Take pride in Vaughan's 25 years as city: Mayor

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 26, 2016
By Maurizio Bevilacqua

We have experienced tremendous pride throughout the community as Vaughan celebrates a milestone this year - its 25th anniversary as a city. From people sharing photos on social media of their most memorable moments in Vaughan to groups organizing special events to commemorate this occasion, it’s been truly an exciting time to look back.

There are many major city-building initiatives underway, including the Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital, the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre and the Toronto-York Spadina subway extension. Vaughan has become a major contributor to the success of the region and the GTA. With a population of more than 325,000 people, 11,200 businesses and thousands of organizations, Vaughan has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1991, when the population stood at just more than 100,000.

By working together, we have created a respected community that is recognized as one of the best places in the country to live and work. I am pleased that we came together to mark this time in our collective history. It was especially evident on Oct. 25 at our 25th anniversary signature event, with 1,000 people in attendance. The community joined in the festivities as we paid homage to our heritage and looked forward to our future with optimism.

A highlight of the evening for me was the inaugural ceremony for the Order of Vaughan, which is the highest civic honour bestowed by the city, acknowledging people who contribute to its success. To celebrate our silver anniversary, 25 people were appointed into the Order of Vaughan. These individuals have and continue to play a pivotal role in shaping Vaughan. I championed the creation of this new program because I believe that exemplary citizenship must be recognized in a meaningful way.

Every day I am inspired by the people who help make Vaughan a better place. We are blessed to have citizens who give back to the community.

The successes we proudly enjoy today are the results of people who embody the spirit of generosity, are committed to the greater good and work tirelessly to make a difference. Vaughan’s journey has been impressive. Our values are rooted in humility, optimism and hope. These are the core principles that have laid the foundation of this great city. It has been a memorable anniversary year and I believe the best is yet to come.