Best of the best take a bow

The city’s favourite businesses recognized at first annual Best of Vaughan Awards

By OMAR MOSLEH

Vaughan’s entrepreneurial spirit was on full display at the Best of Vaughan Awards on Sept. 22 as Vaughan Today and Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua recognized businesses from across the city for their outstanding services.

Business owners,  chosen by Vaughan Today readers from more than 80 categories, were awarded at the first annual Best of Vaughan event at Le Jardin Conference and Event Venue in Woodbridge.

Thousands of readers voted to select the nominees and choose the winners in an online poll on the VaughanToday.ca site.

Before making the presentations, Bevilacqua said Vaughan has a strong foundation as a city that supports local business.

“One of the things that we’re really rich in is the entrepreneurial culture in this city,” Bevilacqua told 250 guests at the awards. “Twenty years ago, when the city was first incorporated and our population was 100,000, we had within that population … entrepreneurs that spurred that economic growth.”

The mayor shared his own background in small business, mentioning his father was a businessperson who worked long hours on behalf of his family.

“As a child I learned that entrepreneurs are special people,” he said. “That they care about the service they provide, professional or otherwise. They care about the jobs they create and the families they feed.”

Bevilacqua warmly thanked business owners and operators for contributing valuable services to Vaughan residents.

“It is incumbent on me as mayor of this city to express my gratitude to them,” he said. “Because we are in this together.”

Top honours were granted to those businesses who were named “Outstanding” for receiving the most support in each of six broad categories, while leaders in each of the 80 specific categories received recognition as gold, silver and bronze award winners.

The owner of 911 Roadside Assistance & Service, an Outstanding winner, said while he did not expect to win, he was happy with the outcome.

“It was very pleasing, knowing you’re doing a good thing,” Antonio Di Crescenzo said. “I run an honest business and it’s nice to be rewarded like that.”

Di Crescenzo attributed his business’s success to the fact that as a local business offering towing and repair services in Vaughan, it has a reputation for providing help to customers who need it quickly and effectively.

“If we say estimated time of arrival of 30 minutes, then we’re usually there within 30 minutes,” he said. “Other companies outside of the area of Vaughan can’t really provide the same service.”

The former Vaughan resident said he initially decided to base his business in the city because he recognized it was a growing municipality.

“I know with growth there’s always opportunity,” he said.

Winning gold was also good news to Woodbridge Curves owners Gail Gourley and her daughter Cassie, who purchased the business a year ago. The franchise has had a Vaughan location for about 12 years.

“We were absolutely thrilled, because this is our first year in business,” she said.

She said she feels readers selected Curves Woodbridge because it’s distinct from many health facilities because it offers both an exercise and diet plan.

“Curves is very different,” she said. “Our Curves circuit has a Zumba fitness (program), it gives women a complete and strength training workout, and it only takes 30 minutes, which fits for busy women.”

In a later interview with Vaughan Today, the mayor outlined some of the reasons as to why he feels Vaughan is a city that not only welcomes business and entrepreneurship, but also fosters it.

“I think there’s an inner force within people that live in this city, that always drives them to better themselves, deeply rooted in the fact that many people that reside in the city of Vaughan have strong immigrant roots,” he said. “When people come here to build their dream and to realize their dream, they are always willing to go that extra mile, to take that extra effort . . . to do the very best they can for their families.”

He pointed out how Vaughan has one of the fastest growing economies in North America and said it’s reflective of city council’s commitment to creating commerce.

“The numbers speak for themselves,” he said. “People want to come here because it’s a great community with a very vibrant entrepreneurial spirit, that is a driving force behind the great job creation numbers that we have.”

BUILDING DREAMS: Vaughan has one of the continent’s fastest growing economies, Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua said.

Bevilacqua said a number of factors have contributed to a strong business climate: for one, he says businesses and investors have strong confidence in the government.

“Our ability to keep taxes at a level that is very competitive, not only in the Greater Toronto Area but in North America, speaks to our commitment,” he said.

The mayor pointed out the city’s diversity and strong sense of inclusion also work to make Vaughan an ideal place to conduct business.

“We have become a city that welcomes people, that speaks over 70 languages,” he said. “That type of social cohesion and harmony is great for business.”

Bevilacqua closed his speech to the attendees by thanking Vaughan’s businesses and entrepreneurs for helping make the city one of North America’s premiere locations to conduct business.

“You truly are the heartbeat of this city,” he said. “And for that, I thank you.”