Vaughan, ON
Vaughan is a city in the York region of Ontario, which sits to the north of Toronto. It is considered to be part of the GTA, being its fifth largest city. It also happens to be one of the fastest-growing cities in all of Canada, with its population more than doubling since 1991. In the past, Vaughan was a town of mainly European settlers, some of which were English, others that were French Royalists. Today, a large population of the city is of Italian decent, as well as Eastern European. There are also quite a few visible minorities, making Vaughan quite a multicultural place to live in.
In terms of infrastructure, surprisingly Vaughan is the largest city in the country that does not have a hospital, though there are plans to change this. There is also no post-secondary institution in the city. However, York University sits right next to the Concord area. This is a predominately industrial area, though there are a few subdivisions here. It is also where the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, which is considered to be the city’s central business district. Still, most residents live in Thornhill and Woodbridge. Both of these areas have had huge expansion in terms of development over the last decade.
There are two school boards in Vaughan; the York Region District School Board and the York Catholic District School Board. Combined they operate over 300 schools across the city. There are also private schools, with the largest being the Anne & Max Tanenbaum Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto. Vaughan is also the headquarters of the Canadian Ahmadiyya Muslim community, which operates from the Baitul Islam Mosque. But the city is not all education driven, it is also home to the country’s largest amusement park; Canada’s Wonderland. This, as well as the massive Vaughan Mills are always a must do.
Vaughan has an eclectic mix of old and new, with historic neighbourhoods like Old Thornhill and Kleinberg, the stunning Boyd Conservation Area and the fascinating Reptilia Zoo. Many Vaughan residents will also point you in the direction of the McMichael Canadian Art Gallery, Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum and the Kortright Centre for Conservation. There is also the iconic The Doctor’s House in Kleinberg, as well as a plethora of other fine dining establishments.