Editing Aurora, Ontario

{{Infobox settlement 
| name                            = Aurora
| official_name                   = Town of Aurora
| other_name                      = 
| settlement_type                 = [[List of towns in Ontario|Town]] ([[List of municipalities in Ontario#Lower-tier municipalities|lower-tier]])
| image_skyline                   = Wellington St in Aurora 2023.jpg
| image_caption                   = Wellington Street in Aurora, Ontario (2023)
| image_flag                      = 
| image_seal                      = Aurora ON seal.png
| image_shield                    = 
| image_blank_emblem              = Aurora ON logo.svg
| blank_emblem_type               = Logo
| nickname                        = 
| motto                           = "You're in Good Company" - Motto Found on Seal: (Latin): "Sol Meus Testis" (Eng. "The Sun is My Witness") 
| image_map                       = Aurora within York Region.svg
| mapsize                         = 250px
| map_caption                     = Location of Aurora within York Region
| pushpin_map                     = Canada Southern Ontario
| pushpin_mapsize                 = 200
| pushpin_map_caption             = Aurora in relation to southern Ontario
| coordinates                     = {{coord|43|59|51|N|79|28|12|W|region:CA-ON|notes=<ref>{{Cite web |title=Place names - Aurora |url=https://geonames.nrcan.gc.ca/search-place-names/unique?id=FDJFO |accessdate=14 December 2024 |website=Canadian Geographical Names Database |publisher=[[Natural Resources Canada]]}}</ref>|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type                = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name                = [[Canada]]
| subdivision_type1               = [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Province]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[Ontario]]
| subdivision_type2               = [[Regional municipality]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[Regional Municipality of York|York Region]]
| established_title               = Settled
| established_date                = 1854
| established_title2              = Incorporated
| established_date2               = 1888 (town)
| government_type                 = 
| leader_title                    = Mayor
| leader_name                     = Tom Mrakas
| leader_title1                   = Councilors
| leader_name1                    = {{Collapsible list
 | title = List
 | frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
 | title_style = 
 | list_style = text-align:left;display:none;
 | 1 = Harold Kim
 | 2 = Wendy Gaertner
 | 3 = Ron Weese
 | 4 = Michael Thompson
 | 5 = Rachel Gilliland
 | 6 = John Gallo}}
| area_total_km2                  = 50.00
| area_land_km2                   = 
| area_water_km2                  = 
| area_water_percent              = 
| area_urban_km2                  = 
| elevation_m                     = 304
| population_total                = 62057 ([[List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population|Ranked 92nd]])
| population_as_of                = 2021
| population_density_km2          = 1241.1
| population_footnotes            = <ref name="2021census"/>
| timezone                        = EST
| utc_offset                      = -5
| timezone_DST                    = EDT
| utc_offset_DST                  = -4
| postal_code_type                = Forward Sortation Area
| postal_code                     = [[List of L postal codes of Canada|L4G]]
| area_codes                      = [[Area codes 905, 289, and 365|905, 289, 365, and 742]]
| blank_name                      = [[Geographical Names Board of Canada|GNBC]] CGNDB Key
| blank_info                      = FDJFO<ref>
 {{cite web
 |url=http://gnss.nrcan.gc.ca/gnss-srt/api?cgndbKey=FDJFO&output=html 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505060842/http://gnss.nrcan.gc.ca/gnss-srt/api?cgndbKey=FDJFO&output=html 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-date=May 5, 2009 
 |title=Aurora 
 |work=Canadian Geographical Names Data Base 
 |publisher=Natural Resources Canada 
}}</ref>
| website                         = {{URL|http://www.aurora.ca/}}
| footnotes                       = 
}}
[[File:Aurora Town Hall- Aurora- Ontario-20200905.jpg|thumb|Aurora Town Hall]]
'''Aurora''' ([[2021 Canadian census|2021 population]]: 62,057<ref name="2021census">{{cite web|url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&DGUIDlist=2021A00053519046|title= Aurora, Town Ontario (Census Subdivision) |work=Census Profile, [[Canada 2021 Census]]|publisher=[[Statistics Canada]]|date=February 9, 2022|access-date=February 12, 2022}}</ref>) is a town in central [[Regional Municipality of York|York Region]] in the [[Greater Toronto Area]], within the [[Golden Horseshoe]] of [[Southern Ontario]], [[Canada]]. It is located north of the [[Richmond Hill, Ontario|City of Richmond Hill]] and is partially situated on the [[Oak Ridges Moraine]]. In the [[Canada 2021 Census]], the municipal population of Aurora was the [[List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population|92nd largest in Canada]], compared to 95th for the [[Canada 2016 Census|2016 Census]] and 97th for the [[Canada 2006 Census|2006 Census]]. Aurora is [[sister cities|twinned]] with [[Leksand, Sweden]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Council Meeting Minutes, Tuesday, December 10, 2013 |url=http://www.aurora.ca/townhall/documents/2013%20council%20and%20committee%20documents/2013%20council%20agenda%20and%20minutes/2013-12-10%20council%20minutes.pdf |publisher=Town of Aurora |access-date=16 December 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223115554/http://www.aurora.ca/townhall/documents/2013%20council%20and%20committee%20documents/2013%20council%20agenda%20and%20minutes/2013-12-10%20council%20minutes.pdf |archive-date=23 December 2015 }}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Town of Aurora, 1878.jpg|thumb|left|A map of Aurora from 1878. Scale is denoted in [[Chain (length)|chains]], a measure equivalent to 66 feet or 20.12 metres.]]
Lieutenant-Governor [[John Graves Simcoe]] gave the order for [[Yonge Street]] to be extended to [[Holland Landing]] in 1793, the first step toward the establishment of a community where Aurora now stands. Yonge Street opened between 1794 and 1796. In 1795, the first house in Aurora was built at Yonge Street and Catherine Avenue.<ref>{{cite book|last=Johnston|first=James|title=Aurora: Its Early Beginnings|year=1972|publisher=Aurora District Historical Society|page=17|url=http://www.ourroots.ca/e/page.aspx?id=965208}}</ref> The government began granting deeds to land in 1797. By 1801 there were fourteen homes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Historical Plaques of York County |url=http://www.waynecook.com/ayork.html |publisher=Wayne Cook |access-date=23 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325203540/http://www.waynecook.com/ayork.html |archive-date=25 March 2017 |pages=Plaque #19}}</ref>

=== Establishing a village ===
In 1804, Richard Machell became the first merchant at the crossroads of Yonge and Wellington and the hamlet soon became known as Machell's Corners. Charles Doan was another early businessman at Machell's Corners and became the first postmaster and later the first [[Reeve (Canada)|reeve]]. The post office was originally known as "Whitchurch".<ref name="McIntyre">{{Cite book|title=Aurora: A history in pictures|last=McIntyre|first=W. John|publisher=Boston Mills Press|date=1988|isbn=0-919783-81-3}}</ref>{{rp|10}} As postmaster, he was influential in renaming the village Aurora, after the [[Aurora (mythology)|goddess Aurora]] from [[Roman mythology]].<ref name="McIntyre" />{{rp|10}}{{efn|The source mistakenly refers to Aurora as being from Greek mythology. The Greek goddess of dawn is [[Eos]].}} Machell proposed to rename the town "Match-Ville", ostensibly for the match factory in the town, but the name Aurora was more popular and ultimately chosen as the town's name.<ref name="McIntyre" />{{rp|12}} Flour and grist mills were built around 1827. With the coming of the railway in 1853, Aurora emerged as an important centre north of [[Toronto]]. The Fleury plough works foundry opened in 1859, making agricultural implements.<ref>{{cite web |title=Historical Plaques of York County |url=http://www.waynecook.com/ayork.html |publisher=Wayne Cook |access-date=23 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325203540/http://www.waynecook.com/ayork.html |archive-date=25 March 2017 |pages=Plaque #20}}</ref>

The community was first known as Machell's Corners and had only 100 residents in 1851.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ttEOAAAAYAAJ&q=Newmarket%2C+ontario+war+of+1812&pg=RA1-PA181|page=185|title=History of Toronto and County of York, Ontario|publisher=C. Blackett Robinson|author=G. Mercer Adam, Charles Pelham Mulvany, Christopher Blackett Robinson|year=1885}}</ref>
The population of Aurora in 1863 was 700, and by 1869 it had grown to 1,200.<ref>{{cite book |last1=McEvoy |first1=Henry |title=The Province of Ontario Gazetteer and Directory |date=1869 |publisher=Robertson & Cook |location=Toronto, Ontario |pages=36 |isbn=9780665094125 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z6wOAAAAYAAJ&q=Gazetteer+Aurora+ontario&pg=PA36 |access-date=23 November 2018}}</ref>

=== Becoming a town ===
The settlement was incorporated as a village in 1863 with Charles Doan as the first reeve. Records from 1885 describe Aurora as the "largest village in the county" an "enterprising and stirring business community" with several factories and mills, five churches, a school house with 210 students, and two weekly newspapers. The population in 1881 was 1540.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ttEOAAAAYAAJ&q=Newmarket%2C+ontario+war+of+1812&pg=RA1-PA181|page=186|title=History of Toronto and County of York, Ontario|publisher=C. Blackett Robinson|author=G. Mercer Adam, Charles Pelham Mulvany, Christopher Blackett Robinson|year=1885}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/CA/344/Aurora+and+North+King/York+County+1878/Ontario/|title=Aurora and North King|website=historicmapworks.com|access-date=November 23, 2018}}</ref> The population reached 2,107 by 1888.

By the turn of the century, many industries moved out of Aurora and as a result, the town suffered a downturn and reverted to its agricultural roots. From then on the town experienced slow growth until the rise of suburbia after the end of the Second World War, when Aurora was rejuvenated and experienced a boom in development due to its proximity to Toronto.

Aurora was the childhood home of [[Lester B. Pearson]], Prime Minister of Canada from 1963 to 1968, when his father, Rev. Edwin Pearson, was the Methodist minister.<ref name="McIntyre" />{{rp|40}}

=== Recent developments ===
For most of the 20th century, development in Aurora centred primarily around its historic downtown core at Yonge and Wellington Streets, bounded on the east by Industrial Parkway. Starting in the early 21st century, the town has expanded eastward beyond Industrial Parkway to Highway 404. Since then, Aurora has grown considerably, with new developments stretching the built boundary of the town to be contiguous with Newmarket in the north and Highway 404 in the east. New developments have pulled the economic focal point within the town increasingly eastward towards Highway 404. Aurora's downtown has suffered economically over the years as a result of recent developments.

Aurora is noted for preserving its historical built form in the older parts of town and in 2008 was awarded The Prince of Wales Prize for Municipal Heritage Leadership.<ref>[http://www.aurora.ca/aurora/index.aspx?ArticleID=2951&lang=en-CA Town of Aurora] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108153400/http://www.aurora.ca/aurora/index.aspx?ArticleID=2951&lang=en-CA |date=January 8, 2011 }}</ref> In 2009, the town received the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Community Leadership in heritage conservation and promotion.<ref>[http://www.aurora.ca/app/wa/doc?docId=10413 Ontario Heritage Trust media release] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706164930/http://www.aurora.ca/app/wa/doc?docId=10413 |date=July 6, 2011 }}</ref> Northeast Old Aurora was designated in 2006 as a provincial [[Heritage Conservation District]].<ref>{{cite web |title=List of Heritage Conservation Districts |url=http://www.mtc.gov.on.ca/en/heritage/heritage_conserving_list.shtml |website=Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sport |publisher=Government of Ontario |access-date=3 August 2019}}</ref>

On April 8, 2010, the town reopened the historic and fully renovated Church Street School as the Aurora Cultural Centre.

==Geography==
[[File:Sheppard's Bush Conservation Area-Town of Aurora-Ontario (1).jpg|thumb|Sheppard's Bush Conservation Area]]
Aurora is situated just north of the [[Oak Ridges Moraine]] and borders [[Newmarket, Ontario|Newmarket]] in the north, [[Richmond Hill, Ontario|Richmond Hill]] in the south, [[King City, Ontario|King City]] in the west and [[Whitchurch–Stouffville]] in the east.

==Communities and neighbourhoods ==

===Cherry===
Cherry is a residential area found at the western end of Ridge Road located northwest of Bloomington Road and Yonge Street.

===Aurora Village===
The town main strip is located on Yonge Street at Wellington Street began as Machell's Corners and Whitchurch as post office name.

===Hills of St. Andrew===
A residential area around Bathurst Street and St. John Sideroad developed in the 1980s and alongside [[St. Andrew's College, Aurora|St. Andrew's College]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.neighbourhoodguide.com/york/aurora/st-andrews-on-the-hill/ | title=St. Andrews on the Hill }}</ref>

===Petchville===
A former community centred along Wellington Street and Leslie Street. Settled by Jonathan Petch<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ttEOAAAAYAAJ&dq=Petchville&pg=RA1-PA155|title = History of Toronto and County of York, Ontario: Containing an Outline of the History of the Dominion of Canada; a History of the City of Toronto and the County of York, with the Townships, Towns, General and Local Statistics; Biographical Sketches|last1 = Adam|first1 = Graeme Mercer|last2 = Mulvany|first2 = Charles Pelham|last3 = Robinson|first3 = Christopher Blackett|year = 1885}}</ref> in 1818 on clergy reserve and was not acquired by Petch as their farm until 1840. The growth was shifted to neighbouring Wesley Corner at the eastside of Petch's farm at Woodbine Avenue. The current community's southside remains less developed when compared to the north which is now a residential subdivision of Aurora North. The community hosts a retail complex (Smart Centre Aurora North), Stronach Aurora Recreational Complex and Magna Golf Course.

===White Rose===
White Rose is found near Lebovic Golf Club on Leslie Street north of Bloomington Road and was formerly located within what is now [[Whitchurch-Stouffville]]. The former community appeared around 1837 and centred on Samuel Wilton Jr. farm. The Wilton farm had a grist mill producing 999White Rose flour and for which the area was named after.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=8918 | title=Wilton Barn |website=HistoricPlaces.ca |publisher=Parks Canada|access-date=June 4, 2022}}</ref> The farm disappeared by the late 19th century due to poor conditions and remained agricultural.

[[File:Aurora Town aerial view Pano 2023.jpg|center|thumb|800px|{{center|Aerial view of Aurora in 2023}}]]

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|align=right
| footnote =<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3519046&Geo2=CD&Code2=3519&SearchText=aurora&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&TABID=1&type=0 |title=Census Profile, 2016 Census: Aurora |date=8 February 2017 |publisher=Statistics Canada |access-date=May 5, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2013/statcan/rh-hc/CS96-304-1994-eng.pdf |page=9 |publisher=Statistics Canada |title=1991 Census Highlights |access-date=December 13, 2021}}</ref>
|1863|700
|1871|1132
|1888|2107
|1901|1590
|[[Canada 1911 Census|1911]]|1901
|1921|2307
|1931|2587
|1941|2726
|1951|3358
|1961|8791
|1971|13614
|1981|16267
|1986|20905 
|1991|29454
|[[Canada 1996 Census|1996]]|34857
|[[Canada 2001 Census|2001]]|40167
|[[Canada 2006 Census|2006]]|47629
|[[Canada 2011 Census|2011]]|53203
|[[Canada 2016 Census|2016]]|55445
|[[Canada 2021 Census|2021]]|62057
}}

In the [[2021 Canadian census|2021 Census of Population]] conducted by [[Statistics Canada]], Aurora had a population of {{val|62057|fmt=commas}} living in {{val|21506|fmt=commas}} of its {{val|22253|fmt=commas}} total private dwellings, a change of {{percentage|{{#expr:62057-55445}}|55445|1}} from its 2016 population of {{val|55445|fmt=commas}}. With a land area of {{convert|50|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it had a population density of {{Pop density|62057|50|km2|sqmi|prec=1}} in 2021.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000203&geocode=A000235 | title=Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Ontario | publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] | date=February 9, 2022 | accessdate=March 30, 2022}}</ref>  The 2021 Census reported that average household income in Aurora was $161,800 in 2020, making it one of Canada's most affluent towns.<ref name="2021census"/>

As of the 2021 census,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2022-02-09 |title=Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Aurora, Town (T) [Census subdivision], Ontario |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref> [[English language|English]] was the mother tongue of 58.8% of Aurora residents. The next most common first languages were [[Chinese language|Chinese languages]] (13.4% including 8.1% [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]] and 5.0% [[Cantonese]]), [[Persian language|Persian]] (6.0%), [[Russian language|Russian]] (2.8%), [[Italian language|Italian]] (1.9%) and [[French language|French]] (1.0%). 3.3% listed both English and a non-official language as mother tongues, while 0.4% listed both English and French.

In 2021, 60.4% of Aurora's population was white/European, 38.9% were visible minorities, and 0.7% were [[Indigenous peoples in Canada|Indigenous]]. The largest visible minority groups were [[Chinese Canadians|Chinese]] (17.7%), [[West Asian Canadians|West Asian]] (7.1%), [[South Asian Canadians|South Asian]] (4.0%), [[Black Canadians|Black]] (1.9%), and [[Filipino Canadians|Filipino]] (1.6%).

The most common ethnic origins in Aurora were Chinese (16.7%), [[English people|English]] (16.0%), [[Irish people|Irish]] (12.9%), [[Scottish people|Scottish]] (12.3%), [[Italians|Italian]] (10.3%), [[Canadians|Canadian]] (8.9%), [[Germans|German]] (5.3%), [[Iranian peoples|Iranian]] (5.2%), [[French people|French]] n.o.s (4.3%), British Isles, n.o.s. (3.8%), [[Russians|Russian]] (3.1%), and [[Polish diaspora|Polish]] (3.0%).

50.7% of residents were [[Christians|Christian]], down from 67.6% in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2013-05-08 |title=2011 National Household Survey Profile - Census subdivision |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3519046&Data=Count&SearchText=aurora&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&A1=All&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1#archived |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref> 24.5% were [[Catholic Church|Catholic]], 12.0% were [[Protestantism|Protestant]], 7.3% were Christian n.o.s, 5.2% were [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Christian Orthodox]] and 1.8% belonged to other Christian denominations or Christian-related traditions. 37.3% were non-religious or secular, up from 25.2% in 2011. 11.9% believed in other religions, up from 7.2% in 2011. The largest non-Christian religions in Aurora were [[Islam]] (5.8%), [[Judaism]] (2.4%), [[Buddhism]] (1.3%), and [[Hinduism]] (1.3%).

==Government==
The Town of Aurora municipal government is composed of a mayor and six councillors. As of the 2022 election, the deputy mayor role rotates between councillors and may proxy for the mayor. The mayor is a member of [[York Regional Council]]. In the [[2022 York Region municipal elections|municipal elections]] of 2022, Tom Mrakas was re-elected mayor. Starting with the 2022 municipal election, the switched to a ward-based system with six wards, electing one mayor and six councillors (one per ward).

{|class="wikitable" style="float:right; width:400; font-size:90%; margin-left:1em;"
|+'''Aurora federal election results'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=res&dir=rep/off/44gedata&document=bypro&lang=e |title=Official Voting Results Raw Data (poll by poll results in Aurora)|date=7 April 2022 |publisher=Elections Canada |access-date=March 10, 2023}}</ref>
! colspan="2" scope="col" | Year
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[New Democratic Party|New Democratic]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Green Party of Canada|Green]]
|-
| rowspan="2" style="width: 0.25em; background-color: {{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal}}|
! [[2021 Canadian federal election|2021]]
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal|background}} | '''43%'''
| style="text-align:right; background:#EA6D6A;"| ''11,995''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative|background}} | 42%
| style="text-align:right; background:#6495ED;"| ''11,526''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|NDP|background}} | 9%
| style="text-align:right; background:#F4A460;"| ''2,598''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Green|background}} | 1%
| style="text-align:right; background:#99C955;"| ''243''
|-
! [[2019 Canadian federal election|2019]]
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal|background}} | '''43%'''
| style="text-align:right; background:#EA6D6A;"| ''12,865''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Conservative|background}} | 40%
| style="text-align:right; background:#6495ED;"| ''12,033''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|NDP|background}} | 9%
| style="text-align:right; background:#F4A460;"| ''2,613''
| {{Canadian party colour|CA|Green|background}} | 6%
| style="text-align:right; background:#99C955;"| ''1,845''
|-
|}

{|class="wikitable" style="float:right; width:400; font-size:90%; margin-left:1em;"
|+'''Aurora provincial election results'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.on.ca/en/resource-centre/elections-results.html |title=Official Voting Results by polling station (poll by poll results in Aurora)|publisher=Election Ontario |access-date=March 10, 2023}}</ref>
! colspan="2" scope="col" | Year
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|PC]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Ontario New Democratic Party|New Democratic]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]]
! colspan="2" scope="col" | [[Green Party of Ontario|Green]]
|-
| rowspan="2" style="width: 0.25em; background-color: {{Canadian party colour|ON|PC}}|
! [[2022 Ontario general election|2022]]
| {{Canadian party colour|ON|PC|background}} | '''48%'''
| style="text-align:right; background:#9999FF;"| ''9,751''
| {{Canadian party colour|ON|NDP|background}} | 10%
| style="text-align:right; background:#F4A460;"| ''2,055''
| {{Canadian party colour|ON|Liberal|background}} | 32%
| style="text-align:right; background:#EA6D6A;"|''6,542''
| {{Canadian party colour|ON|Green|background}} | 5%
| style="text-align:right; background:#99C955;"| ''1,086''
|-
! [[2018 Ontario general election|2018]]
| {{Canadian party colour|ON|PC|background}} | '''50%'''
| style="text-align:right; background:#9999FF;"| ''12,562''
| {{Canadian party colour|ON|NDP|background}} | 21%
| style="text-align:right; background:#F4A460;"| ''5,374''
| {{Canadian party colour|ON|Liberal|background}} | 23%
| style="text-align:right; background:#EA6D6A;"|''5,876''
| {{Canadian party colour|ON|Green|background}} | 4%
| style="text-align:right; background:#99C955;"| ''930''
|-
|}

The town is part of the federal riding of [[Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill (federal electoral district)|Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill]]. The riding is represented in the [[House of Commons of Canada]] by [[Costas Menegakis]], a member of the [[Conservative Party of Canada]], who was first elected in the [[2025 Canadian federal election|2025 federal election]]. Aurora is also part of the provincial riding of [[Newmarket—Aurora (federal electoral district)|Newmarket-Aurora]]. The [[Member of Provincial Parliament (Ontario)|member of Provincial Parliament]] is [[Dawn Gallagher Murphy]], who was elected in the [[2022 Ontario general election]]. Murphy belongs to the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario]].

===Emergency services===
Local police services are provided by the [[York Regional Police]], who are currently headquartered within the town and serve all of the municipalities of the region. Fire protection services are provided by Central York Fire Services, a shared arrangement with the town of Newmarket.

Public health services are managed by York Region. There is currently no hospital within Aurora's boundaries; the nearest is [[Southlake Regional Health Centre]] in Newmarket.

==Education==
[[File:Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School 2023.jpg|thumb|Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School ]]
[[File:Niagara College-Aurora Armoury 2023.jpg|thumb|Niagara College-Aurora Armoury]]
Aurora is served by schools from three publicly funded school boards: the [[York Region District School Board]] (the English Public Board), the [[York Catholic District School Board]] (the English Catholic Board), and ''[[Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir]]'' (the French-language Catholic Board). The ''[[Conseil scolaire Viamonde]]'' (the secular French-language board) also has Aurora in its territory.

Both publicly funded English boards maintain head offices in Aurora. The York Region District School Board is located at 60 Wellington Street West, just west of the historical downtown area, and the York Catholic District School Board is located at 320 Bloomington Road West. Both boards operate a number of elementary schools in Aurora. Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir operates one elementary school and one secondary school in Aurora.

The York Region District School Board operates ten public elementary schools within the Town of Aurora:
*Aurora Heights Public School.
*Aurora Grove Public School.
*Wellington Public School.
*Regency Acres Public School.
*Northern Lights Public School.
*Highview Public School.
*Hartman Public School.
*Devins Drive Public School.
*Rick Hansen Public School.
*Lester B. Pearson Public School.

The York Region District School Board operates two high schools in Aurora:
* [[Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School]]
* [[Aurora High School (Ontario)|Aurora High School]]

The York Catholic District School Board currently operates five public Catholic elementary schools within Aurora: 
*Our Lady of Grace Elementary School.
*St. Jerome Catholic Elementary School.
*Holy Spirit Elementary School.
*St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School.
*Light of Christ Catholic Elementary School.

The York Catholic District School Board operates two high schools in Aurora:
*[[Cardinal Carter Catholic High School]]
*[[St. Maximillian Kolbe Catholic High School]]

Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir operates one elementary school in the Town of Aurora:
*École élémentaire catholique Saint-Jean.

Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir operates one high school in Aurora:
*École secondaire catholique Renaissance (formerly ÉSC Cardinal-Carter).

[[St. Andrew's College (Aurora, Ontario)|St. Andrew's College]], a private, independent school for boys, also operates in Aurora. Two other private educational institutions, Aurora Preparatory Academy and Aurora Montessori School are found in Aurora.

Aurora residents have access to a wide range of other educational facilities including daycares and nurseries. The [[Aurora Public Library (Aurora, Ontario)|Aurora Public Library]] is a [[public library]] funded and operated by the town.

==Growth and urban planning==
A large area in the southeastern part of Aurora is designated as protected under Ontario Government's [[Greenbelt (Golden Horseshoe)|Greenbelt]] legislation which enforces limits on growth in designated Green Belt locations. The majority of future growth will be split between currently undeveloped portions Aurora along Leslie Street and St John's sideroad, along with intensification within existing built-up areas. The stretch of Yonge Street within Aurora has been designated as a "Regional Corridor" by York Region and will likely accommodate the majority of intensification, with upgrades to the Viva bus rapid transit system being anticipated.

The portion of the 2C Lands between Highway 404 and Leslie Street has been designated as a significant employment zone by the region and the town. Construction has commenced on the lands, which are anticipated to provide approximately 6,000 jobs at full build-out. The town's Official Plan includes for major office growth to occur in the area. Residential growth is restricted to the west side of Leslie Street, which has seen several new developments of detached homes, townhouses, and condominium apartments in the late 2010s.

The Regional Municipality of York has proposed the area surrounding Aurora GO Station to be designated as a Major Transit Station Area (MTSA). Under this designation, the area would undergo intensification and experience an increased density of jobs and residents.

As of 2020, the Town of Aurora is conducting a review and update of its Official Plan.<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 20, 2021|title=Town of Aurora Official Plan Review web page|url=https://www.aurora.ca/en/business-and-development/official-plan-review.aspx?_mid_=21906|access-date=February 1, 2021|website=Town of Aurora}}</ref>

===The Aurora Promenade===
As part of the town's 2010 Official Plan review, a sub-committee of Council developed a plan in 2010, called the Aurora Promenade, that sets out new and redevelopment for the coming years.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Aurora Promenade |url=https://www.aurora.ca/TownHall/Pages/Departments/Planning%20and%20Development%20Services/The-Aurora-Promenade.aspx |publisher=Town of Aurora |access-date=23 November 2018}}</ref> More than 30 public meetings, open-houses and workshops were held to create the plan. It is anticipated that 2,930 additional residents will live along the Yonge and Wellington Street corridors, close to new major transportation systems being implemented by [[Viva (bus rapid transit)|Viva]]. The study was expected to stimulate new and redevelopment along both corridors in the coming years and to reinvigorate the downtown core.

The plan may be subject to change pending the 2020 Official Plan Review.

===Aurora Town Square===
[[File:Aurora Town Square site 2023.jpg|thumb|Aurora Town Square during construction in 2023]]
In 2020, the Aurora Town Council approved and commenced the construction of Aurora Town Square (previously referred to under the working title of Library Square), a new [[Town Square]] to be located directly between the Aurora Public Library building and the Aurora Cultural Centre (previously the Church Street School). The project will include the construction of a new performing arts centre directly adjacent to the Aurora Cultural Centre and a covered pedestrian footbridge to connect the new performing arts building with the library building.

The Capital Project Budget for the Square is a total of $51.6 million and is being implemented as part of a long-term strategy to transform and revitalize Aurora's ailing downtown core.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aurora Town Square, the project includes |date=25 July 2022 |url=https://www.aurora.ca/en/town-services/aurora-town-square.aspx#Aurora-Town-Square-the-project-includes |publisher=Town of Aurora |access-date=November 8, 2022}}</ref>

==Library==
[[File:Aurora Public Library Interior 2023.JPG|thumb|Interior of Aurora Public Library in 2023]]
The Aurora Public Library is located in the northeast corner of the intersection of Yonge Street and Church Street. A library was first established in Aurora in 1855, and was moved to the current location in 2001. The library is open seven days a week, but closed on Sundays between May 17 and September 11, and between December 20 and January 2.

==Transportation==
[[File:GO Transit Aurora 001.JPG|thumb|right|Historic Aurora Train Station]]

===Roads===
Major roads running through Aurora include Bathurst Street at its western border, Yonge Street, Bayview Avenue, Leslie Street, Bloomington Road at the southern border with [[Richmond Hill, Ontario|The City of Richmond Hill]], Wellington Street, and St. Johns Sideroad located approximately {{Convert|100|m|ft}} south of the border with [[Newmarket, Ontario|The Town of Newmarket]]. Wellington Street is the town's major east-west road, with the Yonge-Wellington area having the busiest traffic volume in Aurora.

The town is serviced by Highway 404, located at its eastern border with the Town of [[Whitchurch-Stouffville]]. It is serviced by two interchanges at Bloomington Rd E. (shared with Richmond Hill) and Wellington Rd E. There is also a currently unfunded proposal for a future interchange to be built at St. John's Sideroad.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

===Public transit===
The Town of Aurora is serviced by [[York Region Transit]] (YRT), including several local routes as well as its [[Viva Blue]] Bus Rapid Transit service.<ref name=YRTMap>{{cite web |url=https://www.yrt.ca/en/schedules-and-maps/yrt-viva-system.aspx |title=YRT System Map |date=17 April 2018 |publisher=York Region Transit |access-date=17 April 2018 |archive-date=22 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051938/https://www.yrt.ca/en/schedules-and-maps/yrt-viva-system.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> There are also plans to link the Newmarket and Richmond Hill Yonge Street Rapidway segments through portions of Aurora, though funding has not yet been allocated for the proposal.

The [[Aurora GO Station]] is a stop on [[Barrie line|GO Transit's Barrie Line]]. Trains depart approximately every 15–30 minutes southbound towards Toronto during weekday morning peak periods, and northbound towards Barrie approximately every 30 minutes during the afternoon peak. On evenings, weekends, holidays, as well as during the weekday midday period, trains operate approximately every hour between Aurora and Toronto with GO Bus connections at Aurora to and from Barrie.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gotransit.com/static_files/gotransit/assets/pdf/TripPlanning/FullSchedules/05012019/Table65.pdf |title=Barrie GO Train and Bus Schedule |date=January 5, 2019 |publisher=GO Transit |access-date=July 27, 2019 |archive-date=February 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203143730/https://www.gotransit.com/static_files/gotransit/assets/pdf/TripPlanning/FullSchedules/05012019/Table65.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Under the [[GO Transit Regional Express Rail]] plan, by a target date of 2024 service will be increased to run every 15 minutes during peak, midday, evenings, and weekends between Aurora and Toronto using electric trains rather than the current diesel trains, and every along the full route between Barrie and Toronto every 30 minutes during peak and every 60 minutes off-peak.<ref name=RER>{{cite web |url=http://www.metrolinx.com/en/regionalplanning/rer/rer_barrie.aspx |title=Barrie Line RER |date=17 April 2018 |publisher=Metrolinx}}</ref> This will include upgrades to Aurora GO Station as well as a second track and a grade-separation project at Wellington Street.

==Media==
Local media include [[Metroland Media Group|Metroland]]-owned ''The Banner'' (formerly the ''Era Banner'') and ''The Auroran'' (a member of the Simcoe York Group of Newspapers) newspapers and Aurora programming provided by [[Rogers Cable]] (formerly Aurora Cable Internet).

===Radio===
[[Media in Toronto#Radio|Radio stations from Toronto]] are typically available, as in the nearby towns of [[Newmarket, Ontario|Newmarket]], south into [[Richmond Hill, Ontario|Richmond Hill]] and [[Bradford, Ontario|Bradford]].

==Theatre==
Aurora has a long history of theatre, with its own community theatre group, [[Theatre Aurora]]. Founded in 1958 as the Aurora Drama Workshop, the group joined with the Aurora Musical Society in 1973 to form Theatre Aurora. The next year the group moved into its current home at the Factory Theatre on Henderson Drive. The group has performed a wide variety of shows, and currently produces five shows each year, along with two youth shows.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theatreaurora.com/history-of-theatre-aurora |publisher=Theatre Aurora |title=History of Theatre Aurora|access-date=July 27, 2019}}</ref>

A new performing-arts facility is to be built as part of the "Library Square" project. It is not currently determined if Theatre Aurora will relocate to the new facility or not once it is complete.

==Economy==
The auto parts giant [[Magna International]], founded by [[Frank Stronach]], is based in Aurora.

[[TC Transcontinental]] has a printing plant for magazines in Aurora, formerly operated by [[Quebecor World]] and [[Quad/Graphics]].

==Architecture==
[[File:Hillary House and Koffler Museum of Medicine-Aurora-Ontario-11951-HPC8826-20220611.jpg|thumb|Hillary House and Koffler Museum of Medicine]]
The Aurora armoury is a recognized Federal Heritage building, listed in 1991 on the Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings.<ref>{{cite web |title=Armoury 89 Mosley Street, Aurora, Ontario, Canada |url=https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=7519 |website=Canada's Historic Places |publisher=Parks Canada |access-date=November 23, 2018}}</ref>

Aurora is also home to [[Hillary House and Koffler Museum of Medicine]]. Hillary House is recognized by the National Historic Sites and Monuments Board as one of Canada's best examples of Gothic Revival architecture.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hillary House National Historic Site, The Koffler Museum of Medicine|url=http://aurorahs.com/about-us/hillary-house-national-historic-site-the-koffler-museum-of-medicine/|publisher=Aurora Historical Society|access-date=December 16, 2015}}</ref>

==Sports==
[[Aurora FC (Canada)|Aurora FC]] is a semi-professional soccer team that plays in [[League1 Ontario]] in both the men's and women's divisions. It is also a youth soccer club.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yorkregion.com/community-story/6199585-soccer-s-league-1-ontario-adds-aurora-sides-to-2016-roster/|title=Soccer's League 1 Ontario adds Aurora sides to 2016 roster|date=December 18, 2015|author=John Cudmore|work=Aurora Banner}}</ref>

The [[Aurora Tigers]] is the town's ice hockey club, part of the [[Ontario Junior Hockey League]], with their home arena within the Aurora Community Centre.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aurora Tigers |url=http://auroratigers.pointstreaksites.com/ |publisher=OJHL Aurora Tigers |access-date=June 15, 2021}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[John W. Bowser]], project construction superintendent of the [[Empire State Building]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Francone|first=Patrick|title=A Little Bit of Aurora in Manhattan|url=http://mysendoff.com/2011/10/a-little-bit-of-manhattan-in-aurora-canada/|work=Mysendoff.com Website|publisher=mysendoff.com|access-date=17 October 2011|archive-date=19 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019174317/http://mysendoff.com/2011/10/a-little-bit-of-manhattan-in-aurora-canada/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Aurora Cemetery">{{cite web| url=http://www.auroracemeterycorporation.com/prominent.html|title=Notable Interments|publisher=Aurora Cemetery |access-date=November 23, 2018}}</ref><ref>[http://www.travellinghistorian.com/new.html The Travelling Historian: New York]</ref>
* [[Lloyd Chadburn]], [[World War II]] pilot, recipient of the [[Croix de guerre 1939–1945|French Croix De Guerre avec Palme]]
* [[Norm Dennis]], retired [[National Hockey League|NHL]] player
* [[Tie Domi]], retired NHL player
* [[Darren Dutchyshen]], sportscaster - TSN
* [[James Duthie (sportscaster)|James Duthie]], sportscaster<ref>{{Cite news|last=Weir|first=Brock|date=2020-07-02|title=Sportscaster joins forces with Museum to share story of Canada's Birthday Town|work=The Auroran|url=http://www.newspapers-online.com/auroran/sportscaster-joins-forces-with-museum-to-share-story-of-canadas-birthday-town/|access-date=2022-02-01}}</ref>
* [[Morgan Frost]], NHL player, drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers (2017)
* [[Barclay Goodrow]], NHL player
* [[Hap Holmes]], goaltender, won the Stanley Cup four times
* [[Mike Hough]], retired NHL player
* [[Alistair Johnston]], professional soccer player with [[Celtic F.C.]] and the Canadian national team<!-- moved to Aurora when he was 7 and played most of his youth soccer while here -->
* [[Kris King]], retired NHL player
* [[Mike Kitchen]], former Toronto Maple Leafs Assistant Coach and St Louis Blues Head Coach
* [[Frank Klees]], Retired Progressive Conservative MPP
* [[Derek Livingston]], Olympic snowboarder
* [[Gord MacFarlane]], minor-league hockey player
* [[Ryan Murphy (ice hockey, born 1993)|Ryan Murphy]], NHL player with [[Carolina Hurricanes]]<ref>{{cite web|author=John Cudmore|title=Aurora's Murphy back with OHL,Rangers|url=http://www.yorkregion.com/sports/article/1225887--aurora-s-murphy-back-with-ohl-rangers|date=14 October 2011|publisher=York Region.com|access-date=26 January 2013}}</ref>
* [[Andrew Nembhard]], basketball player<ref>{{cite news |last1= Smith |first1= Doug |title=Aurora teen Andrew Nembhard just might be ready to take on the basketball world |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/basketball/2019/08/09/aurora-teen-andrew-nembhard-just-might-be-ready-to-take-on-the-basketball-world.html |access-date=September 15, 2019 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |date=August 9, 2019}}</ref>
* [[Lester B. Pearson]], the Prime Minister of Canada from 1963 to 1968, lived in Aurora in his childhood<ref>{{cite web|title=39 Catherine Ave.|url=http://www.town.aurora.on.ca/aurora/index.aspx?ArticleID=476&lang=en-CA|work=Aurora Heritage Buildings|publisher=Town of Aurora|access-date=19 August 2012}}</ref>
* [[Mark Rowswell]], recipient of the [[Order of Canada]], is known as [[Dashan]] in China, where he is a TV personality.
* [[Brian Stemmle]], Champion Olympic Alpine skier
* [[Karl Stewart]], NHL player, [[Tampa Bay Lightning]]
* [[Belinda Stronach]], businesswoman and politician
* [[Frank Stronach]], [[Order of Canada|CM]], founder of [[Magna International]]
* [[Robert Thomas (ice hockey)|Robert Thomas]], NHL player, Stanley Cup winner (2019), [[St. Louis Blues]]
* [[James Tuck (Canadian football)|James Tuck]], Canadian football player
* [[Anne Elizabeth Wilson]] (1901-1946), writer, poet, editor

==Sister cities==
* {{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Leksand]], [[Dalarna County]], [[Dalarna]],  [[Sweden]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.yorkregion.com/whatson-story/7383790-aurora-to-welcome-visitors-from-twin-town-leksand-sweden/| title=Aurora to welcome visitors from twin town, Leksand, Sweden|date=June 21, 2017|author=Teresa Latchford|publisher=Metroland Media Group Ltd.|website=yorkregion.com|access-date=November 23, 2018}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[List of municipalities in Ontario]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|title=Aurora: Its early beginnings|last=Johnston|first=James|edition=2nd|publisher=Aurora and District Historical Society|year=1972}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Aurora, Ontario}}
*{{official|http://www.aurora.ca}}

{{Geographic location
| North  = [[Newmarket, Ontario|Newmarket]]
| West   = [[King, Ontario|King]]
| Center = Aurora
| East   = [[Whitchurch–Stouffville]]
| South  = [[Richmond Hill, Ontario|Richmond Hill]]}}
{{Aurora, Ontario}}
{{York Region}}
{{Greater Toronto Area}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Aurora, Ontario| ]]
[[Category:Lower-tier municipalities in Ontario]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1854]]
[[Category:Towns in Ontario]]
[[Category:1854 establishments in the British Empire]]