Community Recognition Awards

Tonight’s Town of Aurora Community Recognition Awards celebrated numerous outstanding citizens and groups, with the honour of 2024 Aurora Citizen of the Year being bestowed upon Mr. Vern Cunningham.

Vern Cunnigham, the 2024 Town of Auora Citizen of the Year, has shown a steadfast commitment to bettering his community through volunteerism. Mr. Cunnigham’s early volunteer work saw him support small business owners through his work as an Aurora Chamber of Commerce board member and serving an ambassador for the York Region Small Business Enterprise Centre. He is a member of the Optimist Club and has served as the president of the Probus Club, where he remains an active board member. He has also sat on the board of the Bereaved Families of York Region, and has been a member of the Hope House Hospice bereavement team. Most recently, in 2022, Vern joined the board of the Aurora Seniors Centre and began chairing the fundraising committee – in his first year as chair, he helped raise over $15,000.

The service award winners were:

20 years:

• the late Trevor McCleery

25 years:

• Mike Bender
• Irene Clement
• John Clement
• Silvana Croce
• Karen Fullbrook
• Toni Monaco
• Stanley Weisbeker

30 years:

• John Sargent
• Greg Way

35 years:

• Rob Gaby

40 years:

• Ross Haagsma
• Glenn Sharp

50 years:

• Terry Pressmar

In addition to the Citizen of the Year, the Community Recognition Award winners for the evening included:

• Dabria Peta-Dragos, Youth Volunteer Award
• Alex and Rin Van Hemert, Older Adult Volunteer Award
• Donna Lewis, Green Award
• Rosa Calabrese, Arts and Culture Award
• Community Living - Central York, Community Leadership Award
• David Nisbet, Good Neighbour Award
• COBS Bread, Good Business Award
• Community & Home Assistance to Seniors (CHATS), Inclusivity Award

   

20 Year Service Award

• John Aird
• Doug Kilpatrick
• Anna Kroeplin
• Frank Mete
• Sandy Townsend
• Janice Walsh

25 Year Service Award

• Joe Bentolila
• Roy Cohen
• Pat McMurray
• Helene Selemidis-Hill
• Brian Walsh

30 Year Service Award

• Tony Anderson
• Jack Laurion
• Margaret Thiffault

35 Year Service Award

• Shirley Binns

40 Year Service Award 

• Vic Priestly

Youth Volunteer Award

• Laila Doran

Older Adult Volunteer Award

• Brian and Dianne Harrison

Green Award

• Windfall Ecology Centre

Arts and Culture Award

• Sergey Wain-Fellowes

Community Leadership

• Aurora Lions Club

Good Neighbour Award

• Andrew Watt

Community Safety Award

• Central York Girls Hockey Association

Good Business Award

• Oakridge’s Fashion Inc.

Inclusivity Award

• David Heard

Citizen of the Year

• Wendy Browne

Awarded to individuals with 5, 10 or 15 years of continued service within an organization.  The Mayor or a Member of Council would be happy to present these awards at your organization’s Annual General Meeting. Also, individual members of the community with 20 or more (25, 30, 35, 40) years of continuous service to the Aurora Community are eligible for this award, which will be presented at the Ceremony.

Awarded to a youth up to the age of 19 (as of March 28, 2025) who, through their volunteer efforts, has made a significant contribution to the community and has demonstrated their commitment to being a positive leader today and in the future.

Please Note: 

• Nominee must be 19 years of age or younger and have volunteered on behalf of or within the Town of Aurora for at least two (2) years.
• Nominees must have volunteered above and beyond any Community Service requirement hours and must not have completed their volunteer work as part of their employment.

This award is presented to an older adult who, during or after 55 years of age, has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to volunteering in different fields such as community service, education, and/or humanitarian activities. The nominations are evaluated based on the number of organizations where the nominee volunteers, the different fields of service, how their volunteerism has engaged fellow older adults to also volunteer, and how many years they have been volunteering.

Honouring an individual, business, or community organization that supports the protection, preservation, sustainability, or conservation of our natural environment. This award celebrates those who share the Town of Aurora’s commitment to creating a greener community.

This award is presented to an individual or group that has enhanced our community through their support or promotion of arts and culture, including music, visual, performing, or literary arts.

This award is presented to an individual, business, or community organization that has significantly enhanced the Town of Aurora through their contribution, commitment, and leadership in the areas of charitable giving, civic engagement, community events, or community spirit.

This award is presented to someone who goes above and beyond to be a good neighbour in their neighbourhood. By recognizing those who inspire others, this award celebrates the simple acts of kindness and compassion that help to create connected and vibrant neighbourhoods.

Please Note:

• Nominees will not be considered for this award if their nomination involved monetary compensation or fulfilling duties of their employment.

This award is presented to a Town of Aurora business that has shown its commitment to assisting Aurora’s economic prosperity, corporate responsibility, and community involvement through its ongoing support of charitable causes, events, or programs.

This award is presented to an individual, group, or business which has contributed to making the Town of Aurora a more accessible and/or inclusive place to live, work, and play for all people regardless of race, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, or disability.

Presented to an individual or organization that is dedicated to the development, promotion, or support of initiatives that improve community safety. This award recognizes how safer communities only happen when individuals take action to make a difference.

Please note:

• This could be awarded to an employee which goes beyond the scope of their employment duties.

The Town of Aurora's Citizen of the Year Award is an annual award recognizing the exceptional contributions made by a local citizen to our community. The Citizen of the Year Award has been awarded by the Town of Aurora since 1970. 

This individual is selected by the Office of the Mayor in consultation with a small group of dedicated community volunteers. The award recipient has demonstrated all-round community involvement rather than a specific activity or contribution.  

Criteria: 

• Nominee must be a citizen of the Town of Aurora who is at least 16 years of age, excluding elected Members of Council or employees of the Town of Aurora.
• Nominations may be made by an individual citizen, a group of citizens, and/or a organization.
• Nomination form must be accompanied by at least one (1) letter of no more than two (2) pages, detailing the recent or ongoing activities or contributions of the nominee in the Town of Aurora. These activities should demonstrate all-round community involvement rather than a specific activity or contribution.
• Independent letters of support are encouraged.
• Special consideration may be given to nominees younger than 16 years of age, if the evaluation group deems such a nomination applicable and the nominee meets all other criteria.

The evaluation group will give priority to nominations that recognize a nominee’s recent or ongoing activities or contributions to the Town of Aurora. Special consideration may be given to posthumous nominations or to nominees whose activities or contributions occurred more than three (3) years ago, if the evaluation group deems such nominations applicable and the nominee meets all other criteria.