Explore Vaughan virtually with visitvaughan.ca
Today, the City of Vaughan launched a new visitor website that offers an exploration of all there is to see and do in Vaughan from the safety and comfort of home during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Visitvaughan.ca was developed by the Tourism Vaughan Corporation (TVC) – Vaughan’s official destination marketing organization – in partnership with the City’s regional tourism organization, Central Counties Tourism (CCT). The “explore online now, visit later” platform features virtual, interactive content ranging from museum tours, art galleries and cooking lessons, to educational tools, roller-coaster rides and more, ensuring visitors don’t miss a thing while enjoying the city from home.
The site also features a directory of accommodations available during the pandemic. Considered essential services, Vaughan’s hotels and motels remain open with enhanced cleanliness measures during these unprecedented times. The tourism website is part of a long-term approach to attract domestic travellers to Vaughan and will pivot to “visit now” messaging when events and attractions begin to resume and reopen, and visitors plan in-person trips. Residents of Vaughan are also encouraged to use the new tourism site as a tool when they can host families and friends who are from out of town.
The visitvaughan.ca website delivers on the TVC’s mandate to showcase Vaughan as a destination of choice, as part of the corporation’s 2020 Business Plan, in addition to fulfilling part of the City’s Economic and Cultural Development (ECD) 2020-2023 Strategic Business Plan. Undertaking initiatives that ignite economic prosperity and social capital is also a key priority of the City’s 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan.
The TVC is a municipal service corporation wholly owned by the corporation of the City of Vaughan, operating within the City’s ECD department. The TVC is primarily funded through the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT). The mission of the TVC is to market and promote Vaughan as a tourism destination for visitors and business travellers.
The City of Vaughan continues to provide new and innovative ways to inform, engage and support the tourism and arts industries and local businesses during this challenging time.
Suspension of the Municipal Accommodation Tax extended
On March 17, Vaughan Council approved the suspension of the MAT until June 1, 2020. At a recent Council meeting, the date was further extended to Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020.
This measure will continue to ensure support and stimulus are provided to the local economy while businesses manage the repercussions from the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Online art gallery
Recently, new collections have been added to the digital corporate art gallery. Citizens are invited to take a virtual tour of the popular PLANET EARTH SERIES: Treescapes, Waterscapes and Earthscapes exhibitions. The City launched its online gallery on April 17 to profile artistic excellence, inspire emerging and established talent, embrace equality and diversity, and foster art appreciation. The City’s own Corporate Art Collection houses 78 permanent acquisitions of art, including several works from the PLANET EARTH SERIES. The gallery features an eclectic range of subject matter, art media, technique and style that includes painting, photography, mixed-media and digital imagery. View the full online gallery on Flickr.
Vaughanbusiness.ca
In May, the City of Vaughan launched vaughanbusiness.ca geared at igniting economic prosperity by communicating with current and potential business audiences in a more dynamic way. This initiative by the City’s ECD department features user-friendly access to their programs, services, research products and marketing messages. It provides information and resources for businesses within and surrounding Vaughan and to the diverse community of entrepreneurs, prospective investors, site selectors, realtors and potential residents.
For business owners in Vaughan looking for support during the global pandemic, it also features a COVID-19 section with information about the measures and programs implemented by the City to support the local economy.
For more information on support for local businesses, sign up for the City’s ECD eNewsletter, or contact the ECD department by email at ecd@vaughan.ca or by phone at 905-832-8526.
To receive the City’s latest COVID-19 updates as they happen, sign up for the City Update eNewsletter at vaughan.ca/CityUpdate and follow the City’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram channels.
Those who feel unwell and believe they have symptoms related to COVID-19 should contact York Region Public Health or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000.
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