| A SUBMISSION FOR THE TOWN OF AURORA AS CANADA’S BEST HERITAGE COMMUNITY
On behalf of the Heritage Advisory Committee of Aurora, I would like to nominate Aurora, Ontario as Canada’s best heritage community. Aurora is blessed not only by a wealth of beautiful heritage buildings, streets and natural areas, but by a population with a tremendous awareness of the importance of that heritage, who through the years to the present day have worked to ensure that those aspects of Aurora that make our community special are here for today and will continue for future generations to experience and enjoy.
YONGE STREET
Although the smallest community by area in the Greater Toronto Area, Aurora has often been at the forefront of history since the opening of Yonge Street in 1796 provided the impetus for settlement of our community.
ONTARIO’S FIRST HEAD OF RAIL
In 1853, Aurora was the focal point of another transportation link when Ontario’s first railway, the Ontario Simcoe and Huron determined that the head of rail for its first line should be Aurora.
The arrival of the railway inspired thee development of the first town lots in 1854 and a new name for the community Aurora, after the Greek goddess of the dawn, signalling a new era.
A COMMITMENT TO HERITAGE AND COMMUNITY
The core of the town that its present day Aurora developed over the next 60 years into a place of fine private and public buildings and a tremendous sense of community and history. Despite relentless pressure for development in the post war era, Aurora retains both its sense of history, tradition and the physical reminders of that past its historic buildings and neighbourhoods.
HILLARY HOUSE
First among Aurora’s heritage jewels is Hillary House, built 1862 on Yonge Street and now a National Historic Site. The home of several prominent local physicians over the years, the house is renowned across Ontario as one of its finest examples of Ontario Gothic Revival architecture. Today the house is the headquarters of the Aurora Historical Society and serves as both a house museum and the home of the Koffler Museum of Medicine.
HERITAGE NEIGHBOURHOODS
Visitors to Auroras’ historic core will be impressed at the beauty and intactness of Aurora’s heritage neighbourhoods. Spreading outward from the hub of the community, the Yonge/Wellington Intersection, Auroras’ historic residential neighbourhoods are a rare intact grouping of well maintained late 19th and early 20th Century homes. Among them is a modest former church manse on Catherine Avenue which was once the boyhood home of Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson. Recently Aurora completed its first heritage conservation district study in the northeast quadrant of downtown. The consultants for the study noted that of all the districts that they had studied, Aurora had by far the highest concentration of heritage buildings they had ever seen.
The residential neighbourhoods are enhanced by the presence of a number of historic churches and public buildings which provide community focal points. Some such as the beautiful Gothic Revival Styled Trinity Anglican Church are still in their original uses, while others, such as Victoria Hall, a former church have found new uses and remain an active part of the community.
TOWN PARK
A focal point of Old Aurora and a gathering point for countless community activates for more than 100 years is the Town Park. This beautiful and active space, a traditional old town civic green remains to day a focal point for the community as well as a location to view local heritage landmarks.
CHURCH STREET SCHOOL
A Provincial Historic Site and designated building, the Church Street school is one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival school architecture in the Province. Although the building has not been used as a school for 50 years it has remained a focal point of community life as the Aurora Museum and other uses. The building is currently undergoing an extensive restoration with a grand reopening planned for 2008.
THE AURORAN
While heritage buildings provide tangible reminders of a community’s heritage, the Heritage of a community is more than just bricks and mortar. For the past 7 years the local newspaper, the Auroran, has provided Auroran’s with a wealth of information about its community and history. The newspaper started with the goal of helping to maintain the sense of community in Aurora and in that it has succeeded. Over 1000 articles have been published about local history and heritage since issue #1 in 2000. In 2007, Ron Wallace of the Auroran was nominated by the Aurora historical society for the Heritage Canada Journalism Prize.
HISTORIC DOWNTOWN
Aurora’s downtown, centred along Yonge Street and Wellington Street is one of the most intact collections of 19th and early 20th Century buildings in the Region. Yonge Street features traditional two and three storey commercial architecture. The jewels of this area are Carusso’s, downtown Aurora’s longest established business which retails flowers, home décor items and other goods from a completely restored 19th Century commercial block. Complete with awnings traditional signage and storefront windows, Carusso’s is one of Ontario’s finest examples of early commercial architecture. Next door is the Odd Fellows Block which houses the Mac Fleming Paint Store from another traditional commercial façade and store interior complete with historic wood floors. Landmarks of the Yonge Street commercial core include the Old Post Office an impressive early 20th Century public building with a distinctive clock tower, the old Town hall and Aurora United Church.
Over the recent decades the downtown business area has extended along Wellington Street, one of the most intact major heritage streets in the Toronto area. Former mansions and cottages have been sensitively adapted to new uses, following strong policies which help maintain the former residential ambiance, such as the maintenance of front yard green space and trees.
MUNICIPAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
In recent years the Town of Aurora has actively sought to match the quality of hits heritage resources and community atmosphere with a commitment to conservation. In that time Council has almost tripled the number of heritage designations, established Aurora’s first heritage conservation district (173 properties), funded the restoration of the Church Street School, has one of the highest percentage of nominations to the federal register of heritage properties for a community its size and has initiated a number of other heritage programs. These initiatives continue. In 2008 alone a further 8 buildings have been designated and future heritage conservation districts are being considered.
SHEPPARDS’S BUSH
One of the most important community heritage amenities in the Town is the Sheppard’s bush conservation area a 58 acre former estate of Timber executive Charles Henry Sheppard. Since it was acquired by the Ontario Heritage Trust in the early 70s, thousands of Aurorans have enjoyed the beauty of the estate and walked its trails. Recently the Sheppard house was opened to the public for Doors Open Aurora. The beautiful Arts and Crafts House designed by architect A.S. Mathers proved to be the most popular site ever on the Doors Open Aurora tour.
OAK RIDGES MORAINE
Situated in the heart of the Oak Ridges Moraine, the urban area of Aurora is surrounded by thousands of acres of property on the Oak Ridges Moraine, an area of beautiful natural and man made landscape and topography. Much of this natural beauty is to be conserved for future generations.
ST. ANDREW’S COLLEGE
A part of the Aurora community since the 1920s, St. Andrew’s College with its beautiful college grounds has made an important contribution to the heritage and community of Aurora. The site is regularly one of the most popular destinations on the annual Doors Open Aurora festival.
DOORS OPEN AURORA
Aurora has been an active participant in the Doors Open Ontario program for two years now. It provides a way of raising awareness and celebrating our heritage resources. In 2008, Doors Open Aurora received a record 2900 site visits over the one day event as Aurorans and visitors experienced 19 heritage and community sites and activities. This number which is comparable to community’s 5 times the size of Aurora demonstrates the committment and interest in community heritage.
AURORA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Active in Aurora since the 1960s, the Aurora historical society is one of the most progressive and dedicated historical society’s in Ontario. Their efforts over the decades have helped to raise awareness in the community about local heritage and history. Their extremely well organized records help bring Aurora’s past alive to present and future generations. The Historical society’s most significant project is the ongoing restoration and maintenance of Hillary House, a landmark of Yonge Street. The society also raises funds each year for heritage projects through its successful annual tour of homes held in early September.
PRESERVE AURORA IN PAINT
Another way that Aurora works to conserve and celebrate is heritage is through the Preserve Aurora in paint gallery at the Aurora Town Hall. This gallery contains works of art by local painters featuring Aurora heritage sites and areas. The permanent exhibit helps to provide a snapshot in time of Aurora’s past. Each year the collection is expanded through the inclusionof the winning entry in the Preserve Aurora in Paint Category at the annual Aurora art show.
For the reasons outlined above I am pleased to nominate Aurora as Canada’s best heritage community. Its unique combination of historic sites and areas and people that are committed to celebrating and maintaining them, make Aurora a model community of heritage and conservation.
Please see the following websites for more information:
http://www.town.aurora.on.ca/aurora/index_e.aspx?CategoryID=72
http://www.doorsopenontario.on.ca/userfiles/HTML/nts_1_6205_1.html
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