Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco's Ward 4 - Community Forum

Winter 2013 March Edition

Welcome to the New Online! WEB LINKS

City of Vaughan

City Page Online for News

On January 29, Mayor and Members of Council celebrated with our Region of York staff the official launch of the City's new website. Staff demonstrated the site's new features and functionality, designed to give visitors to vaughan.ca a much more friendly and personalized online experience. Vaughan Public Libraries The new website includes a fresh look and feel, rotating homepage banners, service-based tiles for easy navigation and a consistent layout Greening Vaughan throughout. User-friendly features and increased functionality include York Region Transit automatic email alerts and RSS feeds, social media links as well as interactive maps highlighting community centres, parks, libraries and York Region District other municipal buildings. The website design improves accessibility School Board through the use of easy-to-read fonts, large navigation icons, and the York Catholic use of contrasting colours. District School Board

Visitors to vaughan.ca can now choose the way they receive Roadwatch Citizen information by creating an online profile that matches their personal Report Form interests. In addition, an improved search function provides faster and Racco's more efficient access to the information they want. Online services Community include recreation registration, animal licensing and parking permit Forum applications. Services will continue to be added to the new platform as they become available.

To tour the City of Vaughan's new website, click here.

CONTACT MY OFFICE The BIG Move Sandra Yeung Racco 905-832-8585, ext. 8342 Bigger buses, Bigger subways, and More [email protected] transportation choices! Executive Assistant: Cindy Furfaro-Benning The Big Move is a 25-year plan for transformation regional 905-832-8585, ext. 8198 transportation throughout the Greater Hamilton Area. [email protected]

Metrolinx is responsible for planning and delivering an improved SAVE THE DATE

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regional transportation system that slows the growth of congestion and enable residents to travel across the region more efficiently. Earth Hour Saturday, March 23, 2013 Click here, to see Metrolinx Interactive Big Move Activity. Starts at 6:30 p.m. Lantern Walk 8:30 p.m. Fast Facts: Vaughan City Hall Public Information Centre The Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) is the third YRT 2014 Service Plan fastest growing urban region in North America. Thursday, April 4, 2012 Our population will increase from 6.6 million to 9 million in 25 4 pm to 7 pm years. Vaughan Mills Mall The GTHA spends significantly less on rapid transit and Grapevine Court transportation than other globally competitive urban regions Vaughan Mills Secondary throughout the world. Plan Public Meeting #3 Over 88% of GTHA residents said that it is important to reduce Thursday, April 11, 2013 congestion on major highways, expand and increase the 6 pm to 9 pm frequency of transit and get to their destinations in a timely Vaughan City Hall manner. Vaughan Film Greenhouse gas emissions from transportation are one of the Thursday, April 18, 2013 biggest contributors to climate change. Doors Open at 6 p.m. Colossus Theatre The Big Move is more than just a plan to rebuild our ailing Tickets are required. transportation system, it is a plan to rebuild pride in the place we call home. Tree Day Tuesday, June 11, 2013 9:30 a.m. Vaughan City Hall Civic Square

Concert in the Park Tuesday, July 30, 2013 7:30 p.m. North Thornhill CC March Break Recreation Activities at Vaughan Click here for a full Community Centres calendar listing of community and City March Break drop-in activities will be offered at City of Vaughan events! recreation facilities from March 11 to 17, in addition to the regularly scheduled recreation programs and lessons. For agendas, minutes or more information on any City Council Residents can take part in free recreational swimming at Al Palladini, meeting, please click here. Chancellor, Dufferin Clark, Father Ermanno Bulfon, Garnet A. Williams, Maple, North Thornhill and Vellore Village pools during different times Please invite your friends, of the week, courtesy of Tim Hortons. Free supervised ice-skating on neighbours and family to outdoor rinks across the City is also available throughout the week, subscribe to our newsletter. weather permitting. Game rooms, with entertainment such as Wii, Xbox, pool tables, foosball, air hockey and ping pong are open at varying times.

Other activities available for a nominal fee include recreational ice- skating and shinny hockey, bocce, basketball, volleyball, badminton, soccer, bowling, table tennis and aquafitness.

Special five-day registered camps for children include:

AquaAdventures

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Break March Up Leaders by Example March Madness Teen Fitness Camp Young Rembrants: African Safari Camp

These camps are held at select community centres across Vaughan with the optional extended day camp starting at 7:30 a.m. and ending at 6 p.m. Register online at RecEnrollVaughan.ca.

Parents and children can enjoy a day at the City Playhouse Theatre, which will feature the brand new Potato People adventure Tales of the Garden on March 15 at 11 a.m. For ticket information, contact the City Playhouse box office at 905-882-SHOW (7469).

March Break schedules are available online and at all community centres. For more information, contact the Recreation and Department at 905-832-8500.

Hospital Precinct Plan

The City of Vaughan is moving forward with developing the Precinct Plan to facilitate the development of Mackenzie Vaughan and a Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct on a City-owned 82-acre parcel of land just north of 's Wonderland.

The Precinct Plan will provide a framework for the development of Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital and the balance of the City-owned lands and will include a Master Servicing Strategy, a Functional Transportation Master Plan, a Community Energy Plan, an Urban Design Framework, and the phasing of proposed development. The Vaughan Healthcare Centre land allows for the development of a variety of additional health-related and other uses. The Precinct Plan will be presented for approval to Vaughan Council in October 2013.

"The City has been proactive in taking the steps needed to move the Precinct Plan forward, including working closely with Cedar Fair, the former owners of the Canada's Wonderland property purchased by the City for the hospital development," said City Manager Clayton Harris. "Now we are looking to optimize the opportunities on these lands and deliver the benefits to the Vaughan community."

A tender for the Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital project will be issued in 2014. The new hospital will occupy the eastern half of the precinct with frontage on both Major Mackenzie Drive and Jane Street.

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The City-appointed Development Facilitator, Prism Partners Inc., is leading the City's development team which includes the professional planning firm of Malone Given Parsons Ltd. and Cole Engineering Group Ltd. As part of the planning process, the City is also working with the Region of York, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, and Ontario Ministry of Transportation.

A number of public meetings will be scheduled before the end of the year.

Another Successful Chinese New Year in the City of Vaughan!

The Chinese New Year is one of the most elaborate, colourful and important traditional Chinese celebrated around the world. It is a time to congratulate each other on having completed another year, and a time to part with the old and welcome in the new.

With the support of the Federation of Chinese Canadians in York Region and PowerStream, the presenting sponsor, as well as a number of other sponsors and community supporters, a variety of entertainment and cultural presentations were featured. The event included a performance by the Shaolin Monks, traditional Chinese folk dance and instruments, fortune-telling, a tae kwon do demonstration, Chinese opera and the God of Fortune. Families enjoyed Chinese calligraphy and craft activities, art displays and customary Chinese refreshments.

"The Chinese New Year is a time of coming together in a shared celebration," said Ward 4 Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco. "It is an occasion for residents, community groups and businesses to learn and take part in Chinese customs and festivities. I would like to thank the Federation of Chinese Canadians in York Region, PowerStream, all the sponsors and the many volunteers for working with us to bring this special event to the City of Vaughan."

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Vaughan's Annual Peace Tree Celebration

Tuesday, June 11, 2013 Vaughan City Hall, Civic Square 9:30 a.m.

Peace Tree Month is an annual celebration for children and families of every culture and faith to celebrate peace and diversity together. It is a time to interact, explore and experience all the vibrant colours of diversity, while working together to create new peace initiatives in schools and communities.

Under the leadership of Vaughan Peace Tree Committee Chair, Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco, the City of Vaughan has declared June as Peace Tree Month since 2006. The purpose of the Peace Tree is to highlight and embrace the symbols of all and faiths on one tree and to share the hope that people around the world will live together in peace.

The Peace Tree phenomenon was sparked by the film entitled, The Peace Tree, which is recognized worldwide for its message of peace and the embracement of diversity. The 45-minute production, written and directed by Mitra Sen, a Toronto-based teacher, has earned international awards and has been shown at numerous film festivals. The Peace Tree is available at your school library or in any Vaughan Public Library. A number of showings of this film have been scheduled throughout the month of June. Please visit www.vaughanpl.info for the screening schedule.

This year, the City of Vaughan will be hosting a Flag Design contest for all students and residents in Vaughan. The contest entails the designing of the official City of Vaughan Peace Tree Flag. The winning artwork will be transformed into the City's commemorative flag, and the winner will be recognized at the Peace Tree Ceremony with the raising of their flag at City Hall.

As well, a Peace Tree Ambassador Award will be presented to an individual who is recognized as a "community peace-builder" for their ongoing participation in social, recreational, and cultural activities that aim to build understanding and tolerance between communities or individuals and help to establish structures of cooperation. Peace-

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building activities can range from personal acts of kindness and volunteerism to mentorship or leadership. Nominees must be a resident of Vaughan.

For more information on Peace Tree Month, or any of our activities or contests, or to nominate an individual for the Peace Tree Ambassador Award, please visit our Peace Tree Page on our website.

Ongoing Secondary Plans In Ward 4

Concord GO Centre The Secondary Plan will provide a master plan for a critical intensification area in the City of Vaughan related to the Concord/GO Station, the VIVA Highway 7 Bus Rapid Transit Line and the 407 Highway Transitway. Two public information meetings has been completed for this plan. The second public meeting on January 30, 2013 consisted of a presentation and a design workshop. The presentation outlined various options and layers for the surrounding area. Another public meeting will be held in the near future in order to present a preferred option to the community. For more information on this secondary plan, click here.

Maple GO Secondary Plan The Maple GO Station Secondary Plan area is located on the south side of McNaughton Road East, west of Troon Avenue, north of Hill Street, and east of the existing Maple GO Station. The lands subject to the Secondary Plan have an area of 8.120 ha. The Maple GO Station Secondary Plan has been submitted to permit the development of the lands in accordance with the "Mid-Rise Mixed-Use" designation of the Vaughan Official Plan 2010. The "Mid-Rise Mixed-Use" designation permits both commercial and residential uses.

A Public Hearing will be held shortly to hear comments on the Maple Go Secondary Plan, the Draft Plan of Subdivision, Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw. For more information and notices of upcoming meetings, click here.

Vaughan Metropolitan Centre The Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC) has long been planned to become the city's "downtown," but the vision of a mixed-use centre with a concentration of high density employment and housing has yet to be realized. The planned extension of the Spadina Subway to the VMC and new Provincial policy initiatives set the stage for a reconsideration of existing plans.

The revised VMC Secondary Plan was adopted by Council on December 11, 2012. It is currently at York Region awaiting comments, and then it will proceed to the OMB for the final approval process. When approved, the VMC Secondary Plan will form part of Volume 2 of the Vaughan Official Plan 2010. For more information, please click here.

Vaughan Mills Centre

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The Vaughan Mills Centre Secondary Plan will provide a planning framework for an important intensification area in the City of Vaughan. Vaughan Mills Centre is subject to development applications that propose primarily mixed use developments with heights and densities generally higher than what is provided for along Primary Intensification Corridors.

To date, there have been 2 public forum meetings. The second forum was held on December 11, 2012. To view the presentation from the meeting, click here. The next public meeting is scheduled for April 11, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. at Vaughan City Hall. The purpose of this event is to provide the public with an opportunity to engage with the City and the consultant team on the Draft Vaughan Mills Centre Secondary Plan and related policy frameworks, directions, and guidelines. The meeting will consist of an introductory presentation followed by a question and answer period, and an interactive panel display facilitated by team members to elicit feedback for further input into the study process. For more information, please click here.

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