City Celebrates the Five-Year Mark of its Strategic Plan Moving Mississauga Forward

The City of Mississauga has completed the five-year mark of its Strategic Plan. The plan informs decision-making, set priorities and focuses on specific areas of strategic change.

“Over the past five years, we have made progress that has positively impacted the community,” said Janice Baker, City Manager and Chief Administration Officer. “In 2009, Council approved a bold Strategic Plan and Action Plan that puts words into action. It ensures that the City makes the right choices that reflect the feedback received from more than 100,000 citizens.”

The Strategic Plan is a 40-year outlook that moves Mississauga forward into the future.

Baker added, “Over the past few years, we have shown we are committed to results. We are measuring our progress along the way to highlight our successes.”

“We’ve seen substantial strides with a number of important actions– including our newly built transitway. We’ve received funding for our new Light Rail Transit System which will connect people across the city,” said Susan Burt, Director of Strategic Community Initiatives. “There have also been major advancements with our lakefront, creating walkable neighbourhoods and the building great public spaces residents say they want.”

The annual Strategic Plan Progress Report updates residents and stakeholders on actions taken under the five Strategic Pillars for Change – Move, Belong, Connect, Prosper and Green.

Five Year Strategic Plan Update: Pillar Highlights

Move:

The Mississauga Transitway offers faster and easier transit service with the opening of phase one at Central Parkway, Cawthra, Tomken and Dixie in 2014.

Belong:

Youth programs at the library increased over 50 per cent from 539 in 2009 to 1,148 in 2014.

Connect:

Attendance at cultural events has increased from 545,763 in 2009 to 1,278,843 in 2014 – a 134 per cent increase.

Prosper:

600 jobs have been created because the

Mississauga Business Enterprise Centre supported the development of 100 new small and youth businesses.

Green:

More than 30,000 LED streetlights have been installed, resulting in more than 8 million kWh or $1.3 million savings.

To learn about all the actions and progress being made to achieve Mississauga’s vision for the future, visit the Strategic Plan website.

Background – Additional five-year Strategic Plan pillar updates

Move

• Between 2009 to 2014, MiWay added more 137,000 new annual service hours. The City invested an additional $29 million in the past five years to support increased service
• Approximately 90 kms of on-road cycling lanes as well as off-road and boulevard Multi-use Trails were constructed
• Mississauga received a Bicycle Friendly Community Award – Bronze Designation from the Share the Road Cycling Coalition

Belong

• Library programs for older adults increased from 212 in 2011 to 714 in 2014
• Participation in library youth programs grew from 5,274 in 2009 to 10,140 in 2014
• In 2014, 415,535 eBooks and eAudiobooks were downloaded
• Since 2009, the City has rehabilitated seven outdoor pools
• Sheridan College, Phase One was opened
• Mississauga received the Gold Youth Friendly Community designation in 2013

Connect

• Grants to arts and cultural organizations grew from $2.55 per capita to $3 per capita over the past five years
• City’s public art collection has grown by 30 per cent over the past five years
• Creative cultural workers are increasingly attracted to Mississauga with this group almost doubling from 11,800 in 2009 to 22,520 in 2014
• Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services (MFES) visited 16,126 residences in 2009 to promote fire safety. This program has grown to 31,280 visits in 2014
• Over the past five years, the City has added three therapeutic pools to its facilities, with an average increase in use of 16 per cent per year

Prosper

• The 10 year Economic Development Strategy was approved by City Council in 2010
• In 2014, Mississauga was named City of the Future by Foreign Direct Investment

Green

• 66 hectares of natural areas have been added to the City since 2009
• 121,333 trees have been planted since the launch of the One Million Trees campaign in 2012
• Greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by 5,351 tonnes since 2009 – the equivalent of taking 1,049 cars off the road