COLUMN: We can all be ambassadors for Vaughan

Yorkregion.com
April 28, 2016
By Maurizio Bevilacqua

As Mayor, I get the opportunity to speak about the many great things happening in our city.

Whether I am delivering my annual address at Vaughan Chamber of Commerce, speaking about investing in the 905 at the Economic Club of Canada, or paying tribute to the impressive spirit of generosity that exists in our city at one of many fundraising events, I recognize the importance of sharing our message widely, and at every possible opportunity.

As residents, we can all be ambassadors for our City. We should tell the world why Vaughan is the place to be!

In this City we are fortunate to have something called the Vaughan Advantage. Beginning with our location, Vaughan is situated within a 10-minute drive from Canada’s busiest airport, Pearson International. We have excellent highway accessibility with the 407, 400 and 427 and market access to more than 155 million people within a 24-hour drive. We have a well-educated workforce and a diverse population of more than 320,000 people who speak 99 languages. Vaughan has one of the lowest property taxes in the GTA and is one of the safest communities in North America. Our state-of-the-art world-class hospital, Mackenzie Vaughan, will soon open, as will the subway and the Hwy. 427 extension - all serving as anchors and magnets for the most ambitious project in our city’s history: our new downtown, the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre.

We have many reasons we can be proud to live, work and play in Vaughan. We need to recognize within ourselves that with these advantages comes responsibility because when you are blessed like no other city, more is expected of us.

While I may have the opportunity to deliver speeches and write columns like this one because I am your Mayor, I am not the only ambassador for this city - you are as well. Everywhere you go, tell people why you love Vaughan. Take pride in what we have been able to collectively achieve. Take stock of the blessings we enjoy in our city, and share our positive message of hope and opportunity.

Congratulations! You’ve just been appointed a Vaughan Ambassador - now it’s time for you to go and share the good news far and wide.