A Year of Milestones, Moments, and Community Spirit

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and holiday season and found time to relax with family and friends. There’s something really special about winter in Aurora – lights illuminating our downtown, shinny on our outdoor rinks, snowy walks on our incredible trails.

The year ahead is slated to be another great one for Aurora, and we have many game-changing initiatives in the works. But before looking forward, I want to reflect on the past year, as 2025 was filled with so many big moments and milestones.

Slabtown Armoury

Few things were more exciting than the Town’s partnership with Slabtown Cider Company to take over operations at the historic and cherished Aurora Armoury. And now, with Slabtown Armoury, a new chapter is unfolding with farm-to-table dining, locally crafted cider, and exciting community events for all ages.

I can already picture the summers — people enjoying a meal or a drink on the patio while taking in the sounds from Concerts in the Park. That’s what a vibrant downtown looks like: a place that feels alive with energy, and where people come together to have a genuinely great time.

New Addition at the SARC

For so long, I’ve heard from parents, leagues, and community groups that we need more indoor recreation space. And in 2025 we got that done with the new addition to the SARC, featuring an 8,000-square-foot high-school sized gym, new change rooms, a multipurpose room, and more. In Aurora, recreation is a huge part of who we are – it brings us together, builds confidence, supports healthy living, and gives residents of all ages a place to connect. And the new addition to the SARC will serve our community for so many years to come.

Aurora War Memorial at 100

Aurora has a long and proud military history, which made the 100th anniversary of the Aurora War Memorial this past October especially meaningful. At Peace Park, alongside community members from Stouffville and King, we honoured the 71 men whose sacrifices are a permanent part of our community’s story.

But the day was more than just remembering those who served – it was also about honouring the community members who came together 100 years ago to ensure those sacrifices would never be forgotten.

Over the years, the site has continued to evolve: from the addition of the Altar of Sacrifice in 1960 honouring those lost in the Second World War, to the Korean War Memorial added in 2023.This year, we also installed a new commemorative veterans crosswalk at Yonge Street and Murray Drive – right next to the site – as a simple but meaningful reminder of the values our veterans defended. And next year, a new memorial will be erected dedicated to Indigenous veterans. A century later, the Aurora War Memorial remains a place where our community pauses, reflects, and remembers together.

Town Square’s First Full Year Delivers

By so many measures, the first full year of operations at Town Square has been a resounding success. We’ve hosted dozens and dozens of outstanding shows and performances, and so many of our community groups have used the space for meetings, conferences, and events.

And what’s even more encouraging is the feedback: our post-event surveys show an average enjoyment rating of 4.64 out of 5, and 95 per cent of respondents said they would recommend the show they attended. We also kept that momentum going earlier this year by welcoming My Indie Coffee as the new café operator. More people than ever are dropping by to simply grab a coffee, meet a friend, and enjoy the incredible ambiance of the space. Town Square has truly become the central community gathering place we envisioned.

A Year of Shared Sports Moments

When Aurora’s own Andrew Nembhard and the Indiana Pacers made it to the NBA Finals, we hosted outdoor viewing events at Town Square. When the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final came around, we hosted viewing parties inside to cheer on members of the Aurora Barbarians Rugby Football Club who were part of the action. And there was no way we weren’t going to do it again when our beloved Blue Jays made it to the World Series. All of it reminded me that community is not only built through projects, but through the special moments we share together.

Looking Ahead to 2026

Everything we worked on in 2025 was rooted in building a stronger community – and that will only continue in 2026. You will see upgrades to parks and playgrounds, including Atkinson Park, Fleury Park, and Optimist Park. We’ll keep improving trails, including the Benjamin Pearson Parkette boardwalk, and new connections on Mattamy, DeGraff and Shining Hill trails. We will make improvements to many of our Town facilities, as well as to our roads and sidewalks. We will continue moving forward with the Yonge Street streetscape redesign, a key part of the long-term revitalization of our downtown, while continuing to bring people together through the community events Aurora is known for –including more viewing events in 2026, with the World Cup on the calendar as we cheer on Canada and our very own Alistair Johnson.

All of this work will move us forward, and it builds directly on the incredible year we just shared together.

So, thank you Aurora, for an incredible 2025. It continues to be an honour to serve as your Mayor, and I’m looking forward to what we will accomplish together in 2026 and beyond. I wish you and your family a safe, healthy, and very Happy New Year. #LeadershipThatGetsThingsDone