SOYRA was founded in 1987 to provide a forum for artists to exchange ideas, and give them an opportunity to help reach their creative potential.  Through art shows, trips, study groups and guidance from professionals,  SOYRA allows artists to hone their craft and share their works with the public.

These artists are an amazing group with a wonderful array of vision and talent. Additionally, Sacred Heart Catholic High School had their graduating art class display upstairs. And, Aurora High had their display a couple of weeks ago.

Aurora is a community with a rich cultural heritage and a strong history of support for the arts. We are a community that actively promotes artistic endeavour, and the Aurora Cultural Centre is an ideal venue to showcase these vibrant works of art for everyone to enjoy.

So, congratulations to SOYRA for 25 years of fantastic work and beautiful creations.

The show is on until February 4th, so please take advantage of the opportunity to see some terrific art.

This was an opportunity for our residents (and others!) to safely dispose of those electronic devices that were no longer wanted or needed.

Computers, monitors, TVs, telephones, batteries, turntables, the occasional toaster and I think I saw an 8-track!

We need to wait for the final numbers, but there were over 300 cars that came in, and the estimate was about 18,000 pounds or 8,000 Kgs! That’s a lot of waste that is being handled properly! Not being thrown out.

We partnered with Artex Environmental ( http://artexenvironmental.com/ ) who have a proven track record of responsible disposable of electronic items.

And, a big thanks to our Public Works crew for helping out, along with Amanda Newman and Betty DeBartolo.

And, of course, thanks to our residents for “pitching in”.

The Municipal Act requires each municipality to enact tax deferral programs for low income seniors and low income disabled persons. For our two tiered structure, the Region of York manages the text of the policies for the lower tier, while the lower tiers administer the actual programs with the taxpayers.

The following link will jump you to the Town’s website section, and the actual application form for these programs.

http://www.e-aurora.ca/app/wa/mediaEntry?mediaEntryId=59353

You will see there are three distinct programs: 

• low income disabled persons (any tax increase eligible)
• low income seniors aged 55 to 64 (only tax increases in excess of $100.00 are eligible for deferral)
•  any senior aged 65 or older. (any tax increase eligible)

There are low income eligibility criteria for those seniors aged 55 to 64, and for disabled persons under 65, while all persons 65 or older are eligible regardless of income. Each program defers year over year total tax bill increases, or a portion of it, interest free until the property ownership is transferred. This concept is similar to a reverse mortgage, but is interest free. For those who qualify in the low income disabled program or the 65 and over program, it is possible to essentially fix your tax bill at the amount of taxes in the year of first enrollment, and pay the same amount each year thereafter, until the property is sold or transferred.

Should you be interested in this program, you can

• fill out the form and submit it,
• contact our tax office at  905-726-4747, or
• contact my office at 905-726-4741

Thanks to our Treasurer, Dan Elliot, for this information.

In addition, 7 of the local municipalities (Aurora, Bradford West Gwillimbury, East Gwillimbury, Georgina, King, Newmarket and Whitchurch Stouffville) sponsor a tree that you can bid on.

And, in shameless self-promotion, I am pleased to announce that as of November 30, the bids totaled $4,861, with Aurora leading the way at $1,000.00.  Way to go Aurora!

A big thank you for showing your spirit.

Considering that I had a moustache for almost 40 years, I can’t believe how happy I was to have it off as well.

But, it was for a very good cause and thanks to MoBro Paul, Councillor Pirri, for being our team captain. Our team, Aurora Town Stache, raised $3,425.00. Congratulations!

With Africa’s recent history of civil wars, there is, unfortunately, no lack of amputees. According to Linday Maggs, who is making a documentary on the league, the sport offers them “a sense of hope, camaraderie and purpose”.

Inspirational!

Also, I was told that it was the first time that Council had participated on one float. It was a great way to show some seasonal spirit. Thanks to Councillors Abel, Thompson, Buck and Pirri for joining me on the float – and to Councillors Humfryes and Gallo for joining us in spirit as they both had previous family commitments.

Best wishes to all and please remember those who are less fortunate than we are. There are a number of toy drives; the Salvation Army with their kettles; the Aurora Food Pantry. Thanks!

As York Region enters its 5th week of the transit strike, I am once again calling on both the YRT Service Providers (First Canada, Miller Transit, and Veolia Transport) and the Amaalgamated Transit Union (the ATU) to conduct meaningful negotiations.

It is simply not acceptable that 60 percent of our transit system is shut down. The number of people directly affected is 44,000 – the people who use transit on a daily basis. But what about the others who are affected? The businesses that are struggling and need to keep their workforce and customers coming in?

It is extremely frustrating to have to sit on the sidelines and not have any direct input on the strike. Yet this is our reality. The region made the decision many years ago to contract out transit service, and while this has been very effective in containing costs, it must be noted that the Region still subsidizes transit by over $110 Million per year – which represents more that 60% of the cost. Increases in these operating costs will be direclty reflected in taxes and/or fares.

We have had indications that one of the settlements asked for was a wage increase of 20% over three years, with 16% in the first year alone. This is also not acceptable. How many families in York Region experience this kind of wage increase? How many tranist riders?

The ATU has proposed arbitration. But, as the Association of Municipalities of Ontario have pointed out, an arbitration system that does not take into account the employer’s ability to pay is an arbitration system that does not work.

We need the Service Providers and the ATU to sit down together and speak – and commit to coming to a reasonable solution. All it takes is willpower.

If you agree, I encourage you to contact both the service providers and the union – after all, it takes two to tango!

I must admit to being a little nervous but Alison put me right at ease and I soon forgot I was on TV!

Alison normally tapes her show at her house, but she graciously offered to come over to the Town and we did the show in my office, which was appreciated.

I will be posting some extracts from the show after it airs, notably about the defamation law suite and the budget process.

It’s great that Alison is carrying on the tradition which was started by the late Dick Illingworth – a real service to Our Town!

This is the first line from a poem that is part of the new display at the Aurora Cultural Centre titled, “Faces of War”, by Lillian Michiko Blakey and Linda Finn. It is located on the main floor and upstairs is a display put on by “Lest We Forget: War & Remembrance”. The item that caught my eye here was a medal for participating in the “War for Civilization”.

Two very powerful events that cap off Remembrance week, and I encourage you to visit them and reflect.

Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.