Niagara University Expands Its Mission in Vaughan Ontario

by | Feb 13, 2019 | Eastern Province, News

“Niagara seeks to inspire its students to serve all members of society, especially the poor and oppressed, in local communities and in the larger world.” Niagara University Mission Statement

Niagara University marks another milestone in its mission with the establishment of an additional location for its Niagara University in Ontario program in Vaughan, Ontario, a highly diverse community. The site is also the first-ever university to be established in the City of Vaughan and York Region and supports Niagara University’s commitment to becoming the premier bi-national university within the Province of Ontario.

Rev. James J. Maher, C.M, Niagara University president stated
“As the largest university in the region in terms of enrollment, and one of the largest employers in Niagara County, this collaboration with the City of Vaughan will enable us to look beyond Western New York to make a deliberate and focused economic impact on this bi-national region, positively impacting the lives of others.”
Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua said
“Having a post-secondary institution in an urban setting, within walking distance from homes, businesses, and amenities, connected by regionally integrated transit, will contribute to both the economy and the quality of life for residents of the City of Vaughan.Niagara University in Ontariois an unprecedented investment in our community and in the Vaughan Metropolitan Center.”
Classes started in Vaughan on Jan. 21 for Niagara University in Ontario’s Bachelor of Professional Studies in Education program, which is accredited by the Ontario College of Teachers, and the Master of Science in Education program. Both prepare aspiring professionals for careers in primary-junior and intermediate-senior teacher positions, among other education-related employment opportunities.
Multiethnic nature of the population
According to the 2016 Census, English is the mother tongue of 45.2% of the residents of Vaughan. Italian is the mother tongue for 12.3% of the population, followed by Russian (6.8%) and Spanish (2.4%). Each of Punjabi, Tagalog (Filipino), Hebrew, Persian, Mandarin, Urdu, Cantonese, and Vietnamese has a percentage ranging from 1.5% to 2.9%, signifying Vaughan’s high linguistic diversity.[1]
As of 2011, 60.62% of the city’s population adheres to Christianity, mostly Catholicism (46.23%). Those who practice non-Christian religions adhere to, in order of size, Judaism (15.28%), Islam (4.92%), Hinduism (4.50%), and Buddhism (2.52%). Those who do not have a religious affiliation account for 10.04% of the population.[28]