Celebrate Vaughan 2016 | Page 59

The Welcome Centre has received positive feedback from many people who have used the centre and its services. This has been seen not only in the Vaughan location, but at the centre’s other locations. “In any client satisfaction survey we have done we have received 98 per cent satisfied or very satisfied ratings on excellence of customer service and quality of information provided. They also noted that the caring attitude of staff and the warm atmosphere in the Welcome Centre made them very happy with our services,” says George Davidson. The results are a testament to the commitment the centres have to making newcomers’ transition to a new city and country a comfortable one so that they may integrate into their new community quickly and with ease. NEWCOMERS’ BUS TOUR – DISCOVER THE COMMUNITY A great event for newcomers to the City of Vaughan is the Newcomers’ Bus Tour, which took place on Sept. 28 and 29. The Vaughan Welcome Centre, in co-operation with the City of Vaughan Recreation Services, Vaughan Public Libraries, York Regional Police and Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service, hosted two bus tours of approximately 40 newcomers each day. In addition to visits to the various sponsors’ locations, they also visited the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg, York Region Public Health and Ontario Works programs located in Vaughan. The tour is always a great way for newcomers to be introduced to the city and meet new people. LARGEST SOURCE OF RECENT IMMIGRANTS TO VAUGHAN The Welcome Centre sees many newcomers each year from all walks of life and from various parts of the world. From their experience, several factors play into people choosing Vaughan as their new home. “They are generally very enthusiastic and hopeful in their new community and appreciate all the amenities Vaughan has to offer,” says George Davidson. Asia Europe Americas TOP THREE ETHNIC ORIGINS REPORTED IN 2011 support including resume and cover letter preparation, use of research tools, interview preparation, and explanation of workplace practices and the Canadian labour market. Italian Jewish Vaughan Celebrates Canada Day has been recognized by Festivals and Events Ontario, making the list of top 100 festivals and events in Ontario for 2016. It’s a fun day where families and friends can gather and celebrate all that this beautiful community and country have to offer. YEAR-ROUND CULTURE AND DIVERSITY CELEBRATIONS Vaughan is also known for hosting a variety of other celebrations year round. The one common thread of these many events is diversity. The City proudly recognizes the religious holidays of cultures from around the world. From the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and the Menorah Lighting Ceremony to Chinese New Year and the Moon Festival, Vaughan supports the various ethnicities that make up the city. These celebrations are a gathering place for residents to experience the sights, sounds and tastes of the many cultures that call the city home. Another way the city celebrates its diversity is with the Vaughan Culture Days event. This annual three-day celebration gathers thousands of artists and cultural organizations in hundreds of cities across the country. Founded in 2009, Culture Days enables Canadians to participate in and admire all forms of arts and culture. This year’s Vaughan Culture Days took place from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 and featured thousands of free, interactive activities that enabled Vaughan residents and beyond to discover the world of artists, creators, heritage experts, architects, curators, designers and more in the community. Diversity is Vaughan’s strength and what sets it apart from other cities. The people who call Vaughan home may come from different backgrounds and different places but they have one thing in common – they chose this city and have contributed to its growth and success. CELEBRATING VAUGHAN’S CULTURALLY RICH COMMUNITY The City of Vaughan proudly hosts a number of celebrations throughout the year. One of the biggest is Vaughan Celebrates Canada Day. This annual event is a cel- ebration of what it means to be Canadian and brings together people of all ethnic backgrounds from across the city who are proud to call Canada and Vaughan home. The event attracts thousands of people each year and features live entertainment, activities and food. The headliners for this year’s festivities were Canadian pop singer and Juno Award winner Shawn Desman and Juno Award nominee Tyler Shaw. Canadian Source: Statistics Canada Census 2011 2016 \ Celebrate Vaughan 59