From the archives: Vaughan City Hall

Dec. 18, 2022 10:00 a.m.
City of Vaughan
​Learn more about the city’s history from the Vaughan Archives

From the traditional territories of the First Peoples of Turtle Island, to a farmland community, to a bustling city centre and everything in between – Vaughan's transformation is a story worth telling. As part of a monthly series, the City of Vaughan releases historical content from the City’s Archives.

Scroll through memory lane, learn about the city's past and explore the places, people and events that were pivotal to the development of the Vaughan we know today. This month, the City is highlighting Vaughan City Hall.

In April 2003, as a result of the increasing needs of the city’s growing population, Vaughan City Council approved a resolution to build a new City Hall and demolish the old one. The latter had last been renovated in 1982 when Vaughan’s population was 36,815, and could no longer accommodate the needs of City staff and residents.

The building of the new facility at 2141 Major Mackenzie Dr. was part of a proposed three-phase campus design of low-rise buildings that included a public resource library, civic square, reflecting pool, gardens and parkland. This site was intended to be a central hub for Vaughan residents and a place for celebrations, recreational and cultural activities, and civic participation.

City departments officially began occupying the new building on Feb. 10, 2011, with the official opening of City Hall occurring on Sept. 25, 2011. The building was dedicated to the memory of Lorna Jackson, Vaughan Mayor from 1982-2002, in honour of her commitment to public service.

Vaughan City Hall incorporates state-of-the-art technology with a whole-building approach to sustainability. The building is over 280,000 square feet in size and has won many certifications, including the Governor General’s Medal, Ontario Association of Architects, Award of Excellence, Vaughan Urban Design and the Canadian Architect Award of Excellence.

As one of the largest civic buildings in Canada, it has also achieved gold certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) – an internationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

Today, Vaughan City Hall is a bustling venue for significant community events, from the annual Christmas Tree and Menorah Lighting Ceremonies, to Committee and Council Meetings and many other civic celebrations.

ABOUT VAUGHAN ARCHIVES
Established in 1988, the City of Vaughan Archives is home to more than 600 collections, consisting of both City records and cultural records about Vaughan from 1860 to the present day. Records include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • City business records with long-term legal and administrative value, such as Council meeting minutes, by-laws, assessment rolls, financial records, reports and official correspondence
  • church, community and school records
  • census records
  • historical photographs
  • land records
  • historical maps, plans and aerial photographs
  • newspapers
  • personal papers of past residents and founding families, such as diaries, family histories, journals and letters
  • records of local organizations both past and present

VIEW VAUGHAN'S ARCHIVES ONLINE!
The City's Archival Collection is on digital display for all to explore! The below galleries are now available in the City's online gallery on Flickr:
  • From Township to City: The Evolution of Vaughan
  • Featured Artists of Vaughan
  • Historical Families of Vaughan
  • Historical Figures: Lord Beaverbrook
  • Historical Photography
  • Recollections of Rural Vaughan
  • The Mary Wood Collection
  • The Way We Were: Representations of Vaughan's Past
  • Vaughan Working Environments
  • Vaughan Through the Ages: Medicine
  • Vaughan Through the Ages: Music
  • Vaughan Through the Ages: Sports and Recreation
  • Stories of Remembrance
  • Vaughan's Forgotten Heroes
  • Early Churches of Vaughan
  • Historical Schools of Vaughan

A personal Flickr account is not required to access the City's online gallery, which contains only a small selection of the full archives collection. If you are looking for a particular image, original file, primary source record or more, please visit the Archival Database, or contact the Vaughan Archives by calling 905-832-2281 or emailing archives@vaughan.ca.

By managing and preserving both City and community records, the Enterprise Information Management Services team ensures that Vaughan's rich and varied history will continue to be available for future generations. Learn more at vaughan.ca/archives.

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