City of Vaughan Donates Furniture

Local charities and community service organizations recently participated in a donation event of surplus furniture from the old Vaughan Civic Centre on Major Mackenzie Drive.

 

“I am extremely pleased that we are able to make this donation to our community on behalf of the City of Vaughan,” said Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua. “We have so many organizations which do wonderful work in delivering essential services to those in need. By working together and supporting each other, we can collectively move this city forward without leaving anyone behind.”

 

Vaughan’s new eco-friendly City Hall officially opened in September, 2011. The old Civic Centre on the same site is now vacant and is slated for demolition this fall. 

 

The City’s decision to donate the surplus furniture followed a staff evaluation of potential options for disposal which included an auction, public sale or discarding the depreciated inventory as part of the building’s demolition. Council agreed that donating the remaining property to qualifying charities and community service groups was not only a practical and cost-effective approach, it was a way of giving back to the community and supporting the good work they do in the City of Vaughan.

 

A Request for Expression of Interest was issued by the City inviting the participation of charitable organizations registered with the Canada Revenue Agency and community service organizations registered with the City of Vaughan. Several groups submitted Expressions of Interest and participated in the event:
 
• Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at Canada
• Blue Veil Ministry
• Vaughan African Canadian Association
• Humanity First
• Circle of Friends
• Elspeth Heyworth Centre for Women
• Filipino Canadian Association of Vaughan
• Philippine Heritage Band

 

As part of the donation process, participants toured the old building and tagged items of interest, including desks, chairs, cabinets and shelving. The order of selection was determined by a “draw,” with participants responsible for arranging furniture pick-up following the event.

 

“I am delighted to see that the surplus furniture will be put to good use,” said City Manager Clayton Harris. “All City departments and Vaughan Public Libraries have had the opportunity to select items that could be utilized elsewhere in the City.”