5 Things You Should Know Before Moving to Vaughan

In today’s marketplace, homeseekers are eager to settle down in areas that can offer the best of “both worlds”. As a result, homes situated in areas offering a balance of family-friendly suburban living and the conveniences of urban amenities are highly sought-after. 

Welcome to Vaughan, Ontario – where residents can both comfortably work and play in a community that thrives off of its cultural diversity and many unique features. For home seekers considering moving to Vaughan, the city’s high employment rate, first-class healthcare, top-tier education, abundance of local parks and green space and family-oriented atmosphere make this an ideal place to call home.

Credit: Toronto.com

1. Vaughan is the third-largest employment centre in the GTA

Trailing Toronto and Mississauga for the top spot, Vaughan takes the still-impressive third spot as one of the Greater Toronto Area’s largest employment centres – and ranks as the largest contributor of York Region’s economy. 

22% of employment in Vaughan falls under the manufacturing industry. Other major key sectors in this community include: 

• Arts and Culture
• Construction
• Finance, Insurance and Real Estate
• Food and Beverage
• Professional and Business Services
• Technology
• Tourism
• Transportation and Warehousing
• Wholesale Trade

Home base for many major domestic and international companies, Vaughan is the 4th largest business centre in the GTA by number of businesses. 

Small businesses – those operating with less than 20 employees – reign supreme in Vaughan, where they account for 81% of all business operations. 

You can check out the top companies by employment in Vaughan via Vaughan Business.

2. Vaughan offers access to first-class healthcare with Canada’s first “smart hospital”

Credit: Mackenzie Health

Opened in July of 2021, the City of Vaughan opened the $1.7 billion Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital – a first for the city, operating as part of the Mackenzie Health hospital framework. Canada’s very first “smart hospital”, Cortellucci Vaughan uses a fully-integrated smart tech system to provide innovative healthcare for patients. 

Just a few of the specialized offerings from Canada’s first “smart hospital” include:

• Mackenzie Health’s Woman and Child and Inpatient Mental Health programs
• The Inpatient Integrated Stroke unit
• Full-service emergency department

The hospital also offers core foundational services such as critical care, surgical services, advanced diagnostic imaging services, and more. 

For a comprehensive list of healthcare services, facilities and health-related news, please visit York Region’s official healthcare portal. 

3. Vaughan provides families with top-tier education offerings

With access to some of the very best in both public and private schooling sectors, Vaughan offers families a wide range of options when it comes to education at all levels. 

Just a few of the top schools in Vaughan include:

• Michael Cranny Public School – JK to grade 8 as well as gifted programs for students in grades 4 to 8, this elementary school received a score of 9.1 out of 10 from the Fraser Institute
• Mackenzie Glen Public School – JK to grade 8, Mackenzie Glen ranks high with the Fraser Institute, earning an 8.5 out of 10
• Delano Academy Private School – PS to grade 12, this co-ed private school offers an enriched curriculum with a focus on academics, arts, athletics and student wellness 
• Vaughan College Private School – Grade 9 to grade 12, this private preparatory college in Vaughan has a high university acceptance rate and notes being one of “the most distinguished ministry inspected private high schools in Woodbridge, Vaughan”

For a full list of local schools, check out the Find My School tool via the York Region District School Board link. For a breakdown of the best private schools in the region, check out OurKids.net for a comprehensive list of private schools and rankings.

4. Vaughan is home to an abundance of local parks

Credit: City of Vaughan

There is no shortage of greenspace for residents and visitors to enjoy in Vaughan. The city maintains over 1000 hectares of park lands, boulevards and open spaces and offers an impressive array of recreational amenities, which includes:

• 273 playgrounds
• 18 splash pads
• 130 tennis courts
• 73 basketball courts
• 58 baseball diamonds
• 150 soccer fields

Considered the city’s “premiere park”, North Maple Regional Park offers 200 acres of new parkland, over 5 km of trails and an artificial turf soccer complex, amongst other unique features. Future development of the land here will include a 900-acre expansion. 

Some other popular park destinations include:

• Boyd Conservation Area – this popular local destination is noted as “​​one of the GTA’s foremost summer picnic destinations for families and large groups” 
• Kortright Centre for Conservation – situated on 325 hectares of “pristine woodlands”, this popular local park hosts over 100,000 visitors per year
• Marita Payne Park – part of the Bartley Smith Greenway, this paved and lit park offers everything from playgrounds to picnic areas and sports fields, with parking available 
• Bindertwine Park – considered a hidden gem located within historic Kleinburg, this park offers visitors baseball diamonds, large open fields, soccer fields, tennis courts and more

For avid hikers, check out the Great Walks of Vaughan and stay tuned for more updates on the ongoing Vaughan Super Trail project.

Check out this chart on the City of Vaughan’s official website for a full list of local parks and their amenities. 

You can find more information for the Maple Nature Reserve Trails at AllTrails.com.

5. Vaughan is a family-oriented community

First and foremost, Vaughan is a community with a mosaic of cultures that make for a diverse landscape like no other. The city’s emphasis on engaging residents, giving back and supporting local businesses is a testament to its community values and local investment. 

With excellent healthcare, education and employment opportunities, future residents looking for homes in Vaughan will be happy to discover that the city’s growing residential landscape is supported by a wide array of recreation to enjoy. 

With an abundance of recreational options in Vaughan, families will appreciate just how easy it is to stay active and engaged in their community. From fitness and community centres, playhouse theatres, swimming and skating, camps and so much more, the city of Vaughan offers something for everyone. This extends to both in-person and virtual programming, which became especially useful for residents during the lockdown periods of the pandemic. 

10 community centres, a popular community theatre, an award-winning golf course and ski hill rank as just a few of the most popular choices for residents looking to get active and engage with other community members. 

When it comes to sports, few cities are as passionate and involved as the city of Vaughan. The city offers local leagues in operation for baseball, basketball, football and hockey, as well as softball. Vaughan is home to Canada’s largest sports organization – the Ontario Soccer Association. Not surprisingly, soccer is a major sports draw in this community, with Vaughan Soccer Club and Kleinburg Nobleton Soccer Club offering house leagues and rep teams. If you’re more of a soccer spectator than player, you can check out the Vaughan-based Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum. 

For an up-to-date listing of local community events, check out the city’s official events calendar.

Looking for more?

With so much to see and do in Vaughan, you might also be curious to know about local schools, business opportunities and more from this thriving and diverse community. Check out our Vaughan Community Profile for more information.

Curious to know more about Vaughan – and the many other communities that Your Community Realty serves? Check out our Community Profile page for more information and be sure to sign up for our New Listing Notifications today!