Mayor Bevilacqua presents 2018 Order of Vaughan
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Four individuals invested with the
City’s highest civic honour during special ceremony
Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua presided over the 2018 Order of Vaughan investiture ceremony at Vaughan City Hall on Wednesday evening, bestowing the honour on four outstanding citizens who have played a pivotal role in shaping the city’s promising future. This year’s recipients are Maria Castro, Michael DeGasperis, Altaf Stationwala, and Robert Charles Wilson. Recipients were joined by Members of Council, family members and the broader community.
The Order of Vaughan was an initiative first launched by Mayor
Bevilacqua in 2016 to mark Vaughan’s 25th anniversary. The award was created to
pay tribute to leaders who have dedicated their time and talent to the city’s continued
achievements. It recognizes outstanding men and women within the following
categories: arts and entertainment, media and communications, athletics, health
and wellness, business, philanthropy, public service, education, science and
technology, not-for-profit, equity and diversity, accessibility, environment
and spirituality.
Vaughan continues to experience unprecedented growth, thanks in large
part to the trailblazers who have been influential in safeguarding and
elevating the overall quality of life in the city. There are extraordinary transformational
initiatives taking shape that residents are rallying around. These include, the
Vaughan Metropolitan Centre – the emerging downtown – rising from the ground;
cranes towering over the site of the future Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital; and the
opening of Phase One of the new 900-acre North Maple Regional Park – which will
be larger than New York City’s Central Park.
Mayor Bevilacqua recognized staff, nominators and the Order of Vaughan
Selection Committee for all their work to ensure this year’s ceremony was a
complete success.
QUOTE
“It gives me immense pleasure to present the 2018 Order of Vaughan to
four exceptional individuals who have all made significant contributions to
city-building. Maria Castro, Michael DeGasperis, Altaf Stationwala and Robert
Charles Wilson are passionate and dedicated leaders who continue to play a
fundamental role in Vaughan’s success. Creating
the Order of Vaughan program was very important to me because exemplary
citizenship must be recognized in a genuine, meaningful and enduring way. I
remain inspired by the citizens of our great community – their passion for Vaughan
and unwavering commitment to place service above self. We are blessed to have people
who devote their time and energy to represent Vaughan at home and in
communities around the world, and who make us proud to call them our
neighbours. With enthusiasm, vision and love for the city I
proudly serve, I look forward to forging ahead to build on our shared
accomplishments, working alongside concerned citizens and community partners to
bring a university to Vaughan during this Term of Council.”
-Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua
QUICK
FACTS
- Recipients received an Order of Vaughan pin and certificate.
- Up to 10 nominees will receive the Order of Vaughan each year. To be eligible for consideration, a candidate must be a resident or former resident of the city.
- Recipients are chosen by the Order of Vaughan Selection Committee.
LEARN
MORE
- Recipient (PDF) citations
- Order of Vaughan nomination form (PDF)
- Order of Vaughan webpage
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