Your City Update: News featuring City of Vaughan Budget: Be involved. Be informed. And...

Oct. 21, 2019

City Update eNewsletter

City of Vaughan Budget: Be involved. Be informed.

The City of Vaughan's budget outlines its plans to invest in everyday services, such as waste collection, recreation programs and fire services. Some funds are put into reserves to save for future projects like when large infrastructure, such as roads and watermains, need to be upgraded or replaced. Find out more and learn how you can get involved in the 2020 budget process at vaughan.ca/budget. The first public meeting to discuss the 2020 budget is Monday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. at Vaughan City Hall.

Vaughan Remembers - Attend the 2019 Remembrance Day exhibit and event

The City of Vaughan's annual Remembrance Day event is on Friday, Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. at Vaughan City Hall. The event will launch the commemorative Remembrance Day exhibit that pays respect to the brave men and women who fought to save others. The community is invited to pay tribute to those who risked and sacrificed their lives for the freedom of others and share thoughts of remembrance on the City Hall Poppy Wall. Event and exhibit details can be found at vaughan.ca/archives.

Halloween safety tips

Make Halloween fun and safe for all the little ghosts and goblins by following these tips:

Use a flashlight or battery-operated candle in your jack-o-lantern
Keep exits clear of decorations so nothing blocks escape routes
When choosing a costume, avoid long-trailing fabric and ensure masks have large eye holes
Give children a flashlight or glow stick to carry

For more information on safety and fire prevention tips, vi sit vaughan.ca/fire .

Need to request assistance with a City service?

The Service Vaughan tool allows users to submit City service requests online and track their status. The City implemented the Service Vaughan tool to make it easier for residents to report issues with City services anywhere, anytime. Residents can access the tool by visiting vaughan.ca/ServiceVaughan or going to the vaughan.ca homepage and clicking the Service Vaughan icon. Citizens will be able to request assistance with, or report on, matters relating to:

debris, vandalism and graffiti
garbage and recycling
parks, trees and grass
roads and sidewalks
signs and streetlights
water

Vaughan receives grant supporting the Islington Avenue Streetscape project

Vaughan is committed to environmental sustainability and creating beautiful neighbourhoods for the community and future generations to enjoy. To support this mandate, the City received a grant of $25,000 in 2018 from Tree Canada's CN EcoConnexions - From the Ground Up program to help complete the Islington Avenue Streetscape project. Read the news release to learn more.

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.

Be a school crossing guard

The City of Vaughan is hiring crossing guards for the 2019/20 school year. This is a great opportunity to contribute to the community and make a difference in the lives of children. To apply or learn more about the program, call Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281, email [email protected] with "Crossing Guard" in the subject line or go to the Joint Operations Centre at 2800 Rutherford Rd. to drop off an application.

Great Walks of Vaughan

Enjoy the great outdoors, watch the changing leaves and discover a local neighbourhood on the Great Walks of Vaughan! There are 12 nature walks and trails throughout the city. For explorers who are ready for a challenge, try the beginner or advanced Kids Scavenger Hunt. For more details and trail sites, visit vaughan.ca/GreatWalks .

Vaughan Playschool

Is your preschooler ready for kindergarten? Vaughan Playschool programs create a positive play-based learning environment and build a strong foundation that helps prepare preschoolers for kindergarten. The experienced instructors know that playing is learning, so programming is taught in a fun and exciting (yet educational!) way that keeps children engaged. Registration is still open for the fall session.

Listen to the Vaughan Rising Podcast - the City's first podcast series

The Vaughan Rising Podcast series continues! Vaughan is the commercial real estate market to watch. Big developments, a business-friendly environment and a bold approach to city-building are creating unprecedented opportunities for businesses and residents. Host Michelle Samson, City of Vaughan economic development officer, takes a deep-dive into Vaughan's most exciting projects with the leaders making this city the place to be. Find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud and at vaughan.ca/podcasts.

Development charge online estimation tool

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. The estimation tool does not consider applicable credits or area-specific rates at this time. Visit vaughan.ca/DevelopmentCharges for more information and to access the tool.

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 health 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.

The City of Vaughan recognizes Small Business Week

The City of Vaughan is celebrating entrepreneurship, innovation and businesses across the city during Small Business Week, taking place from Tuesday, Oct. 22 to Thursday, Oct. 24. Connect and network with like-minded business owners and entrepreneurs through the many programs and events being offered throughout the week. Eight different events will be offered exploring the realms of digital media, finance, law and technology as they relate to entrepreneurship and starting or owning your own business. For more details and to register, visit vaughan.ca/BusinessEvents.

You're invited! Celebrate the official opening of East's Corners Park

Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua and Members of Council invite the community to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony at East's Corners Park, located at 230 East's Corners Blvd., on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 5:30 p.m. This event will include refreshments, entertainment and fun for the whole family! The new park features junior and senior playgrounds with slides, swings, monkey bars, climbing structures and more. This park project is consistent with Council's priority to promote active, safe and diverse communities. Visit vaughan.ca/events for more information.

Vellore Haunted Village

Have a spooky good time exploring the Vellore Haunted Village at the Vellore Cultural Interpretive Centre located at 9541 Weston Rd. on Friday, Oct. 25 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Enjoy Halloween activities, crafts and movies. Learn more and pre-register at vaughan.ca/RecOnline.

Pitch your innovative business industry idea with the new Activate!Vaughan Innovation Challenge

The City of Vaughan's Economic and Cultural Development department is launching its new Activate!Vaughan Innovation Challenge by partnering with businesses and connecting with Vaughan entrepreneurs and startups. The program will consist of five different challenges over the next 2½ years, with the first focusing on Sustainable Transformation. Entrepreneurs can pitch ideas that could have the power to transform the way businesses operate to create a more sustainable future. The pitch competition portion of the program will take place on Thursday, Nov. 28. For more program details and to register, visit vaughan.ca/activate .

Share your experience with parking in the Kleinburg Village

The City of Vaughan is working to develop a parking management strategy to address parking needs in the Kleinburg Village. Kleinburg is one of Vaughan's premier commercial neighbourhoods with a charming residential community at its core. It is also a destination for thousands of visitors. Limited public parking is recognized as a significant challenge. The public is invited to join the conversation and take the online survey to help shape the future of parking in the village. Visit vaughan.ca/KleinburgParking to participate in the survey.

Attend a public open house to help shape the future of the Promenade Centre

The City of Vaughan has initiated a Secondary Plan Study for the Promenade Mall and surrounding area. We want to hear from you. Join the conversation and participate in a visioning summit and workshop at a public open house on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. at Vaughan City Hall and help shape the future of the Promenade Centre. This project is consistent with Council's commitment to building a world-class city that encompasses good urban design and public spaces that foster community well-being. For more information, visit vaughan.ca/PromenadeCentre .

PA Day Camps

Looking for a fun way to spend the PA Day? Vaughan Recreation Services is hosting PA Day Camps where your kids will enjoy a day of activities, including games, sports, arts and crafts, cooking and special events. Learn more and register at vaughan.ca/RecOnline.

facingNORTH: art | symbol | story art exhibition

The City of Vaughan is featuring a curated exhibition titled facingNORTH: art | symbol | story. The exhibition is now featured 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 more details.

Fire hydrant testing in Vaughan

The City of Vaughan's Environmental Services department will be testing and operating the fire hydrants on Beaverbrook Crescent and Goyo Gate on Tuesday, Oct. 22 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Traffic flow may be reduced during this timeframe in order to complete the work. Residents can expect to see fire trucks in the area, including on Kirby Road. Interruption to water service during this time is not expected, however residents may experience reduced water pressure. Tap water may appear slightly discoloured during or shortly after the work is completed. This is normal and does not affect the quality of water. If your water is discoloured, run a cold water tap (preferably a laundry or bath tub tap) for approximately three to five minutes. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281. For more information, visit
vaughan.ca/DisruptionsAndClosures .

Vaughan City Hall's parking lot is expanding

The City of Vaughan is expanding the west parking lot at Vaughan City Hall to add more than 130 new spots. Construction began in early October and is expected to end late December 2019, weather permitting. Visitors are asked to exercise caution and respect the construction signage, fencing and barriers. Vaughan City Hall and the Civic Centre Resource Library will remain fully operational throughout construction. This project is consistent with Council's commitment to delivering excellence in citizen experience, city building and operational performance. For more information about this construction project, visit vaughan.ca/DisruptionsAndClosures.

The future is bright for the City of Vaughan's streetlights

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 and improving roadway safety for pedestrians and drivers. The project will begin by the end of October 2019. Visit vaughan.ca/LEDStreetlights for more information.

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 the community. For more information, visit vaughan.ca/DisruptionsAndClosures.

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 80 per cent complete and is expected to open for service by the end of 2019. For project updates, visit vivaNext.com.

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, provide public transit connections and more travel options for all - including the bridge over the Humber River. To learn more about this project, including images on what the bridge will look like, read York Region's full update.

The Learning Series: Music and Memory

Learn about Vaughan Public Libraries' new Music and Memory service and watch the documentary Alive Inside which illustrates the healing effect of music for those with dementia. The program is being held at Bathurst Clark Resource Library on Nov. 14 at 2:30 p.m.

Business Networking Breakfast

Hear from engaging speaker Chris Dudley, director of entrepreneurship at Seneca College, on the hot topic of disruptive innovation at the Civic Centre Resource Library on Oct. 24 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Enjoy a free breakfast at the event! Register here.

Halloween Spooktacular

Hauntingly spooktacular stories and activities await you at the Vaughan Public Libraries' (VPL) annual Halloween party at eight library locations on various dates and times. Visit the VPL website for more details.

Halloween Laboratory

Check out the thrills and chills, spooks and scares at our Mad Scientist Library...if you dare! Vaughan Public Libraries hopes to see you at Pleasant Ridge Library on Oct. 27, and don't forget to wear your costume! The program is appropriate for all ages. Sign up to enjoy the event.

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

Vaughan Small Business Week events:

Tuesday, Oct. 22

Create It! Space Open House: Explore Free Digital Media Tools That Can Help You Market Your Business
Civic Centre Resource Library
2191 Major Mackenzie Dr.
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

York Mastermind Networking Event
Vaughan City Hall,
Multi-Purpose Room

2141 Major Mackenzie Dr.
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 23

Grow Your Small Business: Make the Right Tech Investments
Vaughan City Hall, Committee Room 245

2141 Major Mackenzie Dr.
8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Drop-in Q and A With the CRA: Tax-Related Small Business Concerns
Vaughan City Hall, Committee Room 245

2141 Major Mackenzie Dr.
10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Business Law for Tech Companies 101

Vaughan City Hall, Committee Room 245

2141 Major Mackenzie Dr.
2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 24

Business Networking Breakfast: Disruptive Innovation
Civic Centre Resource Library