Vaughan’s 2022 Citizen and Business Survey results are in!

The results are in and Vaughan residents and businesses are very satisfied with the quality of life here as well as the programs and services the City provides!

The City’s latest Citizen and Business Surveys, conducted by Forum Research in November and December 2022, reveal the City of Vaughan is delivering on its mission of citizens first through Service Excellence.

Vaughan has consistently received high satisfaction rates – often scoring above the national average – for a variety of municipal service offerings, including fire services, libraries, recreation, arts and culture, park and greenspace maintenance, and waste collection. And this year was no exception! While many Canadian municipalities are experiencing significant declines in quality-of-life scores, Vaughan’s score remained stable during the global COVID-19 pandemic, and since 2007, the City has scored above 90 per cent.

Here are some of the highlights: 

Citizen Survey
Ninety-four per cent of citizens indicated their overall quality of life is good. A majority of citizens (87 per cent) are satisfied with the overall delivery of City services. In fact, 82 per cent believe they receive good value for their tax dollars. 

Top scores went to fire services, libraries, recreation and fitness programs, and trails. Meanwhile, satisfaction with traffic management is on the rise, as this area scored nine points higher in comparison to 2018, and the number of citizens who are very satisfied has doubled. 

Business Survey
Vaughan is the place to be for businesses! The 2022 Business Survey concluded 81 per cent of businesses are expanding or remaining the same. One quarter (25 per cent) of business owners surveyed credited Vaughan’s labour pool as a major advantage. Vaughan is the largest employment centre within York Region, offering access to talent for a variety of industries. 

Vaughan businesses reflect the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of the City. Within the next five years, more than 60 per cent of businesses estimate they will invest in new or innovative technology. 

The City will use the results of both surveys to help inform future decision-making, policy decisions, budgetary spending and continuous improvement. 

QUOTES

“The results of the City of Vaughan’s 2022 Citizen and 2022 Business Surveys are in and show that residents and businesses alike say we are on the right track. Our surveys are important decision-making tools for Members of Council and City staff. They provide key insights into resident opinions on various issues, including many of the programs and services the City supports and delivers every day. As we work toward building a world-class city, survey results help inform our priorities through the planning process. Ultimately, we are working to build a better city, and public engagement is critical for ensuring we continue moving in the right direction.”
- Mayor Steven Del Duca 

“I am extremely proud of City staff for their unrelenting commitment to serving the community. Their efforts throughout the pandemic haven’t gone unnoticed, as the survey results show. I also want to thank our residents for their encouraging feedback that will help improve our services and programs. By conducting these surveys every few years, we can better understand how residents’ priorities may change, and we can identify new or emerging issues facing the community. Your feedback provides valuable information for our dedicated Council and staff to continue developing ways to build stronger relationships with our residents.”
- Nick Spensieri, City Manager 

“I want to congratulate the City of Vaughan’s Economic Development team on the success of our second Business Survey. Our team is humbled by the overwhelming support from our business community: 91 per cent of businesses in Vaughan are happy with the delivery of City services. Through Corporate Calling services, programs like Starter Company Plus, and strategic initiatives, Economic Development continues to create a climate for business growth.  We understand the challenges of business owners, from rising costs to supply chain issues. We are committed to being the community’s opportunity advisors and helping businesses grow in Vaughan.”
- Raphael Costa, Director, Economic Development 

QUICK FACTS

• The City’s Citizen Survey is conducted to improve service delivery for residents, while the Business Survey helps the City understand the values, perceptions and challenges that local businesses face.
• In 2022, 94 per cent of residents and 95 per cent of businesses found the quality of life to be either good or very good in the city of Vaughan.
• Eighty-seven per cent of citizens indicate satisfaction with the overall delivery of services provided by the City. Some of the highest-rated services include:
• Fire services – 99 per cent
• Local public libraries – 96 per cent
• Recreation and fitness programs – 92 per cent
• Off-road multi-use and nature trails – 92 per cent
• Arts and culture – 90 per cent
• Recreation and fitness facilities – 90 per cent
• Garbage, recycling, organics and yard waste collection – 89 per cent
• Since 2007, the City has conducted citizen surveys to assess satisfaction with existing programs and services and to prioritize areas to improve municipal service delivery.
• The Citizen Survey gathers input from residents on quality of life, delivery of City services, value for tax dollars, community engagement and communications, among other things.
• Vaughan’s business and job growth are fundamental to the city’s economic vitality. With 19,000 companies employing more than 236,000 people, Vaughan’s economic base is the largest employment centre in York Region – both in terms of establishments and employment. The City’s Business Survey helps gauge whether local businesses are growing, declining or stagnating; understands planned investments and readiness for change; determines factors that influence business operations and growth, and more.
• The Citizen and Business Surveys will be repeated every two years to continue benchmarking satisfaction and issues of importance among residents and the business community. The next surveys are targeted for 2024.

LEARN MORE

• Citizen Survey webpage
• 2022 Citizen and Business Survey report (PDF)
• Council presentation (PDF)