One of the fastest growing cities in Canada, Vaughan sits just North of Toronto in the regional municipality of York Region, and is part of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Due to its location, it has long been considered a suburb of Toronto however massive expansion and regional development over recent years has earned it the reputation of “The New City Centre”. It is the only municipality in York Region that has City status, the fifth largest city in the GTA and the 17th largest city in Canada.
According to the Province of Ontario, York Region is ranked as Ontario’s fastest-growing large municipality, with its population forecasted to reach approximately 2.02 million people and 990,000 jobs by 2051. It is expected that this big surge in population and job creation will occur significantly in Vaughan – and this does not come as a surprise. With its stunning natural beauty and vibrant cultural scene, Vaughan caters to many lifestyles. Not only is it a cultural melting pot, it also has an abundance of sights and activities. Vaughan has the country’s largest amusement park, one of Canada’s biggest shopping malls, and an open-air heritage museum. It also boasts a wide variety of restaurants and shopping plazas for residents who enjoy living on the go. Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or just looking for a place to settle in Vaughan, there are many great things you can look forward to!
As one of the fastest-growing municipalities in Canada, Vaughan continues to be a city of choice! Investments in Vaughan city development have been on the rise recently, with new projects and expansions cropping up all over.
Since 2010, Vaughan has granted more than $13 billion in construction permits, and despite the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, development did not slow down in 2020. Vaughan issued more than $1.153 billion in building construction value during the previous year alone – a significant investment into the community. Over $742 million was spent on residential construction alone, with commercial projects making up more than $78 million, more than $236 million on industrial developments, more than $60 million on institutional projects and the outstanding $34 million on other developments throughout the city. Building on this momentum, Vaughan’s vision for the future is becoming a reality.
Today Vaughan is home to several primary corporate headquarters, including Ford Motor Company of Canada, Celestica, IBM Canada and PepsiCo Foods Canada. Vaughan also boasts one of the busiest transit systems in North America, with buses running every few minutes most of the day. Vaughan is a constantly moving city, and there’s always something new to explore.
When TTC transit officials announced that they intended to build a subway station on SmartCentres property, it prompted the developer to rethink their entire approach. SmartCentres owns a 100-acre lot in the heart of the VMC, with plans just as ambitious to revitalize and promote community growth in the new Downtown Vaughan. Diamond Schmitt Architects and Claude Cormier + Associés were engaged in 2011 to develop a master plan for the lot stretching across the size of about 40 Manhattan city blocks. A linear park was introduced as the development’s primary feature, and the TTC track was extended to connect with a bus terminal location to create a true mobility hub on the site and align all three transit nodes.
With SmartCentres footing the bill for changes required to the TTC tracks, they were permitted to put their branding on the new bus terminal, now known as SmartVMC Bus Terminal. Due to this subway and transit cluster, the commercial success of SmartVMC is virtually guaranteed, and numerous phased residential developments have taken off since. Learn more about ArtWalk Condos, the newest multi-tower residential development here.
Vaughan’s developing downtown area continues to draw significant residential investment interest. In recent years over 63,000 residents moved in to almost 31,996 residential units located in the VMC alone. These figures are astounding and surpass the forecasts, exceeding projected residential units by 270% and population targets by 256%, as identified for the 2031 planning horizon.
Improvements to transportation infrastructure in Vaughan have included the addition of more efficient cross-regional bus routes, direct connections to the TTC subway line 1, and the construction of roadways and highways.
Vaughan’s road improvements have been a significant focus for city planners to accommodate growth while maximizing capacity and minimizing congestion. To complement and advance existing infrastructure, Vaughan has established a Transportation Master Plan, a Parks and Wayfinding Master Plan, as well as two road environmental assessment studies. The studies will determine continued improvements in connectivity between major areas both within Vaughan and York to beyond.
City road improvements will be phased in over time as new growth occurs and will be concentrated in areas such as The Yonge Street Corridor and the VMC and broader area. It’s important to note that Vaughan’s road network is mainly in place, and the city recognizes that it must take the “New Path” approach, prioritizing sustainable and green travel opportunities. In addition to roadways and car travel improvements, Vaughan is committed to making walking and cycling more appealing since this will lead to less clogged roads, fuel cost savings, a smaller carbon footprint, and increased community fitness. It will also increase transit ridership by making it easier for people to access transit stations.
Vaughan’s plan for transit service commits to placing connections within 500 metres of at least 90% of Vaughan residences, employment and commercial areas and within 200 metres of at least 50% of residences in the VMC urban area. Transit service will be made more accessible and reliable through strategies like the designation of several “transit priority corridors” with HOV lanes and signal priority measures. Learn more about Vaughan’s plan here.
Vaughan a cultural melting pot with an abundance of sights and activities, including over 400 parks, gardens, trails, green spaces and conservation areas, one of Canada’s largest amusement parks and most prominent shopping malls. It also boasts a wide variety of restaurants and shopping plazas.
The city is well known for its extensive park system, which includes three large conservation areas totalling more than 900 hectares – that’s 15% of Vaughan’s land area!
The city’s demographic is mainly young families and there are a large number of recreational facilities including 18 community centres that offer programs in sports, fitness and dance as well as cultural activities such as art and language classes. Vaughan is also home to several cultural events that take place throughout the year, including Canada’s Largest Ribfest as well as many ethnic festivals celebrating food, dance and music from around the world.
Canada’s Wonderland a 133-hectare amusement park, is the most visited attraction in the city. The park is split into six different areas, one of which is an eight-hectare waterpark. Thrillseekers will be pleased with the 15 adrenaline-pumping rollercoasters, such as Leviathan, the fastest and tallest rollercoaster in Canada, with a maximum drop of 93 metres!
Located close to Canada’s Wonderland is Vaughan Mills, one of Canada’s largest malls and visited by over 13 million people each year. It offers more than 200 stores and restaurants for consumers’ retail therapy needs. The mall also features a state-of-the-art movie theatre with an IMAX screen and a giant Ferris wheel that provides views over the entire city centre from 50 meters.
Vaughan is home to many cultural attractions that are free or low-cost for residents including the Vaughan Heritage Museum, Millway Community Gardens, Legoland Discovery Centre and Black Creek Pioneer Village.
Vaughan is also home to some of the best schools in Canada. With over 30 public schools and private institutions, such as Vaughn College and Seneca College, Vaughan has excellent educational opportunities for everyone, from children to graduates. public schools include St Joan of Arc, Resurrection SDA Elementary School Vaughan SS, The Woodbridge Village Montessori Private French Immersion Public School Vaughan SS, The Bishop Strachan School, and many more! Vaughan universities include York University, Seneca College and Vaughan College.
Vaughan has instituted a healthcare innovation hub, the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct (VHCP), a ground-breaking public-private partnership between the City of Vaughan, Mackenzie Health, VentureLab, and York University designed to improve healthcare in the York Region and GTA through research and innovation.
Anchored by Canada’s first smart hospital, Mackenzie Health’s $1.7 billion Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital opened in July 2021, the first new hospital to open in Ontario in over 30 years and the first hospital in Vaughan. The hospital is an essential foundation for the VHCP’s expansion of the surrounding areas. A world-class facility it offers great care to patients with a full-service emergency department, core services and specialized services, including an advanced cardiac and critical care unit, as well as a leading-edge surgical program. In May 2021, partner York University announced it is moving forward to establish a School of Medicine, an important part of the VHCP project.
Vaughan has been ranked as one of Canada’s best places to live and its quality of life has been rated among the highest among all major cities in Canada by MoneySense magazine. In recent years Vaughan has experienced significant transformative changes, growing from a small farmland community into an urban centre. Vaughan’s downtown core has experienced the most growth, with new condos, office towers and retail spaces popping up. Vaughan is now home to a diverse population of over 300,000 people representing more than 170 different cultures. This diversity makes Vaughan a unique and welcoming place to live.
As a city that has been recently developed, Vaughan offers a wide array of housing options. Its proximity to Toronto makes it an ideal location for commuters who want to live in an urban city but avoid some of the main struggles associated with living in Downtown Toronto.
The cost of living here is significantly lower than anywhere else in Canada. This is mainly due to its development; there are still plenty of plots of land to be developed, and the City is expected to continue growing for years. As Vaughan grows, its influence will only increase as a desirable place to live. With numerous planned developments and an expanding transportation network, it has become a hub for those who want or need easy access to the City without sacrificing too much on their standard of living. This makes it one of the best places to buy a rental property in Ontario — especially for the target market of working-class citizens.
Vaughan is a great place to live, work and raise a family. With its diverse neighbourhoods, excellent schools and abundance of recreational opportunities. Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or just looking for a place to settle in Vaughan, there is a lot to offer.
