Author: Evan McKenzie
Evan McKenzie
Evan McKenzie is a contributor at Vaughantoday.ca, covering a wide range of topics including local news, politics, business, technology, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle. He focuses on clear, balanced reporting that helps readers stay informed about current events and issues that matter to their communities. His work aims to provide useful information, timely updates, and relevant stories presented in an accessible and reader-friendly way.
PETERBOROUGH, Ont. — A new section of Peterborough’s Little Lake Loop is moving ahead with more than $7.5 million in joint investment aimed at expanding the city’s cycling and pedestrian infrastructure and improving connections to parks, businesses and tourism destinations. The project will add another 1.15 kilometres to the existing Little Lake Loop, which currently stretches 2.34 kilometres. The broader plan calls for a 4.46-kilometre multi-use trail around Little Lake, making it an important component of Peterborough’s active transportation network. Emma Harrison, Member of Parliament for Peterborough, joined Peterborough Mayor Jeff Leal to announce the investment through the federal Active…
PIANO PIANO is expanding its weekday offering in downtown Hamilton with a new business-focused lunch menu designed to provide a full-service restaurant experience without taking up the entire afternoon. The Italian restaurant has introduced Pranzo al Volo, or “Lunch on the Fly,” at its Hamilton location at 62 King Street East in Gore Park. The $34 lunch option is available Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., giving downtown workers and other daytime diners an alternative to both quick-service meals and longer traditional lunches. Guests can choose the new lunch format or continue ordering from PIANO PIANO’s full…
Federal and municipal officials are set to join Toronto Metropolitan University leadership in Brampton to highlight progress at the university’s School of Medicine, as the institution continues to develop its medical education presence in the region. The event will bring together the Honourable Shafqat Ali, President of the Treasury Board of Canada, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and Toronto Metropolitan University President and Vice-Chancellor Mohamed Lachemi. The officials are expected to focus on developments at the medical school and its role in the community. Federal, Municipal and University Leaders to Attend The event is scheduled to take place at noon on…
Parents, guardians and community organizations in Vaughan will have an opportunity to learn more about legal issues affecting young people at an upcoming educational event focused on youth justice, liability, insurance and family responsibilities. Leaders Lounge will host The Law, You & Your Kids on September 30 at Venu Event Space in Vaughan. The three-hour community event is intended to give families practical information about situations that can unexpectedly lead to legal or financial consequences. Organizers say the program is designed to address questions that families may not consider until an incident occurs, including what happens when a teenager is…
Pickering College teacher Alex Au Yong has been named one of the first two recipients of the Elizabeth Dowdeswell Award for Advancing Democracy Through Education, recognizing more than three decades of work helping young people engage with Canadian democracy and civic life. Au Yong received the inaugural award at a ceremony at the Art Gallery of Ontario on September 14. The honour recognizes Ontario educators for innovative teaching approaches and contributions to democratic principles and civic engagement. Each recipient receives $7,500 to support continuing education or further educational contributions. Award Recognizes Experiential Approach to Civic Education Au Yong has spent…
THORNHILL, Ont. — Cirque Italia is bringing its adult-oriented Paranormal Cirque production to Thornhill this September, with four days of performances planned under its distinctive white-and-black Big Top tent at Promenade Shopping Centre. The touring production will run from September 18 to 21, 2026, in the shopping centre’s parking lot at 1 Promenade Circle. Combining circus performance, theatre, cabaret and horror-inspired entertainment, the show is intended for mature audiences and includes adult language and material. Paranormal Cirque Sets September Dates in Thornhill Paranormal Cirque is positioned as a darker alternative to a traditional circus production, blending European-style circus performances with…
The federal and Ontario governments are committing up to $94.8 million for infrastructure in Bradford West Gwillimbury as the municipality moves to sharply reduce residential development charges, a measure officials say could help unlock more than 29,000 new homes and lower construction costs for buyers. Announced Aug. 28, the funding will flow through the Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP) and is tied to Bradford West Gwillimbury reducing development charges by as much as 76 per cent, depending on the type of housing and location. The reductions would remain in place from March 30, 2026, through March 31, 2029. Development Charge…
The governments of Canada and Ontario are committing up to $697.2 million to the City of Vaughan for housing-enabling infrastructure after the municipality moved to substantially reduce development charges, a measure officials say could help unlock more than 120,000 new homes. The funding, announced under the Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP), recognizes Vaughan’s decision to reduce development charges by 50 per cent for residential projects from March 30, 2026, through March 31, 2029. Qualifying developments that reach specified construction milestones can also have development charges eliminated entirely between February 25, 2026, and October 31, 2027. Development Charge Cuts Could Reduce…
The governments of Canada and Ontario are committing up to $572 million to Hamilton for housing-enabling infrastructure as the city moves to eliminate residential development charges for three years, a measure officials estimate could help unlock more than 31,000 new homes. The funding, announced on Aug. 26, will flow through the Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP) and is tied to Hamilton eliminating development charges on all residential construction from March 30, 2026, through March 31, 2029. Government estimates indicate removing the charges could lower new-home construction costs by as much as $100,442 per unit. Combined with savings of up to…
Hamilton restaurant Piano Piano has introduced a month-long fixed-price dining program aimed at offering customers greater value as consumers become increasingly selective about discretionary spending. The restaurant’s “Steel City Special,” running from Aug. 3 through Aug. 31, 2026, offers a three-course prix fixe menu exclusively at its Hamilton location. Lunch is priced at $34 and is available Friday through Sunday, while the $45 dinner menu is offered nightly. The promotion combines Italian dishes associated with Chef and Owner Victor Barry’s restaurant concept with a rotating $10 beverage offering from Hamilton-based Fairweather Brewery. Piano Piano Targets Value-Conscious Diners The initiative comes…