Vaughan’s Culture Days celebration ranks among the top in Canada!

Every year, hundreds of cities, towns and regions of all sizes come together to participate in Culture Days – a national celebration of the vibrancy of arts and culture in their communities. In 2024, Vaughan’s festivities were once again recognized among the best of the Top Participating Communities, ranking fifth place overall and second among small municipalities.

This success was celebrated by Mayor Steven Del Duca and Members of Council during a special ceremonial presentation at today’s Committee of the Whole (1) meeting. 

The City kicked off 2024 Culture Days – with the support of presenting sponsor TD – on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024 with a flag-raising event and the inaugural Vaughan Food and Culture Festival held at Vaughan City Hall. From Sept. 20 to Oct. 13, more than 70 community events were hosted in Vaughan, including family-friendly art workshops, storytelling sessions, tree planting and cooking classes. 

In 2024, Vaughan was selected once again as a Festival Hub. It was a unique opportunity to continue to foster cultural understanding and promote inclusivity, all while exploring various forms of art, music, dance and literature. 

Culture Days set aside Sept. 30 to create a space exclusively for events organized to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This included events sharing First Nations, Métis and Inuit experiences and perspectives celebrating the creative and cultural expressions of Indigenous people and communities.

Events like Culture Days are one of the many ways the City supports cultural and artistic diversity in Vaughan. Enriching residents’ lives with art and cultural expression through events, exhibits and festivals is part of providing Service Excellence as outlined in the 2022-2026 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan.

Learn more about the City’s Culture Days celebrations at vaughan.ca/culture.

QUOTE

“The City of Vaughan’s Culture Days events provide us with an opportunity to come together as a community and celebrate our city’s diverse heritage, multiculturalism, and vibrant arts and culture scene. In 2024, we showcased more than 70 different events and earned a top spot among all the communities taking part across Canada. This remarkable achievement highlights our unwavering commitment to fostering a thriving arts and culture sector in Vaughan. As a proud supporter of the arts, we are dedicated to showcasing the rich diversity that defines our city. I want to thank the City’s Events team and the entire Recreation Services portfolio for their dedication and hard work in bringing Culture Days to life and showing everyone why Vaughan is a truly extraordinary place to live, work, and visit.”

- Mayor Steven Del Duca 

QUICK FACTS 

• The City of Vaughan ranked fifth nationally overall and second among small municipalities in the 2024 Culture Days Top Participating Communities.
• This achievement was recognized during a ceremonial presentation at the Tuesday, Jan. 21 Committee of the Whole (1) meeting.
• Each year, hundreds of artists and organizers participate in Ontario Culture Days – an annual celebration of arts, culture and heritage. The 2024 festival took place from Sept. 20 to Oct. 13, with the City of Vaughan selected as a Festival Hub.
• The 2024 presenting sponsor for the Vaughan Festival Hub was TD.
• Ensuring Vaughan is a vibrant, diverse, inclusive and equity-based community for all is a priority for the City of Vaughan as outlined in the Council-approved 2022-2026 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan.

LEARN MORE 

• City of Vaughan Culture Days webpage
• City of Vaughan Events webpage