Aurora is an affluent town in York Region, approximately 20 km north of
TorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. It is partially situated on the
Oak Ridges MoraineThe Oak Ridges Moraine is an ecologically important geological landform in the Mixedwood Plains of south-central Ontario, Canada. The moraine covers a geographic area of between Caledon and Rice Lake, near Peterborough...
, and is a part of the
Greater Toronto AreaThe Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a 2006 census population of 5.5 million. The Greater Toronto Area is usually defined as the central city of Toronto, along with four regional municipalities surrounding it: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York...
and
Golden HorseshoeThe Golden Horseshoe is a densely populated and industrialized region centred around the Greater Toronto Area at the western end of Lake Ontario in Southern Ontario, Canada, with outer boundaries stretching south to Lake Erie and north to Georgian Bay. Most of it is also part of the Quebec City...
of
Southern OntarioSouthern Ontario is a region of the province of Ontario, Canada that lies south of the French River and Algonquin Park. Depending on the inclusion of the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, its surface area would cover between 14 to 15% of the province. It is the southernmost region of...
.
Many Aurora residents commute to Toronto and surrounding communities.
In the
Canada 2006 CensusThe Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...
, the municipal population of Aurora was the
97th largest in Canada, compared to 113th for the
2001 CensusThe Canada 2001 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 15, 2001. On that day, Statistics Canada attempted to count every person in Canada. The total population count of Canada was 30,007,094. This was a 4% increase over 1996 Census of 28,846,761. In...
.
History
Lieutenant-Governor
John Graves SimcoeJohn Graves Simcoe was a British army officer and the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada from 1791–1796. Then frontier, this was modern-day southern Ontario and the watersheds of Georgian Bay and Lake Superior...
gave the order for
Yonge StreetYonge Street is a major arterial route connecting the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto to Lake Simcoe, a gateway to the Upper Great Lakes. It was formerly listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest street in the world at , and the construction of Yonge Street is designated an "Event of...
to be extended to Holland Landing in 1793, the way was paved for the establishment of a community where Aurora now stands.
In 1804, Richard Machell became the first merchant at the cross roads of Yonge and Wellington and the hamlet soon became known as Machell's Corners.
Charles Doan was another early businessman at Machell's Corners and became the first postmaster and later the first reeve. As postmaster, he was influential in renaming the village Aurora.
With the coming of the railway in 1853, Aurora emerged as an important centre north of
TorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. The Fleury plow works was established soon after and Aurora was on its way to becoming a flourishing industrial town.
The population of Aurora in 1863 was 700, and by 1888 it had grown to become a town of 2,107 residents. With some ups and downs in growth over the years, Aurora is now a flourishing town with a strong commercial and industrial base.
Worthy of note is the fact that Aurora was the childhood home of
Lester B. PearsonLester Bowles "Mike" Pearson, PC, OM, CC, OBE was a Canadian professor, historian, civil servant, statesman, diplomat, and politician, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis...
, Prime Minister of Canada from 1963–1968, when his father, Rev. Edwin Pearson, was the Methodist minister.
The Town is noted for preserving its historical built form and in 2008 was awarded The Prince of Wales Prize for Municipal Heritage Leadership. In 2009 the Town received the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Community Leadership in heritage conservation and promotion.
On April 8, 2010, the Town re-opened the historic and fully renovated Church Street School as the Aurora Cultural Centre.
Aurora is twinned with Leksand, Sweden.
Population
| Census |
Population |
| 1871 |
1,132 |
| 1901 |
1,590 |
| 1911 |
1,901 |
| 1921 |
2,307 |
| 1931 |
2,587 |
| 1941 |
2,726 |
| 1951 |
3,358 |
| 1961 |
8,791 |
| 1971 |
13,614 |
| 1981 |
16,267 |
| 1991 |
29,454 |
| 2001 |
40,167 |
| 2006 |
47,629 |
| Est. 2009 |
52,000 |
According to the 2006 Census, the town had a population of 47,629. The town has estimated its 2010 population to be 53,892 ) . The town's growth rate from 2001 to 2006 was 18.6 per cent.
Based upon current population figures and total area, the town's population density is just over 1,000 per square kilometre.
The population is forecasted to reach approximately 62,288 by 2015 and 69,688 by 2020.
Government
The Town of Aurora municipal government is composed of a mayor and eight councillors elected on an "at large" basis. The councillor with the highest votes becomes the deputy mayor and may proxy for the mayor. The mayor is a member of
York Regional CouncilYork Regional Council is the political body for the Regional Municipality of York in Ontario, Canada. Created in 1970 it consists of 20 representatives: the mayors of each of its nine municipalities , and an additional eleven councillors from the more populous municipalities—four from...
. In the
municipal electionsElections in the Regional Municipality of York of Ontario, Canada were held on 25 October 2010 in conjunction with municipal elections across the province. The results below are unofficial, pending review from the respective clerk's office for each municipality...
of 25 October 2010, Geoff Dawe was elected mayor.
The town is part of the federal riding of
Newmarket—AuroraNewmarket—Aurora is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004.The district contains the towns of Newmarket and Aurora....
. The riding was notable with the election of former MP,
Belinda StronachBelinda Caroline Stronach, PC is a Canadian businessperson, philanthropist and former politician. She was a Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons from 2004 to 2008. Originally elected as a Conservative, she later crossed the floor to join the Liberals...
, a member of the
Liberal Party of CanadaThe Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
. The riding is now represented by MP
Lois BrownLois Brown is a Canadian businesswoman and politician, currently the elected Member of Parliament for Newmarket—Aurora...
of the Conservative Party of Canada, who was elected in the
2008 federal electionThe 2008 Canadian federal election was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament after the previous parliament had been dissolved by the Governor General on September 7, 2008...
. Aurora is also part of the provincial riding of
Newmarket—AuroraNewmarket—Aurora is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004.The district contains the towns of Newmarket and Aurora....
. The member of Provincial Parliament is
Frank KleesFrank Klees is a Canadian politician and the Progressive Conservative member of Provincial Parliament for the riding of Newmarket—Aurora north of Toronto. He was a candidate in the 2009 Progressive Conservative leadership election placing second behind victor Tim Hudak.-Early life:Klees was born...
, who was elected in the
Ontario general election, 2007The Ontario general election of 2007 was held on October 10, 2007 to elect members of the 39th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada. The Liberals under Dalton McGuinty won the election with a majority government, winning 71 out of a possible 107 seats with 42.2% of the popular...
. Klees belongs to the Progressive Conservative party of Ontario and resides in Aurora.
Emergency services
Local police services are provided by the
York Regional PoliceYork Regional Police is a law enforcement organization that serves over 1.1 million residents in the York Region, Ontario, Canada, located north of Toronto...
, who serve all of the municipalities of the region. Fire protection services are provided by Central York Fire Services, a shared arrangement with the town of Newmarket.
Public health services are managed by York Region. There is no hospital within Aurora's boundaries; the nearest one is
Southlake Regional Health CentreSouthlake Regional Health Centre is a hospital located in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada.A private hospital was founded in 1932 and on August 22 the province granted a Charter of Incorporation for the York County Hospital Corporation. In 1924, it became a public hospital. In 1946, the Margaret...
in Newmarket.
Education facilities
Aurora residents have access to a wide range of educational facilities, including private, public, separate (Catholic) and French language schools, daycare, nursery, elementary and secondary schools.
Both publicly-funded school boards for York Region maintain head offices in Aurora. The
York Region District School BoardThe York Region District School Board, also known as YRDSB, is the English-language public school board for York Regional Municipality located in Ontario, Canada. The York Region District School Board is currently the province's third largest school board, with an enrollment of over 115,000 students...
is located on 60 Wellington Street West, just west of the historical downtown area, and the
York Catholic District School BoardThe York Catholic District School Board is the publicly funded English-language Catholic school district authority for the Regional Municipality of York in Ontario, Canada. Its head office is in Aurora....
is located at 320 Bloomington Road West, adjacent to
Cardinal Carter Catholic High SchoolCardinal Carter Catholic High School, usually just Cardinal Carter or "Carter", is a high school in Aurora, Ontario, Canada in the York Catholic District School Board. The school principal is Richard Maurice....
.
The York Region District School Board operates the secular public school education system in York Region, which has two high schools in Aurora:
- Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School
Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School is one of five high schools in Aurora, Ontario and is one of two under the jurisdiction of the York Region District School Board. In 2005, there were approximately 1350 students from Grades 9 to 12.-History:...
- Aurora High School
as well as several elementary schools.
The York Catholic District School Board operates several elementary schools in Aurora, as well as
Cardinal Carter Catholic High SchoolCardinal Carter Catholic High School, usually just Cardinal Carter or "Carter", is a high school in Aurora, Ontario, Canada in the York Catholic District School Board. The school principal is Richard Maurice....
and
St. Maximillian Kolbe Catholic High SchoolSt. Maximillian Kolbe Catholic High School is a high school in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. The school opened on September 2009, and is administered by the York Catholic District School Board.-External links:*...
.
Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-SudConseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud is the Roman Catholic separate, French language school board for the South-Central region of Ontario. It is headquartered in North York, Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
, which administers French-language Catholic schools runs an elementary school, École St. Jean, and a high school, École secondaire catholique Renaissance (formerly ÉSC Cardinal-Carter).
Also,
St. Andrew's CollegeSt. Andrew's College, also known as SAC, is an independent school founded in 1899 located in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. It is a university-preparatory school for boys in grades 6 to 12, with a focus on academic achievement, athletics, and leadership development...
, an independent school for boys, is located in Aurora.
The Aurora Public Library is a
public libraryA public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
funded and operated by the town.
Urban planning
Currently, a largely undeveloped portion of Aurora is subject to the Ontario Government's
GreenbeltThe Greenbelt is a permanently protected area of green space, farmland, forests, wetlands, and watersheds, located in Southern Ontario, Canada. It surrounds a significant portion of Canada's most populated and fastest-growing area - The Golden Horseshoe....
legislation which enforces limits on growth in designated Green Belt locations. In Aurora, this affects mostly the south-eastern areas of the town.
Growth is occurring in the north-eastern locations, particularly in the form of high-density residential homes and townhouses along Bayview Ave and north of Wellington St. E. (also known as "Aurora Rd."), and commerce along Wellington St. E. on Aurora's eastern border between Leslie St. and Hwy. 404. The State Farm Insurance Canada headquarters has recently relocated to this location.
Future growth will be concentrated in two greenfield areas of the Town: the 2C Lands, located on the east and west sides of Leslie Street, running north from Aurora Road to the Town limit, just north of the St. John's Sideroad. As part of its current Official Plan review, Town Council will soon be considering a plan that will see employment lands, worth approximately 6,000 jobs, preserved on the east side of Leslie Street, with residential restricted to the west side of Leslie Street.
The Aurora Promenade
One other area of growth will be via intensification along the Yonge and Wellington Street corridors. As part of the Town's Official Plan review, a sub-committee of Council has developed a plan, called
The Aurora Promenade, that sets out new and redevelopment for the coming years. More than 30 public meetings, open-houses and workshops were held to create the plan. It is anticipated that 2,930 additional residents will live along the Yonge and Wellington Street corridors, close to new major transportation systems being implemented by
VIVAViva is a bus rapid transit service operating in York Region, Ontario, Canada. Viva service is integrated with York Region Transit's local bus service to operate as one regional transit system providing seamless transit service across York Region and connections to northern Toronto.Viva was...
. The study is expected to stimulate new and redevelopment along both corridors in the coming years and to reinvigorate the Town's downtown core.
Library
The Aurora Public Library is located in the northeast corner of the intersection of Yonge Street and Church Street. A library was first established in Aurora in 1855, and was moved to the current location in 2001. The library is open all days of the week, but closed on Sundays and Mondays between May 17 and September 11, and between December 20 and January 2.
Roads
Major roads running through Aurora include Bathurst Street at its western border, Yonge Street, Bayview Avenue, Leslie Street, and Highway 404 at its eastern border and Bloomington Road at the southern border. Wellington Street is the town's major east-west road, with the Yonge-Wellington area having the busiest traffic volume in Aurora.
Public transit
The town of Aurora's public transit is serviced by
York Region TransitYork Region Transit is the public transit operator in York Region, Ontario, Canada. Its headquarters are in Richmond Hill, at 50 High Tech Road....
(YRT) and
VIVAViva is a bus rapid transit service operating in York Region, Ontario, Canada. Viva service is integrated with York Region Transit's local bus service to operate as one regional transit system providing seamless transit service across York Region and connections to northern Toronto.Viva was...
. The Aurora GO Station is on the Barrie line and is served by four trains southbound to Toronto each weekday morning and four trains northbound each afternoon, except holidays.
GO TransitGO Transit is an inter-regional public transit system in Southern Ontario, Canada. It primarily serves the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area conurbation, with operations extending to several communities beyond the GTHA proper in the Greater Golden Horseshoe...
buses provide hourly (or better) non-stop service to/from the Union Station Bus Terminal from early morning until late night. The Aurora GO Station is also served by five YRT bus routes.
Media
Local media include
The Banner (formerly the
Era Banner) and
The Auroran newspapers and Aurora programming provided by Rogers Cable (formerly Aurora Cable Internet).
Radio
Radio stations from Toronto are typically available, the same applies to the nearby towns of
NewmarketNewmarket is a town in Southern Ontario located approximately 50 km north of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area and is connected to Toronto by freeway, and is served by three interchanges along Highway 404. It is also connected to Highway 400 via Highway 9...
, south into
Richmond HillRichmond Hill is a town located in Southern Ontario, Canada in the central portion of York Region, Ontario. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area, being located about halfway between Toronto and Lake Simcoe...
, and
BradfordBradford is the primary country urban area of the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury, Ontario, in Canada. It overlooks a beautiful and prosperous farming community, known as The Holland Marsh, located on the Holland River that flows into Lake Simcoe...
.
Theatre
Aurora has a long history of theatre, with its own community theatre group,
Theatre AuroraTheatre Aurora is an entirely volunteer-run community theatre in Aurora, Ontario, that opened in 1958. The theatre puts on five regular season shows and two youth productions annually, and also rents space to other events, including concerts and performances. The theatre is located on Henderson...
. Founded in 1958, at the time named the Aurora Drama Workshop, the group staged plays until they joined with the Aurora Musical Society in 1973 to form Theatre Aurora. The next year the group moved into its current home at the Factory Theatre on Henderson Drive. The group has performed a wide variety of shows, and currently produces 5 shows each year, along with 2 youth shows.
Architecture
The Aurora armoury is a recognized Federal Heritage building 1991 on the Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings.
Notable residents (past and present)
- Cal Bouchard, member of Canadian National Women's Basketball Team
- John W. Bowser
John W. Bowser was a Canadian construction engineer most notably the project construction superintendent for the Empire State Building.Bowser was born in Whitchurch township, Ontario, Canada, present day Aurora in 1892...
, project construction superintendent of the Empire State BuildingThe Empire State Building is a 102-story landmark skyscraper and American cultural icon in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. It has a roof height of 1,250 feet , and with its antenna spire included, it stands a total of 1,454 ft high. Its name is derived...
- Jim Carrey
James Eugene "Jim" Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and comedian. He has received two Golden Globe Awards and has also been nominated on four occasions. Carrey began comedy in 1979, performing at Yuk Yuk's in Toronto, Ontario...
was born in NewmarketNewmarket is a town in Southern Ontario located approximately 50 km north of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area and is connected to Toronto by freeway, and is served by three interchanges along Highway 404. It is also connected to Highway 400 via Highway 9...
, OntarioOntario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
but he and his siblings grew up in Aurora, Jackson's Point, and Burlington.
- Lloyd Chadburn
Lloyd Vernon "Chad" Chadburn DSO & Bar, DFC was a Canadian World War II fighter pilot.-Birth:Lloyd Chadburn was born in Montreal, Quebec on 21 August 1919, later moving with his parents to Oshawa, Ontario as an infant. He grew up there and in Aurora...
, World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
pilot, recipient of the Croix de guerre medalThe Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
- Roger Clute, Justice of the Supreme Court
- Norm Dennis
Norman Marshall Dennis is a retired Canadian ice hockey right winger. He played in the NHL for the St. Louis Blues.-External links:...
, retired NHLThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
player
- Tie Domi
Tahir "Tie" Domi is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. During a sixteen-year NHL career when he was known for his role as an enforcer, he played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets....
, retired NHL player
- Darren Dutchyshen
Darren Dutchyshen is a Canadian sportscaster, who cohosts the evening edition of SportsCentre on TSN. He was born in Porcupine Plain, Saskatchewan. Dutchyshen graduated from the Western Academy Broadcasting College in Saskatoon, and went on to stints at STV and Global Edmonton before his current...
, sportscaster - TSN
- James Duthie
James "Boom Boom" Duthie is an Ottawa-born Canadian sportscaster for TSN. He is currently the host of The NHL on TSN. In the past, he has hosted CFL Live, NBA in the Paint and SportsCentre. He also writes a column for TSN.ca called The Good the Bad the Duthie...
, sportscaster
- Hap Holmes
Harry George "Hap" Holmes was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. As a professional, Holmes won the Stanley Cup four times, with four different teams. He tied the record of his 1914 Stanley Cup winning Toronto Blueshirts teammate Jack Marshall, who also has won Cups with four different...
- Mike Hough
Michael Lloyd Hough is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played thirteen seasons in the National Hockey League from 1986–87 until 1998–99....
, retired NHL player
- Kris King
Kristopher King is a former Canadian NHL hockey player. He played 14 seasons in the NHL for the Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Chicago Blackhawks...
, retired NHL player
- Mike Kitchen
Michael Elwin Kitchen is a Canadian former defenceman and former head coach in the National Hockey League. He was selected in the third round of the 1976 NHL Amateur Draft, 38th overall, by the Kansas City Scouts...
, former Toronto Maple Leafs Assistant Coach and St Louis Blues Head Coach
- Frank Klees
Frank Klees is a Canadian politician and the Progressive Conservative member of Provincial Parliament for the riding of Newmarket—Aurora north of Toronto. He was a candidate in the 2009 Progressive Conservative leadership election placing second behind victor Tim Hudak.-Early life:Klees was born...
, Progressive Conservative MPP
- Lester B. Pearson
Lester Bowles "Mike" Pearson, PC, OM, CC, OBE was a Canadian professor, historian, civil servant, statesman, diplomat, and politician, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis...
, lived in Aurora as a boy
- Jared Pelletier
Jared Pelletier is a Canadian director, responsible for a number of films including award winner In the Hearts of Men. Pelletier's Halo: Faith has been regarded as revolutionary and a technological feat in micro-budget filmmaking. - Early Life :Pelletier was born in the affluent community of...
, film director
- Mark Rowswell, recipient of the Order Of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, known as DashanDashan is the Chinese stage name adopted by Canadian Mark Henry Rowswell, CM who works as a freelance performer in People's Republic of China. Relatively unknown in the West, Dashan is the most famous Western personality in China's media industry. He occupies a unique position as a foreign...
in China where he is a TV personality.
- Brian Stemmle
Brian Stemmle is a retired Canadian skier who competed primarily in the downhill and Super-G disciplines. He was a member of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team for 14 years and was inducted into the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame in 2002...
, Champion Olympic Alpine Skier
- Shayne Stevenson, former NHL player Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
and Tampa Bay LightningThe Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
- Karl Stewart
Karl Stewart is a Canadian ice hockey player who plays for the Straubing Tigers of the DEL.-Playing career:...
, NHL player, Tampa Bay LightningThe Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
- Belinda Stronach
Belinda Caroline Stronach, PC is a Canadian businessperson, philanthropist and former politician. She was a Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons from 2004 to 2008. Originally elected as a Conservative, she later crossed the floor to join the Liberals...
, businesswoman and politician
- Frank Stronach
Frank Stronach, CM is an Austrian-Canadian businessman. He is the founder of Magna International, an international automotive parts company based in Aurora, Ontario, Canada, and Magna Entertainment Corp., which specializes in horse-racing entertainment...
, CMThe Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, founder of Magna InternationalMagna International Inc. , is an automotive supplier headquartered in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's largest automobile parts manufacturer, and one of the country's largest companies. It owns the Magna Steyr automobile production company of Austria....
Surrounding towns
External links