COLUMN: Transforming our city

YorkRegion.com
Jul 27, 2017
Maurizio Bevilacqua

Can you feel it? The City of Vaughan is undergoing tremendous change and we can see the fruits of our labour in every corner of our community.

Our downtown core, the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC), is taking shape. It will contribute to our dynamic economy by attracting businesses from around the globe. In addition to this, our vision for transit is becoming a reality. This is all possible because we are driven by the desire to reach our full potential.

This December we will make history with the opening of the highly anticipated Toronto-York Spadina subway extension (Line 1). To mark this momentous occasion, we launched the Passport to Ride contest for the chance to win a trip on a VIP preview train that will depart from the VMC subway station. To participate, you must first get your passport at any Vaughan community centre, city hall or in the Fall and Winter Recreation Vaughan guide. Then visit two of the 2017 signature events and get your passport stamped at the VMC tent. Completed passports may be submitted at any signature event or at the Vaughan City Hall information desk, located at 2141 Major Mackenzie Dr.

This new subway is a major city-building initiative which will attract residents, businesses and talent to Vaughan. Once complete, ours will be the first and only 905 municipality to link directly to the Toronto core, providing a direct connection for people living, working and visiting our city. Transportation is a significant aspect of city building and an ever important part of ensuring the City of Vaughan remains a destination of choice throughout the Greater Toronto Area and beyond.

The subway extension signifies a new era for Vaughan. It will continue the transformation we are witnessing in the VMC and across our growing city. Mass rapid transit is an investment in our future, one that promises economic prosperity through advancements in business development and quality of life. The momentum is indeed building, our quality of life is outstanding and we are fostering a vibrant community that is inclusive, progressive and diverse. It really is a great time to be living in Vaughan.