Vaughan

Vaughan (pronounced "Von") is a city of 306,000 people (2016) in York Region, in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, north of Toronto, west of Richmond Hill and Markham, east of Brampton, and south of Simcoe County. It is a vast suburban and rural area whose principal draws for visitors are the Canada's Wonderland amusement park, and the McMichael Canadian Art Collection.

Understand
Vaughan is a conglomeration of former towns that have now sprawled to become one city. Many residents identify with these smaller towns rather than Vaughan, with the exception of Vaughan Metropolitan Centre.
 * Maple - Old town is around Keele Street and Major Mackenzie, Vaughan City Hall is located near there.
 * Woodbridge - Old town is on Woodbridge Avenue between Islington Ave and Kipling Ave. Modern boundaries are Steeles Avenue in the south, Highway 400 in the east, Major Mackenzie Drive in the north, and Highway 50 in the west. Woodbridge hosts a significant Italian population.
 * Concord - Formerly a small hamlet, Concord is now mainly comprised of industrial buildings. Concord's boundaries are Steeles Avenue to the south, Highway 400 to the west, Dufferin Street to the east, and Rutherford Road to the north.
 * Thornhill - Thornhill stretches into Markham. Old Thornhill is on Yonge Street between Centre Street and John Street. Modern boundaries of Thornhill-Vaughan are Dufferin Street in the west, Highway 7 in the north, Yonge Street in the east, and Steeles Avenue in the south. Thornhill hosts a significant Soviet-Jewish population, especially along Bathurst Street.
 * Kleinburg - The old town is on Islington Avenue and Nashville Road, near Highway 27.
 * Vaughan Metropolitan Centre - VMC is the new "downtown" area of Vaughan that was carved out of Concord. It is still in development and follows the trend of suburban towns building "city centres" to strive a city in its own right, as opposed to being seen as a bedroom community. It is around Highway 7 and Jane. Many new condominiums are being built as of January 2023, most of them already sold out.

History
In the late pre-contact period, the Huron-Wendat people populated what is today Vaughan. The Skandatut ancestral Wendat village overlooked the east branch of the Humber River (Pine Valley Drive) and was once home to approximately 2000 Huron in the 16th century. The site is close to a Huron ossuary (mass grave) uncovered in Kleinburg in 1970, and 1 km north of the Seed-Barker Huron site.

The first European to pass through Vaughan was the French explorer Étienne Brûlé, who traversed the Humber Trail in 1615. However, it was not until the townships were created in 1792 that Vaughan began to see European settlements, as it was considered to be extremely remote and the lack of roads through the region made travel difficult. The township was named after Benjamin Vaughan, a British commissioner who signed a peace treaty with the United States in 1783.

Despite the hardships of pioneer life, settlers came to Vaughan in considerable numbers. The population grew from 19 men, 5 women, and 30 children in 1800 to 4,300 in 1840. The first people to arrive were mainly Pennsylvania Germans, with a smaller number of families of English descent and a group of French Royalists. This migration from the United States was by 1814 superseded by immigrants from Britain. While many of their predecessors had been agriculturalists, the newer immigrants proved to be highly skilled tradespeople, which would prove useful for a growing community.

Around the facilities established by this group were a number of hamlets, the oldest of which was Thornhill, in which was built a saw-mill in 1801, and a grist mill in 1815. It had a population of 300 by 1836. Other such enclaves included Kleinburg, Coleraine, Maple, Richmond Hill, Teston, Claireville, Pine Grove, Carrville, Patterson, Burlington, Concord, Edgeley, Fisherville, Elder's Mills, Elgin Mills, Jefferson, Nashville, Purpleville, Richvale, Sherwood, Langstaff, Vellore, and Burwick (Woodbridge).

World War II sparked an influx of immigration, and by 1960, the population stood at about 16,000. The ethno-cultural composition of the area began to change with the arrival of different groups such as Italians, Jews and Eastern Europeans.

By plane
The City of Vaughan is served mainly by Toronto Pearson International Airport. From Pearson Airport, you could use several methods to reach Vaughan. By automobile, you would take 409 East, exit onto Highway 401 East, and then take Highway 400 North, and after that, it depends where you need to go. Alternatively, if you only need to get to the west side of Vaughan, you could take Highway 427 North from the airport instead. Using public transit, you could take GO Bus 40 (Hamilton-Richmond Hill Centre), which goes from Terminal One to Highway 407 Station, and transfer onto local transit, the subway, or another GO Bus if required.

A few flights also arrive at Toronto's Billy Bishop Airport in downtown Toronto. From Billy Bishop, there are several methods to reach Vaughan. By automobile, you take Gardiner Expy West, 427 North, then 401 East, then 400 North, and after that, depends on where you need to go. Alternatively, if you only need to get to the west side of Vaughan, you could just continue on Highway 427 northbound.

Using public transit, you could take the subway, which is cheaper, or the GO commuter train, which is faster. For the subway, take Line 1 north towards Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. Vaughan is served by two stations. Vaughan Metropolitan Centre is the terminus and where the "new downtown" is, and has connections to local VIVA rapid transit as well as other local buses. Highway 407 Station has connections to regional GO Buses. For the commuter train, take the Barrie Line. Two stations are in Vaughan, which are Maple GO and Rutherford GO. When trains are not running, GO buses replace the service.

By train
The City of Vaughan is only served by GO Transit commuter rail. If a traveller is looking to arrive using Via Rail, one must transfer to either GO Transit, or other forms of transportation to get to Vaughan. Within the city of Vaughan are two GO stations: and, all part of the Barrie Line. Barrie Line goes south to Union Station or north to Barrie. From Toronto, take the Barrie Line north to either Rutherford or Maple stations. From Barrie, take the Barrie line south to either Rutherford or Maple Stations. From either east or west, one must transfer at Toronto's Union Station in order to take the Barrie line.

By car
Three major freeways run through Vaughan: Highway 400, Highway 427, and Highway 407 ETR. Highway 400 goes north/south towards Barrie and Toronto. Highway 427 goes north/south and ends in Toronto on the south side. Highway 407 ETR goes to Brampton and Richmond Hill. The Highway 407 ETR is an electronically tolled highway, and therefore there are no toll booths to collect money; your licence plate is photographed. In addition, the rates are based on mileage: rates are available on to their website.

Arterial roads in the City of Vaughan are laid out in a grid format, usually 2 km by 2 km. There are few turn restrictions, however, there are more in busier areas. Parking is generally free and readily available.

By bus
Bus service into Vaughan is provided by TTC, YRT and GO. (See York Region article for details.)

By subway
The Toronto Transit Commission's subway Line 1 Yonge-University provides service from downtown Toronto to three stations in Vaughan, York Region. The three stations are Pioneer Village (at the Toronto/Vaughan border), Highway 407 and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, all having bus connections. A trip from Union Station in downtown Toronto to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre takes about 50 minutes. Subway service is provided by the Toronto Transit Commission and uses only TTC fares. There are no free transfers between the subway and YRT, Viva, Go Transit or Züm buses.

Get around
Vaughan is a relatively large city, however, it is sparse compared to neighbouring Toronto. Getting around is usually best with a car, however, you may cycle or take the bus.

Transit
Vaughan is served by the York Region's Transit system (YRT and VIVA) as well as the provincial GO Transit. Some ZUM (Brampton Transit) routes also enter Vaughan.

York Region Transit
York Region Transit is the main local transit agency. It operates in Vaughan, and in neighbouring Richmond Hill, King, and the rest of York Region. Click the link for an overview on bus service in York Region.

York Region Transit operates from 5AM in the morning to 1AM at night. It does depend on the route, however. It is best to check a schedule to reduce unnecessary waiting time.

The primary fare media used on the YRT is the Presto Card, which is also usable on many surrounding transit systems, on UP Express between Pearson Airport and downtown, and on GO Transit which provides regional rail and bus service (including service to Niagara Falls). Presto cards may be purchased at many local outlets, and at any staffed GO Transit station. The card costs $4.00, and can be loaded with any desired amount of money. To use the card, tap it on the green reader when entering a bus. A green light and a beep will confirm acceptance. If multiple YRT/VIVA vehicles are used to complete a one-way journey under two hours from your initial tap-on, only a single fare will be charged.

Many York Region Transit routes mostly follow major arterial roads.

A simple chart to remember the routes on major arterials:

East-West:


 * 4/4A - Major Mackenzie Drive
 * 85/85C - Rutherford Road
 * 77 - Highway 7 (use for local trips)
 * Viva Orange - Highway 7/Centre Street/Bathurst Street (use for express trips)
 * 5 - Clark Avenue

North-South


 * 7 - Martin Grove Road
 * 13 - Islington Avenue
 * 165/165F - Weston Road
 * 20 - Jane Street
 * 107 or 96 - Keele Street
 * 105 - Dufferin Street
 * 88 - Bathurst Street

VIVA
VIVA is the rapid transit branch of YRT. In Vaughan, it is only present on Highway 7, Centre Street, and Bathurst Street. VIVA and YRT use the same fare; one can transfer without paying extra charges. However, on VIVA, in an attempt to lower waiting time at stops, fare payment is done at the stop rather than on the bus. If you are caught riding without proof-of-payment, you may be fined for fare evasion. VIVA buses sometimes use rapidways, which are bus lanes situated in the middle of the road. These are present on Highway 7, Centre Street, and Bathurst Street. They include a heated waiting area.

TTC subway
In 2017, the Toronto Transit Commission opened an extension to Line 1 Yonge-University-Spadina. 6 new stations were opened, two of which are in the City of Vaughan. These stations are Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station and Highway 407 Station. Customers using a Presto card or contactless credit or debit card on a Presto fare device are entitled to receive a free or discounted transfer when transferring between TTC, GO Transit, YRT, VIVA and Zum (Brampton Transit) buses. However customers paying by cash still require a separate fare when transferring between TTC and other transit agencies, even if they just travel within Vaughan.
 * Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station - This station is the western terminus of Line 1 of the TTC at Highway 7 and Jane Street. It connects to local YRT Bus service and VIVA buses. There are large parking lots, however, they are privately owned.
 * Highway 407 Station - This station is mainly a commuter station and is at Jane Street and Highway 407 ETR. Many GO bus services and local YRT bus routes connect here. There are large parking lots.

GO Transit
Vaughan has two GO stations, which are part of the Barrie Line. Rutherford GO and Maple GO. During non-rush hour times, these routes are replaced by GO bus service.
 * Maple GO - near Keele Street and Major Mackenzie Drive, the GO station is relatively small. It is connected to local YRT bus service.
 * Rutherford GO - near Keele Street and Rutherford Road, this GO station has extensive parking lots. It is also connected to local YRT bus service.

By taxi
Taxis are generally not found on the roads; therefore they cannot be hailed from the street. In order to acquire a taxi, it is best to pre-book a trip using a phone or using the internet.

Ride-share applications such as Uber and Lyft can also be used and are easier to acquire a ride compared to traditional taxis.

By bicycle
Unlike the neighbouring City of Toronto, it is completely legal to cycle on sidewalks. Due to this, it is very safe to cycle as you are separated from the vehicles. Some routes also have dedicated bike paths on the side (Dufferin Street from Rutherford to Major Mackenzie). In addition, some roads also have bike lanes on the side of the road.

It is a provincial law that cyclists under 18 must wear a helmet, and all riders must have a bike with reflectors and a bell. This is almost never enforced due to the low number of cyclists.

The YRT has taken measures to be welcoming of bicycles. All YRT/VIVA buses have easy to use bike racks, and bicycles are allowed onto the TTC subway during off-peak hours. This allows you to be able to take your bike almost anywhere in the city.

Beware of right-turning vehicles when you enter an intersection. Drivers usually do not expect cyclists or pedestrians due to the low number of peds and cyclists. Therefore they may not look before they turn, as they only look for other cars.

See https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1UtUsyG3R54vtWe2a38Bn3TZbiTA for Vaughan's official cycling map, which indicates which routes have bike lanes, where trails are located, etc. Note that "Bike Routes", whether signed or unsigned, does not necessarily mean there is extra infrastructure in place for cycling; it could just be a normal road.

By car
As a suburban community, driving is the easiest, fastest, and most convenient way to get around. Arterial roads are in grid format and are 2 km apart. Some of the busiest routes include Highway 7, Bathurst Street, Rutherford Road, and Highway 27.

There are 3 major freeways in Vaughan:
 * Highway 400 runs north/south and is situated in between Jane Street and Weston Road. Highway 400 heads to Barrie and Sudbury going north, and to Toronto's Black Creek neighbourhood going south. It ends at Highway 401 on the southern end. Highway 400 has exits at Steeles Avenue, Highway 407 ETR, Highway 7, Langstaff Road (partial), Bass Pro Mills Drive (partial), Rutherford Road, Major Mackenzie Drive, and Teston Road in Vaughan. A short drive north of the Teston Toad interchange, there are travel plazas in both directions.
 * Highway 407 ETR runs east/west north of Steeles Avenue and south of Highway 7. After Keele Street, the highway runs largely parallel to Highway 7. The 407 is an electronically tolled freeway; therefore there are no toll booths. Your licence plate is photographed. Rates vary depending on the time of day, and is based on mileage. Rates are available on their website. The 407 ETR has agreements with several provinces and state governments (notably Quebec and New York); therefore just because you might have an out-of-province plate does not mean you will not be charged. Highway 407 ETR has exits at Highway 427, Highway 27, Pine Valley Drive, Weston Road (partial), Highway 400, Jane Street, Keele Street, Dufferin Street, and Bathurst Street in Vaughan.
 * Highway 427 runs north/south and is situated between Highway 50 and Highway 27. As of Nov 2020, Highway 427 ends at Highway 7, but the freeway is being extended north to Major Mackenzie Drive. Highway 427 goes south to Etobicoke in Toronto and ends at the QEW/Gardiner Expressway interchange. Highway 427 has exits at Highway 407 ETR and Highway 7 in Vaughan. Beware of the large number of trucks on Highway 427, as the freeway passes through mostly industrial lands.

Do

 * Boyd Conservation Area, a park between Woodbridge and Kleinburg southeast of the intersection of Islington Avenue and Rutherford Road.
 * Boyd Conservation Area, a park between Woodbridge and Kleinburg southeast of the intersection of Islington Avenue and Rutherford Road.

Learn
Vaughan has no public post-secondary institutions. However, Vaughan is home to the Canadian Campus of Niagara University, a private Catholic University, and offers programs in Education. It is located east of Jane and Highway 7, in Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. York University, a full public university in Toronto, is located on the Toronto-Vaughan border, at Steeles and Jane.

Buy
Vaughan has been called Canada's best shopping city numerous times.



Maple
There are no hotels in Maple.

Vaughan Metropolitan Centre
A cluster of hotels are located around the Highway 400 and Highway 407 interchange. They are near Vaughan Metropolitan Centre subway station and Viva Rapidway.

South
These two hotels are at the southern border of the city with Toronto. They also happen to be in different communities (one is in Woodbridge the other in Concord) but are literally right next to each other.



Stay safe
Vaughan is a very safe city. There is organized crime in Vaughan, however, those rarely affect regular people. Pickpocketing is also rare due to the sparse nature of the city.

There are a few homeless people in Vaughan. They may ask for money at the side of the road.

Pedestrians and cyclists should beware of vehicles making right turns.

Weather
Avoid river/creek banks or bridge underpasses during periods of excessive rain, during/after heavy thundershowers or melting snow. Recent flooding can soften the soil and cause it to suddenly collapse into the water under any weight.

Occasionally, Vaughan will be hit with a severe winter storm accompanied by significant snowfall (quite often mixed with freezing rain, ice, or sleet). Avoid driving during and immediately after the storms if at all possible. This is especially true for those unfamiliar with winter driving and controlling a car in a skid. Take public transit, walk, or stay inside.

Calling
For an emergency, dial 911 (you can dial it at the pay phone without inserting any coins).

Vaughan has three overlapping area codes, 905, 365 and 289. However, area codes from Toronto (416, 437, 647) are common in Vaughan. As a result, Vaughan has 10-digit local dialling. You must always dial the area code as part of the number you are trying to reach.

Internet
Complimentary internet is available at Vaughan Public Libraries. Internet is also available at many private establishments, such as malls, fast food restaurants, etc.

News
yorkregion.com has local news. Most news does come from Toronto. Tune to 680 AM to hear Toronto's all-news radio.

Stay healthy
is at the northwest corner of Major MacKenzie Drive W and Jane St intersection. It is just north of Canada's Wonderland.

Police stations
York Regional Police serves as the city's law enforcement. There is only one police station that serves the City of Vaughan. Due to Vaughan's size, sometimes a station from a neighbouring municipality may be closer.



Radio
There is only one radio station that operates in Vaughan, being CFU758 (frequency 90.7 FM), which is a high school radio operated by Vaughan Secondary School. It does not broadcast very far and can be only heard in the vicinity of the school.

All other radio heard in Vaughan is broadcast from across the Greater Toronto Area, with most being from Toronto. CityNews 680 is Toronto's all news radio, and reports breaking news, weather, and traffic.

Go next
West:
 * Brampton, another suburban community of Toronto
 * Caledon, a rural municipality north of Brampton

East:
 * Richmond Hill
 * Markham

North:


 * King

South:
 * Toronto

Take public transit to Downtown Toronto or take local flights from nearby Brampton airport. These may include aerial tours.

The region is a gateway to Southern Ontario with tourist attractions including Niagara Falls, Ontario Wine Country and the Niagara Escarpment. Take a day trip to Lake Simcoe or Lake Wilcox. Many parks are located nearby.