THE AURORAN, Thursday, May 22, 2014 Page 1 WINERACKS | WINE FRIDGES | CRYSTAL | COPPER COOKWARE | KNIVES | DECANTERS | CELLARS | PEPPERMILLS | WINE MAKING | BARRELS Y O N G E S T R E E T AURORA’S Windows W I N E R Y FIRST CHOICE Doors An Urban Winery & Gift Boutique Right Here In Aurora! C FOR A N Enclosures N OVER A 14834 Yonge St. • facing the LCBO • 905.841.5552 W D 17O YEARS! Open Tuesday - Saturday A T ’S Y more than you imagine... BIRTHDA 240 Industrial Parkway, Aurora 905.726.4349 150 CMCA Aurora’sAurora’s Community Community Newspaper Newspaper AUDITED Vol. 14 No. 29 905-727-3300 theauroran.com FREE Week of May 22, 2014 SPEND-HALF-A DAY Friday, June 6, 2014 Grades 2 to 8 Registration required. 905-895-1700 ext. 259 For information: [email protected] www.pickeringcollege.on.ca Students from local schools, along with Councillors Sandra Humfryes, Paul Pirri, and John Abel, recently put on their outdoor gear and picked up some shovels to help out in Neighbourhood Network’s recent tree planting day. Pictured Aurora King City in the camouflage jacket, seventh from the left in the front row is Sydney Cobbold, who was recognized this month by the York Region District School Board for their Celebrating Student Success Award. For more on Sydney’s achievement, 905.841.9090 905.833.0033 please see Page 20. Auroran photo by David Falconer www.lacebyrealestate.com Opposition to Heritage District remains, LACEBY REAL ESTATE, BROKERAGE despite boundary review School can beSchool easier. By Brock Weir Victoria Street in the west, into Aurora’s second HCD. Correctcan the Several residents have come forward at a series of meetings root of the A decision is set to be made this week on whether or not in recent months to express their support, or lack thereof, for an problem.be the controversial Heritage Conservation District proposed for HCD, including a lengthy Public Planning meeting last month Call 905-853-3363 If learning is a problem... we have a solution. easier. where the majority of over 40 delegates to Council spoke against TM Downtown Aurora’s southeast quadrant will head to phase two. Licensed and certified Davis facilitator learningability.org Going into this week’s discussion, a redrawn proposal will be the plan. before Councillors removing homes on either side of Wellington Although some Councillors said they wanted to pull the plug Street East, as well as portions of Victoria Street, from the on the proposed HCD right then and there, they ultimately voted Correct the root proposed Heritage Conservation District (HCD) to alleviate to hold off on making a decision on the district’s future until of the problem. some of the more prominent concerns over designation that this week so concerns brought forward could be addressed by have come forward from local property owners. Aurora’s planning staff. Call 905-853-3363 Ratepayers opposed to the plan as a whole, however, insist that Advocates, however, had an early kick at the can last week at redrawn boundaries will not change their overall opposition to Aurora’s Heritage Advisory Committee (HAC) where they voted learningability.org the HCD. to recommend to Council the removal of Wellington Street from Plans have been underway for over a year to turn the area the equation to pave the way for Phase 2. roughly bordered by Wellington Street in the North, Berczy “When we were talking about the Northeast Old Aurora We Are Proud to Introudce Our NEW LINE of Street to the east, Rotary Park at its most southerly point, and Continued on page 7 Celebrating 21 Years Gourmetin Business Hotel renovation underscores NDP, Greens choose their 2014 SPASBBQ GRILLS Receive a FREE Are Now “Total Package” local need: Chamber Newmarket-Aurora candidates with the purchase of selected models, By Brock Weir By Brock Weir on Sale!a $400 value. Please shop early for bestSee selection. in-store for Details. Visitors to Aurora’s Howard Johnson Hotel, which has recently As Week 2 of the 2014 Provincial Election came to a close last Complete your backyard experience at Backyard Pool & Spa! been operating under the name Aurora Inn, may have been surprised week, two more candidates were added to Newmarket-Aurora’s 75 Mary Street, Aurora 213-225 The Queensway South 905-713-2317 Unit 4, Keswick to find the hotel roped off for closure last week. ballot. Aurora resident Angus Duff filed his papers on Saturday 905-535-2317 Citing renovations, the hotel is closed for the foreseeable to carry the New Democrat banner for Newmarket-Aurora, while future and the move underscores Aurora’s need for viable Aurora native Andrew Roblin was selected to run as the Green www.backyardpoolandspa.ca accommodations, according to the Aurora Chamber of Commerce. Party candidate. “[There is especially a market] as it relates to some of our bigger Duff, a professor at Trent University, says he was inspired to employers,” says Judy Marshall, CEO of the Chamber. “They bring run for the NDP because he believes the “values” of the people of teams in all the time and there is a lack of accommodation for that.” Newmarket-Aurora were not being represented by the two leading AURORA The Chamber, she says, has worked to encourage hotel parties. developers to believe it would be worth their while to invest in A native of Aurora, Roblin now divides his time between his UNITED CHURCH Aurora. Although there have been a number of people who have hometown and Mississauga. expressed interest in doing so, nothing has ever come to fruition, she With a degree in environmental studies from York University, notes. he was inspired to get into politics having realised “everything Please Join Us... “I think there needs to be enough data to prove to people that the is deeply related to environmental issues, social justice, and the hotel would be used,” she says. “Let’s say the banquet facilities and economy and there is no way to escape it.” For Our Sunday Morning Service the entertainment facilities would be used. If you look at the number The Liberals, Progressive Conservatives, and NDP, he says, are at Trinity Anglican Church of events that are held in this Town…you would definitely think the tackling today’s issues with outmoded thinking and he wants to Every Sunday facility would be used on a regular basis. bring a fresh voice and perspective into the race. “I would love someone to come into the Town. That would be They join Liberal candidate Chris Ballard, PC candidate Jane at 11am until August 31 fantastic. I know the Town has been working on it and they have met Twinney, and Canadians’ Choice candidate Dorian Baxter on the (79 Victoria Street, Aurora) Continued on page 6 campaign trail. “...passion, relationship skills and commitment to follow up are Izzi outstanding...Izzi is best in class & a committed professional...” Popat Sales Representative Top 5% in Canada* 905-727-3154 [email protected] www.izzipopat.com Page 2 THE AURORAN, Thursday, May 22, 2014 COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS Tuesday, May 27 7 p.m. Council Wednesday, May 28 7 p.m. Public Planning* Tuesday, June 3 10:30 a.m. Joint Council Committee – Rescheduled to June 17 Tuesday, June 3 7 p.m. General Committee* Wednesday, June 4 7 p.m. Accessibility Advisory Committee Thursday, June 5 7 p.m. Environmental Advisory Committee Meetings are open to the public and held at Aurora Town Hall. Council meetings can be seen on Rogers TV, channel 10. For a full list of upcoming meetings, please visit www.aurora.ca/calendar *Meetings can be viewed online by visiting www.aurora.ca/gcstream Dinner and a Movie Notice of Town Hall Renovation Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian (Rated PG) Where: Aurora Public Library The Town of Aurora is pleased to announce that renovations When: Saturday, May 24 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. will commence on the first floor of Aurora Town Hall this month to create a new Customer Service unit, Access Aurora. Ages: 11 to 14 year-olds The payment office will be fully operational during the Price: Entry is $3 per person and pizza will be served. construction, but will be temporarily located outside Council For more information, please call 905-727-3123 ext. 3121. Chambers, adjacent to the main entrance on the first floor. Regular business hours remain in effect, Monday to Friday The next municipal election in The Town of Aurora will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, October 27. Nominations are now open and forms can be viewed and downloaded online at For more information, please contact Ivy Henriksen, Manager REMINDERS www.aurora.ca/vote2014 of Customer Service, at 905-727-3123 ext. 4392 or Residents are encouraged to educate themselves on the [email protected] Outdoor Water Use By-law election process and the candidates running for office. Stay tuned for the Access Aurora grand re-opening Have your voice heard on election day and vote! announcement once renovations are completed. We look The Town of Aurora enforces a municipal bylaw forward to better-serving our growing community related to outdoor water use. It is important that all This year, the Town will also ask residents to vote on the residents and businesses observe the regulations, as following two questions on the ballot: they have been put into place to ensure a continued and abundant water supply. Even/odd water 1. “Are you in favour of electing all Aurora councillors, other restrictions are in effect.