Our Story

From 1969 to 1976, York County Board of Education used the building, then known as Church Street School, as their headquarters.

In 1978, the Town undertook a feasibility study to determine use for this empty building. Guided by the study, the Town determined it should become a cultural and recreational centre.

In 1981, the Aurora Historical Society (AHS) opened the Aurora Museum on the second floor. For many years, they shared the space with other community-minded groups like the Friendship Circle, Boy Scouts, Big Brothers, and the Pottery Guild.

In 2000, repairs and upgrades became necessary, and were approved in 2002 with funding from the provincial SuperBuild grant and contributions from the Town.

In 2003, the AHS signed a 10-year lease to be the sole tenants of the Church Street School and create the Aurora Heritage Centre. A capital campaign was launched to meet the funding needs of the renovations.

In 2007, during renovations, an Arts & Cultural Advisory Committee was formed, and the Town commissioned a Strategic and Business Plan for an arts and cultural centre in the Church Street School.

In 2008, the report recommended the establishment of a separately incorporated entity and broadened the original mandate to include a wider set of arts and cultural programming.

The AHS collection was moved back into Church Street School in 2009, and the building officially opened in January 2010. The name was changed to the Aurora Cultural Centre.

In 2015, the Aurora Museum & Archives re-opened as a municipal museum, after the AHS transferred the Aurora Collection to the Town in 2013 for one dollar. The Town-run museum and separately incorporated Aurora Cultural Centre independently operated in the Church Street School building.

In 2016, Council provided direction regarding a concept plan for the Cultural Precinct that would involve the demolition of the former Library and former Senior’s Centre.

In 2017, Council directed staff to move forward with the detailed design of what was then called Library Square.

In 2019, the final design for Library Square was approved by Council.

In 2020, the construction of Library Square was awarded to Chandos Construction Ltd. In the fall, a ground-breaking ceremony marked start of construction.

In 2021, the Library Square project was renamed and rebranded as Aurora Town Square.

Today, construction is underway at The Square. Our highly anticipated opening is slated for the fall of 2024.