Some people think this is all about business. And it is, but it’s also about service.

It’s about providing an experience for people. It’s about providing access to people. It’s about generating ideas, it’s about feeding the innovative spirit. This is a big deal.

I remember the first conversation I had with Oleg in my office a few years back. The seeds were already planted for this incredible, wonderful structure and I thought “this is incredibly ambitious.” Deep inside of me, there was this sincere belief that you were going to make it happen and I’m so glad to be here today to see you realize your dream

Improve is something that’s much bigger than one’s own self-interest, and that is to create a sense of community with people. We were walking down he corridors of this mall. We were admiring the structure, the way it was planned, how each aisle intersects so cleverly. How many places in the GTA will provide you this kind of service? None. It’s very important to put that into perspective.

To you and to (co-owner) Vladimir, I want to express my warmest and sincerest gratitude for choosing the city of Vaughan. If I may – very briefly – the city of Vaughan is leading in employment growth. It’s leading in economic growth. We have a subway coming at Jane & Hwy 7 in 2017. We have a huge hospital being completed by 2019 and the Hwy. 427 extension is 10 years ahead of schedule. We also speak dozens of languages here in Vaughan. We’re truly representative of Toronto as an epicentre of economic and cultural growth. That’s why I want to thank you for taking on this challenge to literally IMPROVE the GTA. Improve is a manifestation and a testament to what can be achieved when people’s creativity, innovation and spirit of entrepreneurship fuse together. It’s a monument to all the great things Improve will provide hundreds of thousands – if not millions – of people who walk through these doors.