City officials, including Members of Council and Senior Management, met with representatives from the Seniors Association of Vaughan Initiative (SAVI) on March 6, 2009 to discuss the key strategic initiatives for 2009 and the key successes over the past year. The event, held at the Vaughan Bocce & Recreation Centre, included a presentation on the Vaughan Vision 2020 process and the key strategic initiatives for 2009.

?The purpose of this meeting is to inform our residents and to offer them the opportunity to ask questions and provide input,? said Mayor Linda Jackson. ?When we first began to revise and update our strategic plan, Council decided to make a special effort to engage the community through public consultation.?

The presentation also included a review of the key successes from 2008 and then the floor was opened to hear about issues of concern from the seniors. These issues included snow removal, transportation planning, and health and safety.

?These meetings are vital as we gather input from our stakeholders to take into consideration for a review of the strategic initiatives for 2009,? said Regional Councillor and Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee, Mario Ferri. ?Reaching out to the community and gaining their feedback is important so that the Vaughan Vision remains a living document that can be adapted and changed if need be.?

Vaughan Vision 2020 was approved in December 2007 and communicates the strategic vision and key goals of the municipality to the year 2020. The plans initiatives fall under three goals: service excellence, staff excellence and management excellence. A document ?Celebrating our Successes: Vaughan at Work? was published in December 2008 and circulated to all households. This booklet illustrated the key operational and strategic initiatives which have been implemented from 2007/08.

The presentation to the seniors group is one of a series of meetings with stakeholders which included a session with the Vaughan Chamber of Commerce on January 27, 2009. A future meeting is also planned for May/June?09 with youth, ratepayers and the development community. A gathering with citizens and key stakeholders will also be held in October 2009. These meetings provide an opportunity for stakeholders to voice their concerns.   

For further information about Vaughan Vision 2020 go to www.vaughan.ca.