Vaughan’s 2020 newsmakers were resilient, innovative, called for reforms

From drones carryings PPE to Black Lives Matter, Vaughan got busy with news this 2020

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 4, 2021
Dina Al-Shibeeb

JANUARY: VAUGHAN VIGIL FOR IRAN PLANE CRASH

The year 2020, started explosively with the Iran plane crash.  On Jan. 11, a prayer vigil for the victims of the crash was held at the city’s Baitul Islam Mosque.

FEBRUARY: HISTORIC EDUCATION UNION STRIKES KLEINBURG

In early 2020, Ontario witnessed the first time in two decades where all of teachers' unions were engaged in job action simultaneously to show their stance against education cuts and bigger class sizes.

On Feb. 21, to show support for their teachers, a seven-member Grade 8 band from Elder's Mills Public School in Kleinburg played their music in tribute of their teachers.

MARCH-ONWARD: VAUGHAN COVID-19 HOTSPOT AFTER DECLARING EMERGENCY

Both Ontario and Vaughan declared a state of emergency on March 17. That same day, Vaughan announced that its city hall, community centres, library branches and all other city facilities would be closed to the public.

Despite Vaughan’s promptness, what followed was that Vaughan gained the reputation of being a COVID-19 hotspot in York Region.

On Dec. 17, there were 6,044 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Vaughan, almost half the amount of 13,959 in York Region, meanwhile there are 3,794 cases in Markham.

MARCH-APRIL: VAUGHAN BUSINESS FROM SMALL TO BIG BEGIN ADAPTATION MODE

Soon after Ontario declared emergency on COVID-19, Premier Doug Ford announced that the Vaughan-based auto parts manufacturer Martinrea International offered to shift 400 people to a dedicated ventilator production line.

In April, Ford was seen personally picking up some masks, part of the first 1,000 PPE equipment produced at a manufacturing facility in Ontario at a Vaughan facility.

On April 4, the Vaughan Citizen reported a story about a restaurant that opened in December, but managed to survive after its owner Mark Frisoli, who succeeded in releasing his Perla Soaps and Detergents, named after the eatery in a short period of time.

JULY: VAUGHAN CREATES FIRST DIVERSITY OFFICER ROLE AFTER BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTS

On June 6, Vaughan’s Black Lives Matter protest called for reforms and explained how the city is “not immune to Anti-Black racism.”

On July 20, Vaughan created its first ever diversity and inclusion officer role. The role is yet to be filled.

On Oct. 25, Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua reiterated his solidarity with Black Lives Matter and dubbed racism a “disease” in a special meeting on diversity and inclusion.

On Sep. 15, York Region District School Board trustees voted unanimously to rename Vaughan Secondary School after consultations with the public. The city of Vaughan and the school are named after Benjamin Vaughan, a slave owner in the 1800s.

The calls to change the city’s name continue.

AUGUST-ONWARD: VAUGHAN TECHNOLOGY MAKES HEADLINES

On Aug. 17, the Vaughan-based Drone Delivery Canada announced that it will send pandemic supplies to Georgina First Nation for contact-free shipments.

On Dec. 8, the Vaughan-based Kontrol Energy Corporation said it is set to ship its COVID-19 technology, called BioCloud -- a real-time analyzer designed to detect airborne viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 -- to customers and distributors around the world.