Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Photo https://livinginaurora.ca Living In Aurora Ontario Canada Mon, 13 Jan 2020 19:51:13 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.0.38 Sheppard’s Bush After Last Night Windy Snow Storm, Looked Good https://livinginaurora.ca/aurora/sheppards-bush-after-last-night-windy-snow-storm-looked-good/ https://livinginaurora.ca/aurora/sheppards-bush-after-last-night-windy-snow-storm-looked-good/#comments Wed, 20 Mar 2013 03:07:41 +0000 http://livinginaurora.ca/?p=10225 Snow melting away and it almost rained. And guess what – spring tomorrow.

Today I ventured out with Peter Cameron on photo walk around the Shappard’s Bush Conservation Area. It is interesting how little I always explored, always the same path or trail. This time I got 360 view of the Windfall Ecology Centre (former Sheppard’s House) and few other paths I never attempted to explore. All thanks to Peter.

IMG_4996_SheppardsBush IMG_5002_SheppardsBush IMG_5008_SheppardsBush IMG_5010_SheppardsBush IMG_5045_SheppardsBush IMG_4222_SheppardsBush
When we arrived the wood was burning again near the Windfall Ecology Centre and when there is no wind – these fumes are much stronger. They do bother me, but then anything related to smoke bothers me. However, the fumes are not that bad as I initially thought. So behind the shed Peter showed me the gasification boiler. I am not going to explain in my words, just copy what was written on the plaque. That way the message will not be lost in translation.

Wood Gasification Boiler

“The Sheppard House is heated by a wood gasification boiler. The waste wood burned in the gasification boiler heats water in underground insulated tubes that run inside the house to a heat exchanger that connects to hydronic radiator system. The heating method is carbon neutral because the carbon that is emitted is equivalent to that which the waste trees sequester and would emit through decomposition. This wood gasification boiler has an average efficiency of 85.74%.“

Sounds great, but here is something to think about – this process is accelerated process, therefore, generates more fumes in the shorter period of time, and burns more trees in the shorter period of time.

Wood Gasification Boiler, Windfall Ecology Centre


You can view other photos of the regular stuff that can be found at the Sheppard’s Bush, whatever mother nature provided that day for photo shoot and the sheds all around.

Cartridge Recycling, Sheppard’s Bush, Town of Aurora


I saw blue recycling bin, but never ever I have seen the yellow bin. We discovered that it was for recycling ink cartridges. Well, I never anticipated to find that in the Sheppard’s Bush as well.

Today was also grand opening of the Target store in Aurora. I wasn’t going to miss it and miss the photo opportunity, however, only outside, and not inside the store.]]> https://livinginaurora.ca/aurora/sheppards-bush-after-last-night-windy-snow-storm-looked-good/feed/ 1 Society of York Region Artists Showcase 2013 at the Aurora Cultural Centre, A Teaser https://livinginaurora.ca/aurora/society-of-york-region-artists-showcase-2013-at-the-aurora-cultural-centre-a-teaser/ https://livinginaurora.ca/aurora/society-of-york-region-artists-showcase-2013-at-the-aurora-cultural-centre-a-teaser/#comments Mon, 28 Jan 2013 03:08:50 +0000 http://livinginaurora.ca/?p=9816 SOYRA Showcase on January 21st, 2013 at the Aurora Cultural Centre. I never been a very big fan of galleries, but I changed. I actually enjoy being there, but with my Canon camera friend on my side.

Yes, this is a teaser post, because there is lot more I have to show. Plus it will be in color. I always try, but the harder I try I am having technical difficulties ‘squeezing’ all the images into one post. I like to group them by theme or mood. So today my first theme is black and white and people photography.

Society of York Region Artists Showcase 2013, Aurora Cultural Centre


I used to take photos in color and then convert them into black and white, but this is not the case anymore. I take them in black and white setting when I need to. The results are stunning and I can be little more free with my camera, that is not worrying about the blur on the photos.

Society of York Region Artists Showcase 2013, Aurora Cultural Centre


The beauty about photography is that you are never done, just like with Internet, it is impossible to finish. The opportunities are endless.

Why is black and white so intriguing? I don’t know yet. I just started to experiment with it recently.

Jennifer Blacquiere, Society of York Region Artists Showcase 2013, Aurora Cultural Centre


I think next time I go to photograph the show, I will wear a T-shirt saying ‘don’t be sorry, don’t be worry, I like people passing in front of my camera‘. It is true, I don’t care if you cut me off. It makes my photography a lot more interesting.

Society of York Region Artists Showcase 2013, Aurora Cultural Centre


They were calling for overcast. Lucky me got lots of sun that illuminated the Aurora Cultural Centre rooms and hallways. Well, for some scenarios it wasn’t good because of the back-light, other times it created interesting shadows and effects.

Society of York Region Artists Showcase 2013, Aurora Cultural Centre


The show is still on until February 2nd, 2013 if you have not visited yet, and guarantee that you will enjoy it. I did and I did for another reason. I got to see few artists who I met at the show last year and during the year, got to know couple more.

Society of York Region Artists Showcase 2013, Aurora Cultural Centre


I think I have been convinced. May be I bring one or two pieces for the show next year and guess what the theme will be Living in Aurora.

Society of York Region Artists Showcase 2013, Aurora Cultural Centre


Society of York Region Artists Showcase 2013, Aurora Cultural Centre


Hopefully you enjoyed my black and white teaser post and the photo below is my favorite. Nancy Newman on the right.

Society of York Region Artists Showcase 2013, Aurora Cultural Centre

]]> https://livinginaurora.ca/aurora/society-of-york-region-artists-showcase-2013-at-the-aurora-cultural-centre-a-teaser/feed/ 6 Winter Wonderland At The Aurora Community Arboretum, A Guest Photo https://livinginaurora.ca/aurora/winter-wonderland-at-the-aurora-community-arboretum-a-guest-photo/ https://livinginaurora.ca/aurora/winter-wonderland-at-the-aurora-community-arboretum-a-guest-photo/#comments Mon, 31 Dec 2012 22:12:19 +0000 http://livinginaurora.ca/?p=9701 Aurora Community Arboretum. A photo taken by Tom Yates. I don’t think I ever posted guest photo on this blog but sometimes I have to break the rules and may be stop being little ‘selfish‘.

Aurora Community Arboretum, Winter Photo 2012, Photography by Tom Yates, Portcullis


Few days ago (December 27th, 2012) I was cleaning Matthew’s bedroom and as always was thinking about something. Suddenly a thought came (Matthew would say an idea flew into my head). I left everything undone and sat in front of my computer at the office – just like that. The thought was to go and check out Evelyn Buck’s blog.

So I did and while I am reading her latest post that day titled The Good The Bad and The Ugly I came across section that read ‘Anna, if you are reading this post, maybe you could make contact with June and ask if you can share this and other beautiful photographs regularly presented in the Arboretum News.‘

After getting nice jolt of goose bumps on back of my spine I wrote Evelyn and Tom.

To make this long story short, Cllr Evelyn Buck tried to share beautiful greeting card she received from the Aurora Arboretum on her blog and wasn’t able to do so. So she called for help – ‘I have tried and tried to reproduce a Christmas Greeting received from Aurora Arboretum. The photo is spectacularly beautiful.‘

And she is right the photo is spectacularly beautiful and I am honoured to be able to showcase it on my blog. I never been to the Arboretum in the winter time and now I got an itch. I often forget how open fields and trails in the winter away from the major roads can still be covered with a prefect snow blanket creating winter wonderland scenes.

This time this scene was photographed by Tom Yates a member of the Aurora Community Arboretum. I also encourage you to visit Arboretum web site for more photographs (2012) of this scenic place. And while you are there, don’t leave. I was very intrigue by the information on that site – especially all the gardening and tree planting activities. I always wondered where all the trees came from whenever I took a long break from visiting; and I am not talking a small trees either.

Happy New Year 2013 Again!]]> https://livinginaurora.ca/aurora/winter-wonderland-at-the-aurora-community-arboretum-a-guest-photo/feed/ 0 Winter-y Evening Drive Near John West Way, Construction Site & Year 2012 In Review https://livinginaurora.ca/aurora/winter-y-evening-drive-near-john-west-way-construction-site-year-2012-in-review/ https://livinginaurora.ca/aurora/winter-y-evening-drive-near-john-west-way-construction-site-year-2012-in-review/#comments Sat, 29 Dec 2012 03:47:01 +0000 http://livinginaurora.ca/?p=9663 Note, I am still practicing. No tripod just using very high ISO.

The Ridgewood, John West Way, Town of Aurora


Few years ago I was following a fellow photographer from US and he took these amazing photos of the construction sites. I was hoping one day that I will have an opportunity to do so.

Well I have two here in the Town of Aurora and one of them is the condominium construction site (The Ridgewood) on the John West Way right across the Hollandview Trail Retirement Community.

The Ridgewood, John West Way, Town of Aurora


I went for a drive today and my first stop was behind the movie theater Cineplex. At this moment it is probably the biggest construction site in the Town of Aurora. I have been following progress mostly during the summer, and now from this view point you can hardly see the Hollandview Trail place.

It felt like it was moving slow at first, but once they started to stack up the floors and walls I was able to see changes at the construction site at much faster rate.

The Ridgewood, John West Way, Town of Aurora


The Ridgewood, John West Way, Town of Aurora


This area on the John West Way, near the Aurora Town Hall, is definitely a high density area. I wonder how the traffic is going to be. It wasn’t so bad when I drove by around six o’clock. I actually was surprised to see two buses in the span of five minutes.

Hollandview Retirement Community, John West Way, Town of Aurora


Other High Density Buildings on John West Way, Town of Aurora


On the end of my journey tonight I dropped by the Town Hall and snap some pictures of the Christmas tree. I may be wrong but the tree seems much bigger this year, and it seems dressed more with lights. Well when I get some time I will check if I got some older photos to compare.

This brings interesting point, the landscapes don’t just change because buildings rise or fall, but in addition because trees grow and tress fall down and sometimes not by themselves.

Christmas Tree 2013, Town Hall, Town of Aurora, Ontario


Well this may be my last post for the year 2012, so let me summarize few things. I just checked statistics for this site and this site had about 17,300 visits and 35,800 page views in the year 2012. I think that this is not that bad for a local blog. About eighty percent of my visits are from Aurora and surroundings (York Region).

I published 110 posts, slightly less than last year, but this was because I launched community FOCUS (LivingInAurora.COM) site and spent some time writing some content there. I don’t know how many images were published on this blog in 2012 but all I can tell you that this blog has a library of over 1,400 images of the Town of Aurora or photos that were taken on the grounds of Aurora.

My list of subscribers is constantly growing and if they don’t subscribe to my mailing list I know I am being followed using RSS feeds. I do have a twitter account and interesting spread of followers. My site is mainly found via search engines because someone is looking for something specific. It is nice that some actually drop me emails and write me interesting things they know about Aurora.

This year I have engaged more in photographing changes happening in Aurora, and I will do that more in the following year. I have extensive library of photos of the former Wells Street Public School and there will be more as the main construction didn’t start yet. I also have extensive library of photos of the Petch Log House reconstruction which I have been photo shooting since October 2012.

To conclude this post, let me list few of many interesting keywords through which people found this photo journal blog: trees that cry, who lives on my road, aurora issues, environmental issues in aurora, is there water good for drinking in aurora ontario, aurora mystery solved, aurora ontario horror and brave naked. However, the most used keyword and variations were for wells street public school.

“Whether we want them or not, the New Year will bring new challenges; whether we seize them or not, the New Year will bring new opportunities.” a quote by Michael Josephson.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013.

GO Station, Wellington Street, Town of Aurora



]]> https://livinginaurora.ca/aurora/winter-y-evening-drive-near-john-west-way-construction-site-year-2012-in-review/feed/ 2 Suddenly Awaken To Retire Sunday Break, Coraline Sighed, The Book By Neil Gaiman https://livinginaurora.ca/photo/suddenly-awaken-to-retire-sunday-break-coraline-sighed-the-book-by-neil-gaiman/ https://livinginaurora.ca/photo/suddenly-awaken-to-retire-sunday-break-coraline-sighed-the-book-by-neil-gaiman/#comments Mon, 13 Aug 2012 03:46:07 +0000 http://livinginaurora.ca/?p=8294 Sunday Break posts. It was okay, a photo with the accompanied quote. It was kind of ironic post. It supposed to be a break but I found myself looking for the right photo and then spent good chunk of time searching for a quote to relate. Result – missed Sunday posts.

Nokiidaa Trail Link of St. John’s Sideroad, Boardwalk


Well, enough of that. I am going to start something new and more meaningful to the society – SUDDENLY AWAKEN series. You know, stuff like being in the moment or getting inspired. I don’t know if I have reached some kind of level to inspire other people, but I do get inspired every day, by my family, by connecting with people, reading books, taking photos, watching videos and even just being out there somewhere.

The other day I picked up another batch of books to read at the Aurora Public Library. My card was expiring. A year passed by since I got my library card. Oh I needed badly to give myself pat on my back for the accomplishment, that is for a full year of regular visits to the library, but then I could only reach my shoulder.

Looking out the window in the passenger seat, today I was suddenly awaken by the idea of posting something meaningful, that is I want to remember all the books I read this past year and many more years to come. I want to remember my conversations with others. I want to remember Matthew’s great ideas.

Last month randomly I picked up a book at the library, Coraline by Neil Gaiman. For sure a fantasy. Not sure if I liked it at first and not sure if I enjoyed the dark mood of this book, but I was drawn. I kept reading and reading probably because I was curious what will happen next. On the end it didn’t matter, what mattered was this passage in the book.

Coraline sighed. “You really don’t understand, do you? she said. “I don’t want whatever I want. No body does. Not really. What kind of fun would it be if I just got everything I ever wanted? Just like that, and it didn’t mean anything. What then?”, Neil Gaiman, Coraline, page 120.

Yes, what then? Something to think about.

The beauty of today’s world is that the world wide web gave us excellent opportunities to share our thoughts. The digital photography gave us hands on opportunity to capture the moment. And the new kid on the block, LivingInAurora.COM community FOCUS is giving everyone great opportunity to share everything about Aurora.

I suggest to read Matt Maddocks’ (Point of Privilege Column, community FOCUS) latest published post and his intriguing thoughts on the politics of culture, The Politics of Culture, Two Weeks on Two Wheels. He will be driving outside the Town of Aurora zone in search for answers and I am sure he will have lot of interesting insights to share once he is back.]]> https://livinginaurora.ca/photo/suddenly-awaken-to-retire-sunday-break-coraline-sighed-the-book-by-neil-gaiman/feed/ 4 Sunday Break, Something Aurora Shares With The Whole World https://livinginaurora.ca/aurora/sunday-break-something-aurora-shares-with-the-whole-world/ https://livinginaurora.ca/aurora/sunday-break-something-aurora-shares-with-the-whole-world/#comments Sun, 06 May 2012 04:01:05 +0000 http://livinginaurora.ca/?p=6812

Supermoon 2012 Over Aurora, Ontario

‘Why do I like the Moon so much?’ ~ Me
]]> https://livinginaurora.ca/aurora/sunday-break-something-aurora-shares-with-the-whole-world/feed/ 2 Wells Street Public School Blackboard Graffiti Left Behind https://livinginaurora.ca/aurora/wells-street-public-school-blackboard-graffiti-left-behind/ https://livinginaurora.ca/aurora/wells-street-public-school-blackboard-graffiti-left-behind/#comments Wed, 11 Apr 2012 02:44:52 +0000 http://livinginaurora.ca/?p=6435

Blackboard, Welcome To Well St. P.S.


Blackboards, still standing, will be history in the near future at the former Wells Street Public School, now own by the Wells Street Schoolhouse Lofts Inc.

When the school closed for good and students did not return for the 2008 school year, a bit of blackboard history from previous school year was left behind – the blackboard graffiti, that is notes and scribbles probably left by teachers and students.

Antique Chalk Holder, Well Street Public School


When I photographed inside the school anything that was physically attached to the school walls – blackboards, cork boards, lockers and shelving was in its original place.

What was also in its place collecting dust and probably never to be used, was this unique antique five finger chalk holder attached to one of the blackboards in the newer section of the school built in 1952. I searched the Internet to see if there are any out there in other schools. No luck.

Perhaps this one was made especially for this school? Or no body bothered to photograph one yet?

Our Giving Tree, Wells Street Public School


Scribbles, scribbles and more scribbles.

I remember those elementary school days when on the last they of school we left some scribbles on the classroom blackboard and when we came back from summer vacations, our teacher made us erase all.

Sometimes there were teacher’s classroom notes left as well. And some teachers in their designated classrooms kept one blackboard almost permanent – things like the periodic table in my chemistry class, and in the case of Wells Street Public School, Our Giving Tree.

Goals, Wells Street Public School


As time passed, the slate (type of stone the board was made of) blackboards started to become obsolete. Any new classroom would get the green board. For many it was hard to change and everyone continued to call it a blackboard. At some point it was generalized and called a chalkboard.

Green Board, Wells Street Public School


Some speculate that it was price that drove the change in the chalkboard industry, but it was the research in early sixties that suggested that the green background board was easier on the eyes of students – the lower contrast.

Schools Out, Wells Street Public School


To conclude, the school is out again here and hope those blackboards will bring some memories back for those who attended former Wells Street Public School. Never know may be you will also recall the five finger chalk holder you have never paid attention to. The school is now owned by Wells Street Schoolhouse Lofts. Furthermore, the school will be back with some art on the wall.

]]> https://livinginaurora.ca/aurora/wells-street-public-school-blackboard-graffiti-left-behind/feed/ 2 Somethings That Always Change In Our Library, The Photography Exhibit https://livinginaurora.ca/technology/somethings-that-always-change-in-our-library-the-photography-exhibit/ https://livinginaurora.ca/technology/somethings-that-always-change-in-our-library-the-photography-exhibit/#comments Sat, 21 Jan 2012 06:05:08 +0000 http://livinginaurora.ca/?p=5359

I am assuming that wasn’t just the cold weather that brought people to the library on that day.

I was told that I can take pictures as long as there are no people on them. So last Thursday I followed the rules and my photographic mission was not accomplished. May be one day I will ask for the photo shoot permission pass or may be it is more fun to be a silent observer.

No photos of the exhibit. Then let me just talk about it. Helen did it again. I wonder if she is trying to tease me as it is my favorite subject.

In addition to amazing display of the photography books I was amazed to see old, I mean very old cameras. It is interesting to see how photographic technology changed since then. I must say a lot. Looking at the collection of old leather bound rectangular boxes with lenses in them is hard to compare to what we have today and much better. One point in time those rectangular boxes were valuable to the photographers as digital cameras are now.

Across Yonge Street, View from APL, Aurora


The very first camera’s will always have historical value. Any digital camera you own these days will only have recyclable value. The camera technology changes too fast to have any historical value. It is always the first invention that counts.

We still don’t have active museum in Aurora, but I am glad that some artifacts are being displayed. Something is always better than nothing. I have not been inside the Aurora Cultural Centre yet, but why not have showcase there as well – it does not have to be all about art. And may be some at the Aurora Town Hall – hallways are spacious enough to accommodate a similar display as in library.

That day I allowed Matthew to play on the computer with children’s activities. I myself couldn’t resist to snap pictures of the winter weather at the Yonge Street and the George Browning house framed by Aurora library walls. It is a shame that there will be no George Browning house one day.

George Browning House from APL, Aurora


There was something else I wanted to look at. Unfortunately I arrived late. The second floor opposite to the elevator has a wall that displays art. In the past a colorful collection of paintings always caught my eye, yet I never made to the other side to look at it closely. Every painting was different yet had the same theme, same kind of selection of colors.

Art Display, Inside APL, Aurora


Well that was gone too. New display is interesting one, but I couldn’t figure out if it belonged to one artist or many artists.

On the side note, I do take books out to read but while I am in the library I like to look around. Last time I actually used the self serve check out and I concluded that I am just too slow. ]]> https://livinginaurora.ca/technology/somethings-that-always-change-in-our-library-the-photography-exhibit/feed/ 0 Sunday Break, View From Top Of The World https://livinginaurora.ca/aurora/sunday-break-view-from-top-of-the-world/ https://livinginaurora.ca/aurora/sunday-break-view-from-top-of-the-world/#comments Sun, 25 Dec 2011 05:12:23 +0000 http://livinginaurora.ca/?p=5000

View from BestBuy Parking Lot, Leslie Street, Aurora

‘A great thing about these trees is that they are excellent for cleaning, both groundwater, and of course, air.’ ~ by Mike Lowry
]]> https://livinginaurora.ca/aurora/sunday-break-view-from-top-of-the-world/feed/ 0 Ho Ho Our Town, Our Aurora, Our Big Town https://livinginaurora.ca/aurora/ho-ho-our-town-our-aurora-our-big-town/ https://livinginaurora.ca/aurora/ho-ho-our-town-our-aurora-our-big-town/#comments Fri, 23 Dec 2011 04:10:41 +0000 http://livinginaurora.ca/?p=4954

In case you live far away though, or you get your thrills from party poker, or living vicariously through old acquaintance Facebook pages, today I am going to take some time to talk about some of the facts and history that surround the town and display few photos from 2011. We as the community should be proud of the heritage.

Sheppard House, Sheppard's Bush Trail


Where is Aurora? Aurora can be found roughly 20 km north of the city of Toronto and is situated on the Oak Ridges Moraine. The Moraine, which covers a geographical area of 1,900 km between Caledon and Rice Lake, is a geological land-form that is thought to have been formed during the Late Wisconsonian glacial period. The word ‘beautiful’ doesn’t cover the splendor of the area, and it’s a wonderful place for Aurora to be.

Sheppard's Bush, Maple Sugar Shack


In terms of the town, I would say I’m not the only person to love it, considering in 2010 the population rose to 53,892. This makes us the 97th largest population in Canada. Compare this to 113th in 2001, and I believe there are many people like me who moved into the area and just fell in love. A lot of this love comes from the fact that a large part of Aurora is under the Ontario Government’s Greenbelt legislation, which enforces limits on growth in designated areas. There is a lot of build up to the north of the town, but the southern eastern areas, in particular are largely protected.

Rail Track Crossing, St. John's Sideroad


So what is there to do in Aurora? Our community theatre for example, Theatre Aurora has been around since 1958. At the time it was called the Aurora Drama Workshop. Then 1973 came around and they banded together with the Aurora Musical Society to form Theatre Aurora. The following year they moved into the Factory Theatre on Henderson Drive, where they, to this day perform show after show, generation after generation. Their shows are always worth a watch.

Barn, Leslie Street, Aurora


So there you have it. Just a few little facts and as always photography of our big town. Ho Ho Ho …

Aurora Cultural Centre, Aurora

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