Purpose-driven leadership at the heart of city-building

Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua reflected on past accomplishments, outlined a series of transformational city-building initiatives and spoke passionately about the importance of purpose-driven leadership during a keynote address at the 2019 Vaughan Chamber of Commerce Mayor’s Luncheon.

 

Mayor Bevilacqua addressed an audience of more than 800 business, government and community leaders – making this the largest event ever hosted by the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce.

 

“Sound public finances, fiscal transparency and Service Excellence have been fundamental to our efforts to attract, retain and ignite new job-creating opportunities and to elevate Vaughan’s place in the world as an economic powerhouse,” Mayor Bevilacqua said, announcing that “since 2010, the City of Vaughan has issued more than 45,000 building permits representing nearly $11 billion. This also includes more than another $1 billion in permits issued in 2018.”

 

During the speech, Mayor Bevilacqua announced that the City signed an agreement with Bell Canada to bring a next-generation fiber optic broadband network to local residences and businesses in Vaughan.

 

This city-wide investment is about ensuring Vaughan continues to foster the right environment for economic opportunity and innovation to flourish. As part of these efforts, Mayor Bevilacqua reiterated that the City will continue with the Smart City Advisory Task Force and its mandate to advance a culture of enterprise, opportunity and innovation.

 

Cranes tower over the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC) – the city’s emerging downtown core – a thriving hub of new and exciting commercial and residential projects. Council recently voted to re-establish the VMC Sub-Committee for the 2018 to 2022 Term of Council. Mayor Bevilacqua will continue to serve as chair. The PwC-YMCA Tower, Transit City, The MET and the KPMG Tower are among some of the many developments shaping Vaughan’s rapidly growing skyline. The Expo City complex is home to Niagara University’s new modern bi-national site.

 

In January, Mayor Bevilacqua made the historic announcement that Niagara University had expanded to the VMC, marking the arrival of the first university to Vaughan and York Region. Mayor Bevilacqua used the occasion of his luncheon on Feb. 13 to present Niagara University President Rev. James J. Maher with the Key to the City. This marks only the second time in Vaughan’s history that a Key to the City has been presented. This acclamation is reserved for distinguished individuals and Father Maher is among the select few.

 

Investing in the health and well-being of the citizens was central to the Mayor’s address. As Honorary Chair of the Better Ending Capital Campaign to build a Residential Hospice and Centre of Excellence, Mayor Bevilacqua proudly announced a series of new donations, adding that “we have reached our $12 million goal. Our campaign has been successful, and we are now even closer to building this state-of-the-art facility in Vaughan.”

 

Mayor Bevilacqua also serves as Chair of the $250-million Mackenzie Health Foundation’s Exceptional Care Belongs Here Campaign, saying “I make a commitment to this community that I will work hard and diligently to secure the largest donation in the history of our city which will result in the naming of the Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital.” To date, under Mayor Bevilacqua’s leadership, the campaign has raised $112 million. The largest donation was $20 million generously given by the DeGasperis and Kohn families.

 

 

“Vaughan’s prosperity since 2010 has been remarkable. Our unprecedented success is rooted in purpose-driven leadership. It is because of faith in one another and our abilities, our commitment to serving others above self, and our unwavering sense of purpose that Vaughan is now praised as a nationally acclaimed leader in city-building. Our economy remains strong, our finances are sound. We are a leading destination of job-creating investments. There are countless unprecedented initiatives either complete or underway, including the opening of the subway, the arrival of Niagara University and the ongoing construction of the Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital and Hospice Vaughan. It is with humility, enthusiasm and vision that I embark on this new Term of Council and work toward building an even more promising future for Vaughan.”
- Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua