Statement: Expanding educational opportunities in Vaughan
Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua issued the following statement to mark Niagara University’s announcement of increased program offerings at its site located in the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre:
“I am pleased to join Niagara University President Reverend James J. Maher at the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC) today to commemorate another important milestone between the City of Vaughan and Niagara University, with the addition of three new programs — Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Finance, and Master of Science in Information Security and Digital Forensics.
“This announcement will help improve access to education and professional networks for aspiring entrepreneurs, and accomplished business experts in Vaughan and beyond. It will further expand our surplus of human capital and growing talent pool of hard-working, driven and innovative men and women.
“As Father Maher can attest, the first steps in our journey to bring Niagara University to Vaughan began in early 2018. Our initial discussions and negotiations with community partners were rooted in a shared mission to secure the best possible location for Niagara to undertake this exciting new chapter in its extensive, proud and rich history.
“When those conversations were first taking place, Father Maher and I spoke at length about the students. We remain unwavering in our commitment to ensure students get the best education from accomplished and compassionate professors in a supportive environment.
“Last January, I joined students, staff, faculty and Father Maher to make the historic announcement that Niagara had expanded to Vaughan and welcomed students on their first day of classes. Today, Niagara University in Ontario is in the heart of the VMC, our emerging downtown core.
“With approximately 179 hectares of development opportunities, the VMC is the largest and most ambitious project in Vaughan’s history. It is home to the Vaughan Subway Station, SmartCentres Place Bus Terminal and the vivaNext rapidway transit system — all just steps away from Niagara University Vaughan campus. Creating new connections to surrounding communities and making it easier for people to get where they need to go will contribute to our continued success. Higher-order transit provides an enormous advantage for attracting residents, businesses and talent to Vaughan.
“In January, we hosted the Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour in the VMC — a national celebration of one of Canada’s most loved sports. The VMC became hockey-central for the two-day festival and showcased the best of Vaughan to national and international audiences.
“From 2015 to 2020, the VMC attracted more than $9 billion in economic investment, with much of this rooted in momentous construction projects that contribute to a growing skyline with new business and residential developments. In addition, we recently held the grand opening of the PwC-YMCA Tower — a 240,000 square-foot SmartCentes mixed-use project that will include a new YMCA and Vaughan Public Libraries branch — important amenities that will elevate the quality of life for Niagara University students and the community at large.
“Today’s announcement marks yet another momentous occasion for our city and is further proof that Vaughan is the place to be.
“Once again, congratulations to Niagara University on this exciting step forward. I extend my best wishes to all students on a successful year ahead.”
LEARN MORE
- Vaughan’s downtown core reaches unparalleled heights in 2019 statement
- Mayor Bevilacqua announces first university in Vaughan news release
- Niagara University Ontario programs website
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