centre. All money raised goes toward RecAssist - the City's fee assistance program that subsidizes the cost of recreation programs for low-income individuals and families. Register at any Vaughan Fitness Centre and begin collecting your pledges today. For more information, visit vaughan.ca/fitness.

Get free mulch at the final City of Vaughan Environmental Day

Mark your calendars. The last Environmental Day takes place on Sunday, June 23 at the North Thornhill Community Centre from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Get free mulch, exchange damaged City-issued waste bins, drop off electronic waste for recycling, donate gently used clothing and more. Learn more at vaughan.ca/EnvironmentalDays.

Watermain replacement on Clark Avenue West between Bathurst and Yonge streets

The City of Vaughan is replacing an important watermain to continue to provide safe and reliable drinking water to the residents and businesses of Vaughan. Construction has commenced to the road and surrounding area of Clark Avenue West between Bathurst and Yonge streets and is expected to be completed in fall 2019. Please expect intermittent eastbound and westbound lane closures and possible delays. The City asks for patience as this project is completed for the benefit of our community. For more information about the project (PDF), visit vaughan.ca/DisruptionsAndClosures .

Waste app changed to Recycle Coach

The My Waste app is no longer available for download and has been replaced with the Recycle Coach app. If you already have My Waste, you will be sent a notification asking you to download Recycle Coach to continue receiving City of Vaughan customized recycling and waste alerts. Recycle Coach is completely free and downloading it will ensure you continue to receive notices. For more information, visit vaughan.ca/waste.

Major Mackenzie Drive Humber River bridge construction

York Region is making improvements to Major Mackenzie Drive from Highway 50 to Highway 400 in the city of Vaughan. Construction is already underway to accommodate growth, improve traffic flow, and provide public transit connections and more travel options for all - including the bridge over the Humber River. To learn more about this project, read the Region's full spring update here: https://bddy.me/2ZILwJ0

VivaNext Rapidway on Highway 7 West, and Bathurst and Centre streets will support more efficient transportation in Vaughan

To support future growth and travel demands, and to help reduce long-term traffic congestion throughout the city and region, road and transit infrastructure improvements are being made. The vivaNext Rapidway on Highway 7 West, and Bathurst and Centre streets will connect residents across the city. The project is currently 76 per cent completed and is expected to open for service by the end of 2019. For project updates, visit vivaNext.com .

Yonge Subway Extension will connect Vaughan to neighbouring communities

T he planned Yonge Subway Extension (YSE) is a cross-jurisdictional project from the City of Toronto into the City of Vaughan, City of Markham and City of Richmond Hill. This Council-approved initiative is a critical rapid transit link that will include up to six new stations. The preliminary planning, design and engineering phase of the YSE is currently underway and expected to be completed in 2020. Construction will create thousands of design and construction jobs and will provide lasting economic benefits to Toronto and York Region. Learn more about the project by visiting vivaNext.com .

Writers' Workshop at Vaughan Public Libraries

Drop by the Civic Centre Resource Library on Tuesday, June 18 at 7 p.m. and join other amateur writers in overcoming the challenges of writing. Each session will focus on different elements of writing like plot, character and prose style.

Do you use Vaughan Public Libraries technology? Take the survey!

Vaughan Public Libraries (VPL) offers technology-related programs, free Wi-Fi, devices to take home, free online tech courses and much more. Let VPL know how these services are working for you by taking a short survey until Friday, June 21.

Vaughan Public Libraries presents Hot Topics: Dog Owner's Liability

Presented by the York Region Paralegal Network, join a Hot Topics session at the Dufferin Clark Library on Thursday, June 20 at 7 p.m. to find out what your legal responsibilities are as a dog owner.

TD Summer Reading Club

Vaughan Public Libraries' 2019 TD Summer Reading Club will run from Saturday, June 22 to Sunday, Aug. 18. Register for free at any of the 10 library locations to get your TD Summer Reading Club notebook and begin tracking your summer reading!

Visit our online event calendar f or a full list of upcoming events.

York Mastermind Networking - 3 Tips to Building Successful Teams
Wednesday, June 19

Vaughan City Hall, 2141 Major Mackenzie Dr.

Part of growing a business is hiring the right people to move your vision forward. Learn tips on which questions to ask, why we ask them, and the main focus of recruitment for your business.

Concerts in the Park - Matt Cage - A Tribute to Elvis
Wednesday, June 19

Sonoma Heights Community Park, 100 Sunset Ridge, 7:30 p.m.

Concerts in the Park - Neon Nostalgic - Retro Rock Revue
Wednesday, June 26

Chancellor District Park, 430 Chancellor Dr., 7:30 p.m.

Fuerza Latina Vaughan Latin Festival
Saturday, July 13

Mackenzie Glen District Park, 220 Cranston Park Ave., 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Join the fifth annual Fuerza Latina Vaughan Latin Festival taking place on Saturday, July 13 from 11 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. at the Mackenzie Glen District Park. Enjoy live music, folklore, kid-friendly activities and food.