News and Sports » Sports

Junior Tigers trade leading scorer Cayden Smith to Cobourg for Aurora’s Nic Ferrante

July 9, 2026   ·   0 Comments

It’s a cooling thought to contemplate the Tigers’ upcoming OJHL season on a stifling 44C Humidex day in Aurora.

The Junior A Club jumped back into the Town’s consciousness amid a heat wave and World Cup fever by engineering a significant early-summer trade.

The Tigers dealt last season’s leading scorer Cayden Smith to the Cobourg Cougars (formerly the Haliburton County Huskies) for Aurora resident Nic Ferrante.

Smith—the team’s on-ice and off-ice leader—tallied 20 goals and 32 assists in 49 games for the Tigers, including 8 PPG, 8 PPA, and 3 GWG.

His gritty, consistent play was a constant for the OJHL club that missed the playoffs in 2025-26.

Ferrante, who split 44 games between the Markham Royals (5) and the Huskies (39), notched 6 goals and 17 assists.

On paper, it would appear that the Huskies-turned-Cougars got the better of the deal, but Tigers’ owner Jim Thomson offered a rationale for the trade: “First and foremost, Cayden’s agent said if he didn’t stick in the OHL with the Erie Otters, Cayden was heading to the BCHL so I had to get something of value.”

“Cayden’s going to be a depth forward with Erie, but, if he returns to the OJHL, his preferred destination was with a contender like Haliburton—now Cobourg. It’s similar to the Howard brothers not coming back last year and that’s why we traded them to the Patriots for three really good young players. That’s the backdrop for this trade.”

The former NHLer extolled the qualities that Ferrante brings to the Junior Tigers.

“He’s a cultured veteran—an experienced 20-year-old and an asset to the organization. I think he’ll have a really good offensive season in his last year of Junior hockey and he’s a local boy—an Auroran—who’s coming home.”

Ferrante played his rep hockey with the AMHA Tigers for twelve seasons and also skated for the SAC Saints for two years at the AAA and PHL levels.

A key factor for Ferrante, according to Thomson, was the desire to complete his Junior hockey career in his hometown where “I get to finish where it all started” after playing in Markham and Haliburton last season.

The Huskies’ transfer to Cobourg from Haliburton earlier this Spring filled a void in “Ontario’s Feel Good Town” after the struggling last place Cougars pulled up stakes, rebranded as the Toronto Warriors, and  re-established the franchise at the Scotiabank Pond in Downsview for the 2026-27 OJHL season.

Ferrante will miss all the franchise transfer complications and growing pains in Cobourg and Toronto.  Instead, he’ll be back in Aurora leading a young Junior team in his hometown.  There’s nice circularity for Nic in this transaction and he’ll be on the ice on July 12 when the Tigers re-open summer camp at the ACC. 

By Jim Stewart

General News » News

Renoviction support pilot nixed by Council amid uncertainty on need

July 9, 2026   ·   0 Comments

A potential support pilot program to help protect renters against “renovictions” – evictions due to renovations – has been put on ice by Council amid questions on costs and the ultimate need for new legislation.

The potential pilot followed long-standing work from Ward 1 Councillor Ron Weese.

Approximately 12,000 Aurora residents are renters, he said, and while most residents are in rental buildings that are “relatively new,” some are in a more “vulnerable” position living in older buildings that might be up for renos.

These older units are often the most affordable, he said, and bringing back a program for Council’s consideration no later than the end of 2027, the development of which would be supported by a part-time contract staff member, was important.

“The purpose of the bylaw is to make sure that when an eviction occurs, and the eviction occurs because of an updating, that the tenants are protected,” said Councillor Weese. “We have to protect the affordable rental properties that we have now. This is simply a way to do it. I’m in favour of this…pilot project with a part-time administrative support that is funded out of the [tax rate stabilization reserve….] I know that staff is interested in managing employee time, but this is an important thing for those people who are on the cusp of eviction and may become homeless as have, in some cases, been identified through some of the delegations that come to Council.”

Moving in this direction was seconded by Ward 3 Councillor Wendy Gaertner who said the cost of the program would be worth the reward.

“I used to say that this was a Town with a heart, and I would like to prove that,” she said. “We have a lot of vulnerable renters…. However you look at it, [they] are at the mercy of their landlords and for these renters, some of whom have been renting for many years, this is their home and we need to protect them.

“I think this is a small sum of money compared to the care it hopefully will take of many vulnerable people in Aurora.”

While Ward 2 Councillor Rachel Gilliland said while she supported initiatives to help residents, she thought this move was “putting the cart before the horse.” More information was needed, she said, on both the need for a renoviction program, and the staff resources required to develop the pilot, before proceeding further.

“I believe that some of the Big City Mayors had looked at this… and, from my knowledge… they decided not to do it for various reasons,” she said. “One of the biggest was that it could actually deter landlords from actually doing any type of improvements to any of their properties and would deter them [from] even wanting to make any sort of investment and could actually encourage landlords to let properties become disheveled or unkempt and just no real investment at all.

“I think there’s a delicate balance that can be had here. I don’t know what that looks like, but I feel like we’re kind of swinging the pendulum from one side to the other in a fairly strong way without understanding what the balance is in the middle yet.”

The Councillor asked Bylaw Manager Alexander Wray for further details on how a pilot would unfold and the ultimate need for one within the community.

He said there have been five to seven N13 notices – legal documents giving notice to end tenancy – filed in Aurora over the last five years, or “1.2 renovictions” on an annual basis.

Ward 4 Councillor Michael Thompson agreed there were a number of questions still outstanding before Council could move forward, including what the program would actually achieve.

“There are some definitive things because of provincial legislation that really restrict our abilities, and I wouldn’t want residents to think, ‘Great, the municipality now has this pilot program and that’s going to help me out,’ only to find at the end of the day that, no, this program wasn’t geared to be able to do that because Provincial legislation takes precedence,” he said.

But Councillor Weese said while some Council members wanted this information up front, information gathering is part of any pilot project.

“The Province has been wrestling with this for two years now and they’ve not brought forth anything that would be helpful when people are being evicted for renovation purposes,” said Councillor Weese. “The issue is they are being evicted and it is eviction because the landlord wishes to improve their property, and they have a right to do that. What we’re talking about here in a renoviction bylaw is that a landlord must go through a step that says, and maybe [it] belongs in the Business and Building Code, that when they want to renovate, they have to prove that the renovation is not going to be evicting vulnerable people, and that when they come back they’re going to be offered the rent at a reasonable rate… because what happens is that these people are being evicted, they’re given maybe three or four months. That’s what the Landlord-Tenant Board talks about, or what is right in terms of the landlord offering them some compensation for leaving.

“What this is all about is to be a leader in this so that the 12,000 people that are here, and again, many of them are not vulnerable, but…some of them are. In a couple of cases, these are elderly people who’ve been living in an apartment for maybe 10 years, 15 years, they have very low rental rates. If they are asked to move, they’re out of a home. All I’m asking for is some interest in trying to help people who may be facing this in the future and be a leader, not a follower.

“I think it’s a time for us to do that in this community. We have very good landlords in this community, and many of the good ones are not even thinking in this way, but some of them maybe are thinking about changing, and they’re not worried, and they’re not so worried about the effect on the tenants. And that’s our job. I think we’re a legislative body here. We should be here trying to make bylaws that help our rental stock, our affordable rental stock, and the people who live in them.”

The amendment to implement the renoviction support pilot program was voted down 4 – 2 with Councillors Weese and Gaertner voting in favour, and Mayor Mrakas absent from the meeting. The staff report was received unanimously for information.

By Brock Weir
Editor
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

General News » News

Di Girolamo, Bonham set sites on Wards 2 and 3 this fall

July 9, 2026   ·   0 Comments

With three incumbent Councillors opting to not seek re-election in 2026, there will be plenty of new faces on the municipal campaign trail this fall – but two candidates who stepped up in the 2022 Municipal Election have done so again this year.

Aurora Sports Hall of Fame Inductee Marco Di Girolamo, who first stood for election for Ward 2 four years ago, has once again thrown his hat into the ring for the Ward – as has Alexandra Bonham, a first-time candidate in 2022, who is once again vying for Ward 3.

MARCO DI GIROLAMO – WARD 2 CANDIDATE

In his first campaign to become an Aurora Councillor, athlete, coach and business-owner Marco Di Girolamo won the support of approximately 500 voters.

As he weighed whether to run again, he says he felt he “owed” it to those who placed their trust in him in 2022 to “give it another shot and make good on the promises that I made to them at the doors – that I want to help make it a Town for everyone to live in, inclusive, and carry on with the priorities that were laid out in the last campaign” including the revitalization of Aurora’s historic downtown core and the protection of stable neighbourhoods.

An additional pillar of his campaign this time around will be an emphasis on community safety.

“Lots has happened in the last couple of years; people are feeling unsafe in their communities, and I think there’s a lot we can do at the municipal level to reassure people that we’re a very safe community,” he says. “Over the last campaign, there were a lot of questions [around] Town Square and now that Town Square has been open… it’s had some positive reviews, lots of concerts and events for people, there’s still a huge need for our downtown to get some work done on it and bring the people back downtown. Think of [Town Square] as an anchor tenant in a shopping centre. You’ve got the anchor tenant, now we’ve got to help bring in the rest of the tenants so that we can have a thriving downtown core.”

In his first municipal election, Di Girolamo faced off against incumbent Councillor Rachel Gilliland, who is not seeking re-election. While he doesn’t have a registered challenger for Ward 2 at press time, he says the election will come down to “who they feel is going to represent their priorities on Council going forward and move the agenda of Ward 2 residents.”

“I think people are going to have to make a decision on who they would like to represent them,” he says. “Rachel did a great job. She was very accessible, and whenever I called her she answered my phone call…. I’m hoping this Council will be more united in their opinions and their views. Last Council seemed to be a bit dysfunctional at times. We just keep moving the agenda of the Town forward, which is stable growth, making sure communities are safe, and making sure that the residents are well taken care of.”

ALEXANDRA BONHAM – WARD 3 CANDIDATE

Life-long Aurora resident Alexandra Bonham has strong roots in the community, and perhaps they’re strongest in Ward 3.

Bonham, who works in Fire Safety, is seeking to represent the Ward after standing for election in 2022 and having stayed engaged in municipal affairs and maintaining support in the community.

Looking ahead to this campaign, she says she would like to foster further engagement in Aurora’s southwest, and work with the Province to encourage changes to the Ontario Municipal Act to give residents a greater “ability to hold people accountable.”

“One thing that hasn’t changed at all in the four years [since the last election] is there’s not a lot of support in terms of activities,” she says of engaging the residents of Ward 3. “They don’t have a hockey rink, not really, they don’t have a community pool that’s close by, which makes it difficult for people that don’t necessarily have easy transport, have kids, and things like that.”

While engagement is key, so is community – and community is what Bonham says defines her.

She’s a member of the Aurora Community Band, has been an active volunteer with the Aurora Sports Hall of Fame, and that community-centredness powers her forward.

“Whether people are 14 years old or 80 years old, you have one thing in common and that’s either performing something beautiful, or creating or working towards something with an end goal. You can be completely different in terms of your age, your experiences, your lifestyle, but that is one thing that connects you, and that’s exciting,” says Bonham of her time on the Aurora Community Band. “It’s no different when you’re on Council. Everybody’s going to come from different experiences, different life choices, different age groups, different ethnicities, the whole nine yards. You’re all working towards one common goal. At the end, you all just want what’s best for Aurora.

“You’re not always going to agree with one another. You’re going to have differences, but everybody brings something different to the table that we can all learn from. I think that is what needs to be looked at – you need to be able to value everybody’s input and views around the table, whether it is around the Council table, whether it’s the residents you’re representing, or even represent the residents you’re not representing.”

At press time this week, three candidates were vying to represent Ward 3. In addition to Bonham, the candidate field includes Nikki Alber, who has received the endorsement of outgoing Ward 3 Councillor Wendy Gaertner, and Robert James Fraser, who ran to represent Ward 6 in the 2022 Municipal Election.

Residents have until August 21 at 2 p.m. to file their candidacy for the October 25 election.

By Brock Weir
Editor
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

General News » News

Kids let imaginations run wild at Cultural Centre summer camps

July 9, 2026   ·   0 Comments

Summer can present a world of wonder and the Aurora Cultural Centre is showing kids how these wonders can be transformed into art through a series of camp programs.

The Cultural Centre is in the midst of its Summer Camp season and this year’s programs offer a wide range of art forms for kids to explore and try out.

“We believe that children learn best by doing,” says Aitak Sorahitalab, Education Manager for the Aurora Cultural Centre. “We design the curriculum based on artistic experiences and they really explore the materials – testing their ideas and solving problems by making their own creative decisions. We don’t give children a template to copy, we introduce them to real processes and campers really have a chance to try a wide range of art forms, from storytelling and drawing to sculptures, printmaking and animation.”

This is the second week of the Aurora Cultural Centre’s Summer Camps and, through July 10, campers are looking at the world of fantasy, myths and legends in “Fantastical Artistic Imaginations.”

The theme for Week 3, which runs July 13 – 17, is The Enchanting Natural World.

“Campers will have a chance to explore found objects, for example, and explore how they can make art with the objects that are in nature,” says Sorahitalab. “One of the things we do is highlight famous or local artists who work with the theme of nature.

“Each week, we hire one of the artists that are related to our theme. For some of the weeks, animation, for example, we will go visit the Aurora Public Library and this is a collaborative project with the Library and we use their facility to create artwork in their studio.

“This year, all of our counsellors are professional artists, art educators, or even post-secondary art students, and we have expanded our team to include a dedicated behavioural management specialist, and her role is to support the camper’s social and emotional wellbeing. We wanted to make even more supportive environments for children.”

Themes for the remainder of summer include:

Art of the Digi-verse: “Get ready to journey into the Digi-verse! Inspired by video games, memes, and characters, campers will draw inspiration from online spaces to create projects around pop culture and digital creativity using traditional materials. Character drawing, collage, and elements of cartooning will be explored, learn about various mediums, and experiment with the vast expanses of the digital world. (July 20 – 24)

Prehistoric and Futuristic Art Adventures: “Rawr! Zap! Zap! This week, campers will dive into a world where the prehistoric era and visions of the future collide. They’ll explore sculpture, drawing and painting, while imagining themselves alongside dinosaurs and in high-tech futuristic worlds that have yet to be discovered.” (July 27 – 31)

Comics, Anime, and Cartooning: “Get ready to draw, draw, draw! Inspired by exciting and action-packed comics, anime, and movie magic, campers will immerse themselves in activities practicing storytelling, worldbuilding, and character building, experimenting through marker, ink, comic-paneling, painting, sculpture, craft, and other exciting traditional mediums!” (August 4 – 7)

Artmaking for the Senses: “Inspired by touch, smell, sight, movement, and auditory play, campers will utilize different senses to create artworks and nurture the art-making process and allow experimentation with new, fun, and engaging art mediums.” (August 10 – 14)

Famous Artists & Their Styles: “This week, unleash your inner Basquiat, Monkman, or Group of Seven! Inspired by International, Canadian, Indigenous, recognized, and culturally ground-breaking artists and their work. Delve into the styles and techniques used by some of the most famous artists in history, and learn about various mediums and experiment with recreating iconic artworks.” (August 17 – 21)

Neverending Summer Fun: “This final week of camp celebrates Summer 2026, giving campers the chance to reflect on the best parts of their summer. Through a variety of creative activities, they’ll celebrate the last few sunny days before heading back to school.” (August 24 – 26)

Long Live Summer ’26 (One Day Camp): “This final camp celebrates Summer 2026, giving campers the chance to reflect on the best parts of their summer. Through a variety of creative activities, they’ll celebrate the last few sunny days before heading back to school.” (August 27)

In addition to these camps for children and youth, education programs for adults in the community are also available, including an Intro to Watercolour course on July 18, Acrylic and Still Life Workshop on August 15, both for ages 16+, and World Rhythms: A Community Drum Experience for everyone five-and-up, on August 22.

“Led by professional artists, as the programs are throughout the year, they are one-day workshops to get people introduced to the practice and hopefully engage them for fall programming,” says Sorahitalab, noting the Drum Experience will take place in the Aurora Town Square’s outdoor piazza for up to 40 drummers.

For more information about these and other education programs on tap throughout the summer at the Aurora Cultural Centre, visit auroraculturalcentre.ca.

By Brock Weir
Editor
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

General News » News

Virtual Active Living Fair will give seniors valuable tips from comfort of home

July 9, 2026   ·   0 Comments

As temperatures rise and roofing and parking lot work continues at the Aurora Seniors’ Centre and Town Hall, the Centre is going virtual with tips on how seniors can stay active and engaged in the community.

The Centre will host a virtual Seniors Active Living Fair on Tuesday, July 28, over Zoom and telephone.

It’s a bonus version of their in-person Seniors’ Active Living Fair, traditionally held in September each year, designed to promote accessibility and break down barriers.

“Accessibility is one of the biggest things we really want to promote within the Centre, so if you’re at home, you don’t drive, we want no barriers to be a factor, and it’s the full day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.,” says Andrew Bailey, Adult/Older Adult Coordinator for the Town of Aurora.

The virtual Seniors’ Active Living Fair will feature several guest speakers, seminars, and activities, including talks on safeguarding yourself against frauds and scams, chair fitness, a session on maintaining and improving balance, cooking demonstrations, a live tour of Ripley’s Aquarium, and much more.

“This definitely brings the community together,” says Bailey, adding the Centre has seen ever-growing success with its virtual programs, a menu of offerings which were really honed during the global pandemic. “We have really strengthened our virtual programming. A lot of our programs are accessible via Zoom and we have hybrid models. We do offer outreach programs as well, whether it is our Without Walls program, which is done over the phone or Zoom, offered six days a week for free by the Town. We also have a Seniors’ Centre in the Mail program that goes out [to almost 500] monthly – a pack our team puts together with various Sudoku, crosswords, colouring pages, and information about the Centre. It’s a great way for members who don’t frequently come into the Centre, those who have moved away, for them to really see all that is going on and stay connected.

“The Centre is not just a hub for our members to come and enjoy. We really are just a crucial space for a lot of our members. We’re so fortunate to have a lot of support from our Council and Mayor as well as the Provincial Government and we’re really fortunate to just have a lot of great tools for us to deliver programs in-person and virtually to Aurora residents and the community.”

Additional support recently came to the Centre from the Provincial Government.

As The Auroran reported last week, the Centre has received a grant of $7,650 from the Ontario Seniors Community Grant Program, to create a multi-part program for older adults this fall called Living Your Best Life in Aurora.

“It’s a six-part series helping older adults in the community explore landmarks in the Town,” says Bailey. “We’re going to be doing seminars, lunch off-site, provide information sessions on healthy eating, mental health, and an introduction to public health as well to allow older adults to tap into that resource. We have a lot of members with mobility challenges as well and we wanted to make a program that was as accessible as possible for our members and the community.

“We also have a lot of folks who are hesitant in using public transit, and we’re trying to create that education piece to allow them to be more comfortable to use public transit and explore some options that are available in the community other than the Seniors’ Centre. This will be the first time we’re offering something like this.”

For more information about the Aurora Seniors’ Centre, its upcoming events, and membership, visit auroraseniors.ca or call 905-726-4767.

By Brock Weir
Editor
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

General News » News

Francophone seniors get Provincial boost as work to build community continues

July 9, 2026   ·   0 Comments

As work continues to build a community for Francophone seniors in Aurora’s southwest, Communaute du Trille Blanc (CTB) has received a financial boost to support its ongoing initiatives.

Newmarket-Aurora MPP Dawn Gallagher Murphy recently presented the organization with a grant of $57,640 for the Village Vitalité initiative, which helps to promote the independence and wellbeing of Francophone and Francophile seniors across York Region.

“Ontario’s Francophone and Francophile seniors deserve opportunities to remain active, engaged, and connected in their own language and community,” said MPP Gallagher Murphy. “I am proud to see our government investing in services that celebrate and support the vibrant Francophone community in Aurora and beyond.”

The contribution to Communaute du Trille Blanc is part of a $23 million Ontario-wide investment supporting nearly 420 Seniors Active Living Centres (SALCs) programs, including 97 new initiatives.

“Through a variety of activities, including educational workshops, social events, and support sessions, the organization creates a welcoming, engaging, and inclusive environment,” said the Province on CTB. “Programs are offered both in person and online and include pickleball, yoga, meditation, walking groups, card and board games, workshops on wills and powers of attorney, Canada Revenue Agency information sessions, restaurant outings, and annual holiday celebrations.”

Communaute du Trille Blanc is the driving force behind a planned Francophone seniors community on Bloomington Road, just west of Yonge Street, behind Cardinal Carter Catholic High School and the York Catholic Education Centre.

Announced last summer, it is intended to serve as a central hub for a multi-purpose community not only serving French-speaking seniors through programs, but a 160-bed long-term care residence and, eventually, multiple housing types, a community centre, and five acres of recreation space which will be developed by the Town of Aurora.

The land was deemed surplus by the Government of Ontario transferred to CTB through fundraising and an essential $10 million donation made to the project by philanthropists Steve and Carole Mirkopoulos.

“This site will be transformed into a new planned community anchored by a 160-bed, fully air-conditioned long-term care home operated [by the CTB],” said Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Minister of Long-Term Care, at the time of the announcement. “A new, modern 160-bed long-term care home, five acres of recreational land on the western parcel, which will increase the level of resident activity while, at the same time, help reduce social isolation, a French village, a campus of care that includes different types of housing, and a French-language hub – a continuum of health and community services for residents.”

By Brock Weir
Editor
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

News and Sports » Sports

Seven six-person lawn bowling teams from Richmond Hill and Aurora compete in friendly tournament at ALBC

July 9, 2026   ·   0 Comments

A bevy of bowlers competed in a regional tournament at the Aurora Lawn Bowling Club’s McMahon Park facility on Sunday, June 28.

The all-day competition between Richmond Hill and Aurora showcased the shot-making skills of dozens of bowlers on the spongy, golf green-quality turf impeccably maintained by Town of Aurora crews.

Gordon Weir, who rolled in a beauty against the jack just prior to our chat, described the most satisfactory aspects of organizing the regional competition: “The lunch! The turnout!”

“Richmond Hill stepped up and brought in so many good players. There were some very good bowlers out there.  We’re grateful to them and we’re rewarding the Richmond Hill club with a nice lunch in our clubhouse and we have some great prizes, too.”

The engaging convener provided a succinct overview of the tourney: “We have over 42 competitors here today, seven balanced teams of six players each and over fifty participants. It’s a good crowd on the greens. Everybody’s happy. It’s a perfect day. It’s a little shorter than a regular game – we’re running three six-point ends instead of three 10-point ends to speed play. We’ve mixed up the teams so the players get a chance to meet as many bowlers as possible. We ranked the players A, B, and C in terms of skills, and intermixed the levels so we have experienced players demonstrating the game to players new to the sport.”

Gordon Logan, who’s been a club member for seven years and serves on the ALBC Board of Directors, discussed the importance of intermixing the clubs for the tourney: “We always mix the teams. Meeting other people from the visiting clubs is the most important thing—but there’s some good competition, too. Every bowling club culture’s the same—everyone’s friendly and everybody enjoys each other’s company. There’s a good community feeling here and you don’t have to be that good to play in these tournaments. We love to see new people play and embrace the sport. Many club members have great skills, but bowling is like putting. Every day is different.”

By Jim Stewart

News and Sports » Sports

World Cup comes to a close for Canadian Men’s Team

July 9, 2026   ·   0 Comments

All those World Cup Team Canada Watch Parties have been so much fun.

However, there was no joy in Aurora on Saturday afternoon as Team Canada’s quest for a World Cup in men’s soccer ended in Houston not with a bang, but with a whimper.

A 3-0 loss to powerhouse Morocco in the Round of 16 marked Team Canada’s deepest progress in the FIFA event and the valiant squad’s performance over five games put men’s soccer on the map.

The Red and White finished the tourney 2-2-1—by far its best finish compared to prior forays into the World Cup in 1986 and 2022 when the national team produced records “unblemished by victory” – 0-3 and 0-3. 

With a young core and a nervy coach in tow for the next World Cup, there’s much to look forward to for even the most casual of soccer fans.

Perhaps the best local story that emerged from the communal experience was watching hundreds of soccer fans in Aurora take great pride in the performance of Alistair Johnston who figured prominently in Team Canada’s success on the pitch as the nomadic national squad meandered through its five matches in Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles, and Houston.

By Jim Stewart
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

General News » Headline News » News

Cleanup continues in Aurora’s northwest after brief violent storm

July 9, 2026   ·   0 Comments

Cleanup efforts continue in pockets of northwest Aurora after a powerful storm ripped through the community on Friday, uprooting trees, upending sidewalks, and causing significant damage to homes, vehicles, and parks.

Municipal workers were still working hard to clean up some stretches of trails and parks, but all municipal roads were quickly re-opened and cleaned of immediate hazards.

“Cleanup efforts are ongoing throughout the community,” said Mayor Tom Mrakas in an update on Tuesday afternoon. “While urgent safety concerns have been resolved, the full cleanup and restoration process, including removing damaged trees, stump removal, and replanting will take some time.

“The Lakeview/Willow Farm trail system remains closed while crews continue clean-up and addressing fallen trees and washouts. Residents are asked to respect all trail closure signage and avoid the area until it is safe to reopen. Within Town parks, playgrounds remain safe and open for use. There are some downed trees in parks and we ask residents to avoid those areas and allow space for crews to address those.”

At the start of the week, the Mayor said he thanked residents for their ongoing “patience and understanding” during the cleanup effort.

“As our cleanup efforts continue, please note that tree debris from private property is the responsibility of the homeowner, including debris that may have fallen onto your property from a neighbouring residence,” said Mayor Mrakas. “Town crews are focused on removing debris from Town-owned trees and municipal properties only.”

Friday’s storm came at the peak of a heatwave that gripped Southern Ontario last week, keeping many residents home during Canada Day celebrations and through the subsequent days.

The area was under an Environment Canada Severe Thunderstorm Watch.

One resident whose property was impacted by the sudden storm was Rob Gaby, who said he was at a local bank when he received a call from his wife to come home after the event uprooted an oak tree on their property estimated to have been more than 200 years old.

The tree, which stood approximately 80 feet high, fell on two neighbouring properties, leaving a 14-foot wide “crater” in its place.

“It was just absolutely astounding. The area in Aurora where I live was just a war zone,” he said, adding the neighbourhood lost about a third of its sugar maples, which neighbours come together each spring to tap in what has turned out to be an award-winning maple syrup collective.

“Major kudos to the Aurora Operations team – they were out there the same day,” says Gaby. “Willow Farm probably had 10 trees down on it, a very small area, and they were out there cleaning almost right away. They were there Saturday, Sunday, yesterday, and today (Tuesday), and I have never seen so many chippers. I can’t say enough good things about Operational Services. They have been tremendous.”

If you’re still working to clean up your own properties, the Town of Aurora reminds residents that branches can be collected in regular yard waste pickup.

Branches put out in collection must be no larger than 10 centimetres in diameter, and must be bundled and tied together with twine. Each bundle must weigh 22kg (50 lbs) or less, and must not be longer than 1.2 metres.

By press time this week, the Mayor said the Town was unable to provide information on insurance claims received at the Town level for damage caused by municipal trees and other infrastructure damaged in the weather event.

“When the Town receives a claim alleging damage involving municipal property, it follows a standard claims process. Residents are asked to submit the details of the incident, along with any supporting documentation for review. Each claim is assessed on a case-by-case basis. At this time, we do not have an update on individual claims.”

By Brock Weir
Editor
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

General News » Headline News » News

CMHA revamps Mental Health in Motion to help address urgent needs in community

July 9, 2026   ·   0 Comments

Demand for mental health support continues to grow in York Region and South Simcoe, and indeed across the country – and the local branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association is urging residents to lace up in support vital care services close to home.

After a year’s hiatus, the Canadian Mental Health Association of York Region & South Simcoe (CMHA-YRSS) is set to re-launch a re-vamped version of their popular fundraiser, Mental Health in Motion.

Set for Sunday, September 13, at Newmarket’s Tom Taylor Trail and AOK Park, the CMHA-YRSS has set a fundraising target of $100,000 while making it easier than ever before to take part.

“A recent poll conducted by Mental Health Research Canada found that youth and equity-deserving groups are more likely to use artificial intelligence tools for mental health support, underscoring ongoing gaps in access to care,” says Catherine Matzig, Senior Director of Philanthropy, at the CMHA-YRSS. “The need for community mental health supports that bridge those gaps is profound. That’s why we’re proud to reintroduce Mental Health in Motion to our community – with no registration fee. Every step the community takes, and every dollar fundraised, reinforces that we don’t want anybody left behind when they need the care the most.”

CMHA-YRSS meets youth, adults, families, and caregivers right where they are to provide immediate, compassionate, person-centred support. Funds raised will go towards CMHA programs that need it the most, such as the Mobile Youth Walk-In Clinic – MOBYSS.

“Mental Health in Motion is first and foremost a fundraiser and this year our goal is to raise $100,000 for mental health services in York Region and South Simcoe. By making registration free and the event accessible, we are hoping that what we’re doing is inviting more people to get involved, to fundraise, and to help us reach that goal,” says Matzig. “Everybody who participates represents an opportunity to make a difference in the conversation around mental health and about reducing the stigma that still, unfortunately, can surround mental health.

“We’re hoping that literally hundreds of people will join us, that when they register, they will create their own fundraising pages, that they will rally their friends, family, and co-workers to support them financially, but also hopefully come out and participate themselves.

“We’re hoping that this event raises funds so that our community can access mental health supports when they need it. We want to create connection. We also know that being outside, being together, creating community, and having conversations around mental health is incredibly important. We know that that all creates senses of wellbeing, of community, and we hope this walk gives people the opportunity to experience those benefits while supporting mental health in our community.”

While the event is, again, a fundraiser first, she adds it’s also about promoting “healthy habits,” of “encouraging people to take small steps that support their own wellbeing – and what easier way than walking?”

“Mental health doesn’t improve in isolation. It only improves when communities come together, when people come together, and that’s what Mental Health in Motion is all about,” says Matzig. “It may look a little different than it has in years past, but there is an amazing energy and synergy when literally hundreds of people walk together and send a message throughout our community that mental health matters.

“I really encourage people to participate if it’s their first time, and if they’ve done it a lot in the past, just come out and be part of that incredible energy. I hope people leave feeling connected – connected to their community, connected to their own well-being, and connected to the idea that support for mental health is available. If people walk away knowing that they’re not alone, and that we can all make mental health a priority, then I think we have achieved everything we set out to do.”

The CMHA-YRSS’ 2026 Mental Health in Motion 5K Walk will take place at Newmarket’s Tom Taylor Trail, AOK Park, on Sunday, September 13, starting at 10 a.m. The day will include a tour of the MOBYSS bus, guest speakers, light refreshments, and a Kids Zone. For more information, to register, or to sponsor a participant, visit cmhainmotion.ca.

By Brock Weir
Editor
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter