Heritage Permit – Victoria Hall

“I want to begin by thanking everyone who came out tonight to express their opinions. Public input matters, and I appreciate every resident who took the time to speak. I recognize you represent the opinion of others as I have heard many differing pov when speaking to people around town

As members of Council, it is our responsibility to listen to all viewpoints. Our responsibility is to consider all perspectives, all voices, all facts, and ultimately make decisions that are in the best interests of the entire community — not just today, but for generations to come.

And for years now, residents have been crystal clear with me about what they want for Aurora.

They want a community that invests in itself.

They want vibrant public spaces. They want facilities for families. They want heritage protected. They want parks and trails preserved. They want a downtown people are proud of. And they want leadership that believes in the future of this town instead of constantly finding reasons to say no.

That is exactly what we have been delivering.

Aurora Town Square, now the heart of our community.
The Armoury, thriving with Slabtown and bringing energy downtown.
The new gym expansion.
The protection of Henderson Forest.
The acquisition of new parkland.

These are not expenses. These are investments in the future of Aurora.

And Victoria Hall is no different.

This project is about preserving and protecting a historic landmark while giving it new life and purpose for the next generation. It is about strengthening our downtown, increasing the value of a community asset, and creating another destination that complements the incredible momentum already happening around Town Square.

Do you know what people compliment the most when they visit Aurora Town Square?

It is not just the new construction.

It is the integration of the old and the new. It is the breathtaking connection between the historic Church Street School and the modern addition. The atrium has become one of the defining architectural features of the entire project because it respects our history while embracing our future.

That is exactly the vision being proposed here.

And as I said earlier, while we value every opinion, from residents, committees, and stakeholders. We also have a duty to consider the advice of experts and weigh that against the broader interests of our community.

In this case, the professional heritage architects, designers, consultants, and Town staff are unanimous in their recommendation to move forward through the heritage permit process.

There is a reason for that.

This proposal does exactly what great city-building should do: preserve the historic character of the building while ensuring it remains functional, relevant, and protected for generations to come.

This addition will allow Victoria Hall to stand proudly as a heritage feature while integrating it into the world-class cultural and community destination we have created around Aurora Town Square.

This is not the destruction of heritage.

This is the preservation of heritage through investment, vision, and leadership.

What truly threatens heritage buildings is not thoughtful revitalization.

It is delay.
It is indecision.
It is endless requests for “more information.”
It is the mentality of saying no to everything.

Aurora deserves better than that.

This community deserves leadership that has the courage to move projects forward, protect what matters, and build a future residents can be proud of.

Tonight, we have a choice.

We can continue writing this exciting chapter that we have started together, a chapter defined by investment, revitalization, preservation, and confidence in our future…

I know where I stand.

I will be voting yes to preserving our heritage.
Yes to protecting our historic assets.
Yes to investing in our community.
And yes to the future of Aurora.

Leadership is not about standing in the way of progress.

Leadership is about building a community people are proud to call home.”