THE AURORAN, Thursday, August 27, 2020 Page 1 AURORA OPEN HOURS Barrons LifestyleWINDOWS INC. OasisHOME PRODUCTS Monday to to Friday Friday 8:00 7:00 - am 6:00pm - 6:00pm $ 99 Saturday 8:00 8:00 - 5:30pm5:00pm FACE MASKS 3 Washable 2 Ply Cotton Windows Sunday 10:00 10:00 -- 4:00pm 4:00pm Hand Sanitizer $ 99 Doors over 100ml 1 $50 also AVAILABLE 10-5 Enclosures DELIVERY (conditions apply) OPEN Mon.to Sat. 905-751-0533|14-40 Englehard Dr. 905.727.4751 NW. corner of Industrial Pkwy S. 905.726.4349 289 WELLINGTON STREET EAST, L4G 6H6, AURORA www.barronshome.net Aurora’s Community Newspaper CMCA Vol. 20 No. 45 905-727-3300 TheAuroran.com FREE Week of August 27, 2020 AUDITED The Right Agent Makes All The Difference! Jeff Gordon Sales Representative Direct: 416 712-4071 jeffgordonproperties.com SPEAKING OUT - Susan Walmer addresses approximately two dozen Aurora residents gathered outside Town Hall on Tuesday evening speaking out against Council moving forward with the redevelopment of Library Square (inset). They urged Council members to push “pause” and re-think the project in light of financial uncertainty stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Auroran photo by Brock Weir AURORA’S TOP SALES PRODUCER* Library Square redevelopment clears final Council hurdle on “historic” 4–3 vote below, to Chandos Construction in the Thompson, who made the motion for a By Brock Weir amount of $41 million, bringing the total task force. “Since the current Library was project budget to $51,939,500. built in 2001, the topic of Library Square 905-841-0000 [email protected] After decades of debate, Aurora’s The bulk of this price tag will be funded has been openly and repeatedly discussed Service with plan for the redevelopment of Library by municipal reserves – including Aurora’s by multiple Councils. For the 10 years I lindrealty.ca Professionalism Square moved forward Tuesday night on Hydro Funds – along with a long-term have been on Council, the revitalization Based on IMS Statistics, Aurora Offices a “historic” vote of 4 – 3. debenture of up to $12.9 million to be of the downtown core and the vision for Council awarded the tender for the repaid over a period of up to 20 years. Library Square has been a constant item construction of Library Square, including Council also signed off on the creation of for discussion and a key objective of our an expansive addition to the Church Street a Budget Control Task Force to oversee Strategic Plan. It has been a long road Providing you School, improvements to the Aurora the construction costs. to get here, there have been many starts with the Public Library, a bridge connecting the “Today is truly a historic moment and stops and starts again, but I am proud knowledge two buildings and a public gathering space for Aurora,” said Councillor Michael Continued on page 17 and resources MARIA ONGARO to make Rainbow Crosswalk hailed B.Comm BROKER the right move! as “important symbol” for community OFFICE 905-727-1941 MOBILE 289-221-4564 By Brock Weir www.mariaongaro.com As far as walks go, it was a relatively short walk, but it was a step in the right Home Sweet Home! direction for Aurora, according to And, the Safest Place to dignitaries and community members Be Now for Seniors! who gathered at Yonge and Wellington on Thursday for the unveiling of the Town’s new Rainbow Crosswalk. Featuring the colours of the Pride flag, the Rainbow Crosswalk, which Local dignitaries helped inaugurate Aurora’s Rainbow Crosswalk last Thursday morning, Pictured www.laservices.ca was approved by Council last month, here are Mayor Tom Mrakas, Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill MPP Michael Parsa, Newmarket- Aurora MP Tony Van Bynen, Dawn Gallagher Murphy (representing Newmarket-Aurora MPP Contact now Brian Porter, is intended to be a landmark to Christine Elliott), Councillor Michael Thompson, Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill MP Leona Director, Living Assistance Alleslev, and Councillors Wendy Gaertner and Harold Kim. Services, for advice and care show that Aurora is an “accepting at home at 416.483.0070 Continued on page 6 Auroran photo by Glenn Rodger I’M HERE to safely serve you. Helping you is what we do. Over 30 years experience in Aurora BUY WITH SUCCESS... SELL WITH CONFIDENCE SALES REPRESENTATIVE 905 717 0203 izzipopat.com [email protected] Page 2 THE AURORAN, Thursday, August 27, 2020 THE AURORAN, Thursday, August 27, 2020 Page 3 Contact tracing key for school re-opening, new institutional outbreak in Aurora: York and independent schools in York Region. conduct an in-depth investigation to identify battling 3 active cases of COVID-19. By Brock Weir These relationships are so important as we close contacts of a case. Contact tracing is an As of Tuesday, August 25, the Town has navigate this complex, evolving COVID-10 effective tool to slow and control the spread. seen a total of 143 confirmed cases of the As parents prepare to send their kids back environment. We remain committed to In the school setting, close contacts are more virus, 15 of which have proved fatal. A total to school next week, if that is the choice they working with schools and school boards and likely to be students and teachers in the same of 125 of these cases are now marked as made, York Region’s Public Health Unit is supporting children, parents and educational class or cohort, siblings of the case in different resolved. reiterating its support for plans to re-open workers in a safe return to York Region grades, or other school staff with close contact The Region is also reporting a new classrooms. classrooms.” to the case while the case was infectious. Close institutional outbreak in an Aurora seniors’ On Monday, Dr. Lana Fitzgerald-Husek, Public Health, added Dr. Fitzgerald- contacts outside of the school will also be residence – this time at Cobblestone Lodge York Region’s Associate Medical Officer of Husek, will continue to follow “the lead and followed up. Retirement at Yonge and Kennedy. In this Health, said the decision facing parents has guidance” of the Province and provide input.” “Public Health will directly get in touch case, there is one case of COVID-19 amongst been a “difficult one” and York Region Public Tackling communicable diseases in school with close contacts of a confirmed case to its caregiver complement of six and, at press Health “will continue to play an active role in settings over the years, including measles and advise on important public health measures time, no cases amongst its resident population helping to limit transmission in school settings whooping cough, have been “beneficial” such as testing, self isolation and symptom of 19. and…investigate all cases of COVID-19.” experiences in determining how to manage monitoring. There will also be communication Of the active cases in Aurora at large, 2 “We know it has been difficult making COVID-19 cases and contacts in schools, she with students, parents and the schools… Each are attributed to local transmission or close decisions about whether or not your child will said. situation may be unique and evaluated on a contact, while the remaining case is related to attend school in person or participate in online “We take case management and contact case by case basis and we will continue to follow an institutional outbreak outside of Aurora. learning,” she said. “We know the importance tracing very seriously. While we anticipate established communicable disease prevention Region wide, there have been a total of of school for children’s overall mental, social, that some cases of COVID-19 may occur and control practices and additional guidance 3,410 cases of COVID-19 since the start physical and emotional development. in school settings, we know we are well on COVID-19 in schools that is forthcoming of the pandemic. There are presently 119 “Public Health has longstanding prepared to promptly and effectively respond. from the Province.” active cases of the virus, with 3,038 cases now partnership with public, Catholic and If a student, for example, tests positive for As local schools prepare to welcome marked as recovered. There have been 253 French school boards and with private COVID-19, York Region Public Health will students once again, Aurora is currently deaths as a result of the pandemic. TOWN OF AURORA TOWN OF AURORA PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC PLANNING MEETING NOTICE OF PUBLIC PLANNING MEETING AURORA TOWN COUNCIL will hold a Statutory Public Meeting to receive input on AURORA TOWN COUNCIL will hold a Statutory Public Meeting to receive input on proposed Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment Applications: proposed Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment Applications: Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at 7:00 pm Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at 7:00 pm Aurora Town Hall, Council Chambers Aurora Town Hall, Council Chambers 100 John West Way, Aurora, Ontario 100 John West Way, Aurora, Ontario APPLICATION: Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments to facilitate the development of a seven (7) storey APPLICATION: The applicant has submitted Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment applications to residential apartment building with a total of 137 units, underground parking, private driveway and open space lands. The re-designate and rezone the southeast portion of the property to permit the development of a six (6) storey residential Official Plan Amendment proposes increases to height and density. The Zoning By-law Amendment proposes to change building containing 79 units, comprising a total gross floor area of 8,012.4 square metres.