INSIDE THIS ISSUEEconomic Development News

Small Business News

Market Indicators

Business Bulletin

Vaughan.Business Link.

BUSINESS NEWS AND STATISTICS FROM THE CITY OF VAUGHAN SPRING 2017

THE GREATER TORONTO AREA’S NEWEST ADDRESS FOR TALENT AND INNOVATION

The Vaughan Metropolitan Centre – in the heart of the City and the centre of Canada’s

economic engine – is attracting national and international employers and thousands

of residents.

The master-planned, transit-oriented, true live-work-play urban centre will feature green

space, office and condo towers, pedestrian links, and state-of-the-art transit, retail

and entertainment for a minimum of 11,500 employees and 25,000 residents by 2031.

The VMC is one of Canada’s largest mixed-use developments, complemented by a

world-class transit system offering residents and businesses seamless connectivity

throughout the GTA. The TTC’s Line 1 Yonge-University subway extension, now in testing

and trials, along with accessibility to Highway 407 and Viva rapid transit along Highway 7,

are big reasons businesses such as Buca have chosen Vaughan.

Buca will be located in SmartCentres Place in the VMC and will be the brand’s first 905-area

restaurant, featuring a 1,500-square-foot Bar Buca, alongside a 4,500-square-foot

restaurant offering Buca’s signature European menu. In a recent Toronto Star interview,

Peter Tsebelis of the King Street Food Company, Buca’s parent, described the VMC as a

“forward-thinking, pioneering” development.

Buca will be part of a 55-storey, 550-unit residential condo building, Transit City, a joint

venture of Mitchell Goldhar, SmartREIT and CentreCourt Developments in SmartCentres

Place. It is CentreCourt’s first project outside Toronto.

One element making Transit City and the VMC unique is a nine-acre park running

east-west through the community’s centre. The proposed urban park, and Vaughan’s

new 100,000-square-foot flagship YMCA that will adjoin a library and community centre,

enrich the VMC’s enviable live-work-play lifestyle.

Thousands of people will come to call Vaughan’s downtown home over the next several

years, joining those already living in two Expo City condos. A crucial concept underpinning

the VMC is that adjacent housing and urban amenities can be leveraged by employers

to attract talent.

Those employers include KPMG, which has located more than 600 staff in the VMC’s

first office building, the 15-storey KPMG Tower at SmartCentres Place. Other tenants

include Miller Thomson, GFL Environmental, and Harley-Davidson Canada.

“Located in the heart of the GTA, Vaughan was a clear choice for us to set up a new office,”

said Sebastian Distefano, GTA Regional Managing Partner at KPMG. “It allows us to best

service our many clients situated in the area, today and tomorrow.”

Already underway toward the vision of 12,000 residential units and office space in

the VMC are: the 572-unit condo tower and 62 townhomes in the Met Condos; Liberty

Development’s Cosmos, including a 1,151-unit condo and a Class-A office building;

and 1,044 units in two 50-plus storey ICONA Condos.

All the development is clustered around billions of dollars in new transit infrastructure.

The subway and VMC station, the new inter-regional bus terminal, and Viva bus transit

services are all slated to come online over the next year. They will be connected by pedestrian

links at street level and underground.

There will be many exciting and transformative announcements and progress reports to

come for the VMC. Businesses, residents, investors and stakeholders can keep up to date

through the City of Vaughan’s new dedicated website for VMC at www.MyVMC.ca

SmartCentres Place Bus TerminalImage courtesy of VivaNext

SmartREIT announced its first residential building development at SmartCentres Place in the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre in April 2017.

From left to right: Shamez Virani, President, CentreCourt Developments; Rob Gentile, Partner, BUCA; Mitchell Goldhar, Chairman, SmartREIT; Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua; Andrew Hoffman, CEO, CentreCourt Developments; and, Donald Schmitt, Principal Diamond Schmitt Architects.

Buca and Bar Buca will be located in the Transit City condos.

Conceptual illustrations are subject to change.

©

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Economic Development News.

ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION ECOSYSTEM SPURRING A NEW WAVE OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

High demand and low availability in Vaughan’s tight industrial property

market are prompting local developers and landowners to confidently invest

in speculative industrial projects. Vaughan is a main driver in the GTA North

market, making up more than half of the total inventory and experiencing

one of the lowest availability rates. With a 2.4 per cent vacancy rate in Q1

2017, landlords have seen continued rental rate growth over the past few years

and tenants are realizing the operational benefits of modern facilities in the

market, according to Colliers International.

John Powell, Executive Vice President of Colliers International, explains:

These industrial developers, which are headquartered in Vaughan,

are highly knowledgeable about the local market. Their investment

confidence comes from a strong place.

Capitalizing on the clusters of transportation logistics, including the Canadian

Pacific (CP) Intermodal Terminal and the Canadian National Railway (CN),

close proximity to major 400-highway series connections to Toronto Pearson

International Airport, and the investment in the 6.6-kilometre Highway 427

extension starting this year, supply-chain and other industrial tenants are

eagerly taking advantage of the value realized by locating in Vaughan.

Industry experts are projecting that 1.2 million square feet of industrial space

will be built in 2017 and 2018 in Vaughan. Condor Properties, Zzen Group

of Companies, and Anatolia Capital Corporation are three of the local players

with projects in the queue.

Anatolia’s development applications for two buildings over two phases,

344,000- and 383,000-square-feet each, are tailored to large warehouse

tenants. Similarly, Zzen is building 300,000 square feet of speculative space

that will be divisible for medium- to large-sized tenants. Construction is to

commence immediately.

Costco’s new 573,000-square-foot distribution centre is just one example

of major industry tenants attracted by the investments in modern

transportation networks. The Vaughan Depot will employ about 500 and

include a first-of-its-kind commissary that will manufacture frozen baked

goods for delivery to Costco sites across Canada.

Further east at Keele Street and Teston Road, Condor is building a

90,000-square-foot first phase industrial project with expansion potential for

another 49,000 square feet. “We started off with a speculative project, but we

have pre-leased 50,000 square feet before the shovel even went in the ground,”

said Vivian Voo, Leasing Manager of Condor Properties.

Sales activity in the real estate market is booming too. History Hill’s Alps

Business Park, located at Jane Street and Rutherford Road, offers a different

model – industrial/commercial condos for sale. Priced from $310 to $425 per

square foot, Alps offer a product for smaller tenants.

For the conservative development industry, the positive indicators are clear

in Vaughan – strong market demand, robust transportation infrastructure

and an established supply-chain ecosystem – and they are driving continued

new investments across various types of industrial space.

For more information: contact Economic Development and Culture Services

at ecdev@vaughan.ca

www.vaughan.ca/business

New distribution and warehouse buildings featuring excellent shipping facilities with 32 to 36-foot clear ceiling heights, high door count ratios, and wider shipping bay areas, are in high demand by Vaughan’s supply-chain tenants.

The 2017 Vaughan Chamber of Commerce Business Achievement Awards bestowed the highest recognition to 12 outstanding local organizations and business people. Congratulations to the Small Business, Under 25 Employees, award winner: Great to Hear Inc. For more information: www.vaughanchamber.ca

VAUGHAN METROPOLITAN CENTRE YMCA – COMING IN 2019

As Vaughan grows into a world-class city in which to live, work and

find fulfillment, new partners such as the YMCA of Greater Toronto

are stepping up in a big way.

The Vaughan Metropolitan Centre YMCA Centre of Community is

where you and your families will move through major milestones:

children will get active and social in childcare programs; teens will

build trusting relationships in youth programs; parents will improve

their physical and mental health in a new health and fitness centre;

and families will experience community and belonging.

Be at the front lines of building awareness and philanthropic support

for a strong, sustainable future by becoming an ambassador for the

project, sharing the news with your community, and helping us get

the doors of your new YMCA Centre of Community open in 2019.

To learn more about our new partner in building a stronger, healthier

Vaughan visit: www.ymcagta.org/strongstart

New YMCA location opening in the mixed-use building at SmartCentres Place in the VMC.

Conceptual illustrations are subject to change.

©

Market Indicators. 91%

SATISFACTION

VAUGHAN IS THE LARGEST EMPLOYMENT CENTRE IN THE REGION

As a rapidly growing city of more than 325,000 people, Vaughan is home

to 11,370 businesses that employ more than 208,000 people. With major

city-building initiatives underway, including the Mackenzie Vaughan

Hospital, the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension, and our new

downtown the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, it’s easy to see why

Vaughan is the place to be for businesses and residents.

Population projections from the province of Ontario indicate that York

Region will grow to 1.5-million people by 2031 and the number of jobs

will increase to 780,000. It is anticipated that a substantial portion of

the population and employment growth will occur in the City of Vaughan,

with 416,600 people and 266,100 jobs by 2031.

Vaughan is the largest employment centre in York Region, accounting

for 38 per cent of the total regional employment. Between 2015 and

2016, there was a 3.6 per cent (7,262 jobs) increase in the average

annual employment growth rate – the highest of all municipalities

within the region.

Employment growth in the city has outpaced national (0.4 per cent),

provincial (0.5 per cent) and regional (3.1 per cent) growth rates between

mid-2015 and mid-2016. Vaughan also has the highest average annual

employment growth for the last 10 years in the region and is the second

highest business growth municipality.

Since 1998, Vaughan has added more than 89,000 jobs to its employment

base. Service-oriented jobs accounted for 65 per cent of all employment

while the remaining 35 per cent of all jobs fall within the goods producing

industries, which is a trend that is being noted across Canada and the

province.

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HISTORICAL SURVEYED EMPLOYMENT, 1998 – 2016

The results are in from the 2016 Citizen Survey and it shows 97 per cent of residents say life is good in Vaughan. Satisfaction with services remains high, with 91 per cent saying they are pleased with business services. Visit www.vaughan.ca/CitizenSurvey for more information. Source: IPSOS, 2017

2016 VBEC Summer Company success story: Christine Ung, Founder, Sondr Media“After taking part in Summer Company, you’ll learn a lot about how to sell, how to make an elevator pitch and how not to be afraid of making a mistake. You get the funding, the mentorship, meet a lot of great people and you get to see your goals come to life... and there’s nothing more fulfilling than that.”

Small BusinessNews.

YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The Vaughan Business Enterprise Centre (VBEC)provides services and

programs to help entrepreneurs and small business owners start or grow

their businesses. Fostering young entrepreneurs is an important way

to create employment and ensure that the community benefits from

the creativity, energy, and talent of its youth.

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS: Space is limited. Apply early!

• Who is eligible: Full-time high school or post-secondary students,

aged 15 to 29, looking to start a new summer business

• Successful candidates receive: Up to $3,000 grant through

the Province of Ontario, including $1,500 for start-up costs

and $1,500 after program completion

• The program provides: Hands-on training and mentorship

from VBEC and its community mentors

• Apply online at: www.Ontario.ca/SummerCompany and select

Vaughan Business Enterprise Centre as your program provider

• For more information: Contact VBEC at 905-832-8526 or vbec@vaughan.ca

VBEC SERVICES

VBEC Business Consulting Services• One-on-one business consultation

• Business planning, access to financing, referrals, market research

and intelligence

VBEC Seminar Series• Complimentary business seminars or workshops,

register at vaughanbusiness.eventbrite.com

• Topics include: Tax planning, health and safety, importing, market

research and more

• Introduction to Entrepreneurship: Tuesday mornings, 9:30 to 11 a.m.,

VBEC at Vaughan City Hall

For more information, contact the VBEC at 905-832-8526

or vbec@vaughan.ca www.vaughan.ca/VBEC

with Business Support Services

Source: York Region Employment and Industry Report, 2016

Celebrates VA U G H A N

This is OUR celebration!

#MBGivesBack

VaughanMayorsGala.caSponsorship Opportunities:

Follow me: @mbmayor

Presenting Sponsor

Thursday, June 8, 2017 | 6:00 p.m.

Universal EventSpace6250 Highway 7, Vaughan

• 1,000 guests in attendance including: corporate executives, media, and influencers

• 92% of attendees are from the corporate sector

• Majority of companies in attendance are Vaughan-based

BevilacquaVaughan’s Commitment to Change Lives

Maurizio

Your generosity will continue to support hundreds of organizations in our community that provide

hope to thousands of lives.

YOUR BUSINESS COUNTS! Annual York Region Employment Survey Look for the friendly student surveyors employed by York Region from May through August who will be collecting basic business and employment information for the Annual York Region Employment Survey. Businesses can complete the survey online at www.york.ca/employmentsurvey

The collected survey data is used to: • Analyze and market local business sectors • Form business attraction and retention

strategies • Forecast future transit and infrastructure needs

Participate in the survey and receive a FREE listing in the online York Region Business Directory, available at www.york.ca/employmentsurvey

To update your business directory information, contact the Planning and Economic Development branch at businessdirectory@york.ca or call 905-830-4444 ext. 71508.

BusinessBulletin.

NOMINATIONS ARE OPENDeadline: June 15The City of Vaughan is made up of people from

many different backgrounds. From entrepreneurs

and philanthropists to business leaders and

volunteers – they each bring something special

and encompass the best of Canadian citizenship.

The Order of Vaughan, the highest civic honour

bestowed by the City, was created to celebrate

citizens and the positive impact they have made

on the community. It recognizes those who have

been influential in city-building and contributed

to Vaughan’s success.

Nominations for the 2017 Order of Vaughan are

being accepted until June 15 and will be assessed

by the Order of Vaughan Selection Committee.

To be eligible for consideration, a candidate must

be a resident or former resident of the city.

www.vaughan.ca/OrderOfVaughan

VAUGHAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL: May 15 – 18The 2017 Vaughan International Film Festival (VFF) is four days of celebration of Canadian and international dramas, comedies, sci-fis, documentaries, thrillers and animated films. Film screenings are hosted at Cineplex Colossus in Vaughan and industry after-parties are held at various locations.

The festival runs May 15 to 18 and will feature a special guest appearance by actor Enrico Colantoni at the red carpet closing night for the VFF Awards on May 18.

Get your tickets at www.vaughanfilmfestival.com

Printed in Canada © City of Vaughan 2017

CITY OF VAUGHAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURE SERVICES2141 Major Mackenzie Dr., Vaughan, Ontario, Canada L6A 1T1 tel: 905-832-2281 • email: ecdev@vaughan.ca • www.vaughan.ca/business

STAY INFORMED.Subscribe to the Economic Development e-News! Send an email with the subject line “Sign me up for e-News!” to ecdev@vaughan.ca

b

This paper contains 100% post-consumer fibre.

For more information visit: vaughan.ca/Canada150

LET’S TALK EXPORTS: May 31

Last year, voters registered their frustration with what they viewed as economic and political mismanagement. Is policy going to shift away from openness and freer trade during 2017? Can Canada expect more restrictive trade with the critical U.S. market?

Join Peter G. Hall, EDC’s Vice-President and Chief Economist, to get his insight on a range of global economic trends.

Let’s Talk Exports is your best opportunity to get the latest information on the global economy and its impact on Canadian businesses like yours.

You will learn about the: • Impact of the shifts in US trade policy• Political uncertainty in the developed world• Key risks facing the world economy• Impact on Canadian exporters

To attend, register with the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce online at www.vaughanchamber.ca

BECOME A CORPORATE PARTNERThe City of Vaughan is calling on businesses to give back to the community in a new way.

Our new Corporate Partnerships program provides businesses with the chance to interact with the 325,000 residents and 11,300 businesses in Vaughan in a targeted and customized way. In addition to receiving some great marketing benefits, businesses will get the satisfaction of making a positive impact on the Vaughan community.

Want to learn more? Go to: www.vaughan.ca/corporatepartnerships or contact the Manager of Municipal Partnerships at 905-832-2281 ext. 8841.

Investingin Community

City of VaughanCorporate Partnerships