Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Canada Day

July 1st Canada Day Celebration In Aurora, Faces That Shaped This Year’s Parade

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 03:41:33 +0000

I think every face shaped Aurora’s Canada Day celebrations on July 1st, 2012, those in the parade and those in the audiance. If I could capture every face and every expression and the feeling of each person, I would – ‘the spirit, the patriotism and the smiles‘.

Town of Aurora Canada Day Parade

The clear blue sky, perfect light and the beautiful downtown facade were only few elements letting me capture the moment. I think on that day I have captured the spirit of all proud Aurorans, and most of all proud Canadians.

Unfortunately this will be the last post of 2012 parade because I could go on and on. However I am looking forward for next year’s celebrations which will be even more special.

Town of Aurora Canada Day Parade

Mayor Geoffrey Dawe, Town of Aurora Canada Day Parade

Perhaps one more thing. On June 12, 2012 during the council meeting Councillor Evelyn Buck gave intriguing speech reflecting on the success of the historical Canada Day Celebrations of 1963 (Aurora’s 100 year anniversary) and 1967 (Canada’s 100 year anniversary).

This speech was to encourage public participation, or more so people of Aurora to participate and to organize the next year’s (2013) party for 150 years of Aurora. We compiled Councillor Buck’s speech into a post which you can read on our community FOCUS site – Councillor Evelyn Buck Remembers Canada Day Celebrations in Aurora.

That and many other things gave me an idea to start people’s history page on the community FOCUS site. I think it will be nice to have something that is written by people of Aurora or former Auroran’s remembering our town.

Historian will give you facts and people will give you their experiences. These experiences will be gone if not recorded. I encourage you to participate and share your stories. A story is not a story if not shared and I bet many of us have them.

Evelyn Buck with her daughter Teresa, Town of Aurora Canada Day Parade

Councillor Paul Pirri, Town of Aurora Canada Day Parade

2012 Aurora Citizen of the Year Brian North, Town of Aurora Canada Day Parade

Town of Aurora Canada Day Parade

Jan Freedman Aurora Farmer’s Market, Town of Aurora Canada Day Parade

Mountie, Town of Aurora Canada Day Parade

Theater, Town of Aurora Canada Day Parade

Shriner’s Float, Town of Aurora Canada Day Parade

Aurora Celebrates Canada Day, Yonge Street Parade Snapshots, Part II

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 00:37:36 +0000

This is another set of photos from the Canada Day parade on July 1st, 2012. I was sitting right at the intersection of Yonge Street and Church Street, near Aurora Public Library. The view was spectacular especially having downtown Aurora as a background.

July 1st, 2012 Canada Parade, Town of Aurora

I don’t know what we will do for the next years parade, especially because it will be 150 years of our town. Look at the decor and spirit it is already to the maximum. Our town always strive to be the best and I am sure we will do the same next year as well.

For those who do not follow the history here is small trivia question for you – next year it will be 150 years of Aurora but only 146 years of Canada. How is that possible?

July 1st, 2012 Canada Parade, Town of Aurora

“Whether we live together in confidence and cohesion; with more faith and pride in ourselves and less self-doubt and hesitation; strong in the conviction that the destiny of Canada is to unite, not divide; sharing in cooperation, not in separation or in conflict; respecting our past and welcoming our future.” ~ Lester B. Pearson

Let say I am not done yet. I have captured some nice parade moments and I will be sharing more in the next post. Happy Canada Day!

Aurora Celebrates Canada Day, Yonge Street Parade Snapshots, Part I

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 04:35:40 +0000

For the parade we settled in front of the Aurora Public Library. We arrived after eleven o’clock just in time for the parade arrival at that point. It was our first time so we did not know what to expect. The parade exceeded our expectations and we will be definitely back next year.

July 1sth, 2012 Canada Day Parade, Yonge Street, Town of Aurora

‘Our participation in Celebrate Canada activities brings us together, strengthens our communities, and helps us understand the significance of the citizenship we all share.‘
Source: Canadian Heritage

‘This year marks the start of the five-year countdown to Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017. As we move toward this important milestone, I invite all Canadians to make the most of this day by celebrating our identity, our values, and our history among family and friends. Let us be proud of all our achievements, which attest to our country’s glorious past and hold the promise of a bright future.‘
Source: Statement by the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, on the Occasion of Canada Day

I heard train all day on July 1st and little did I know. As part of a weekend service pilot, GO Transit will be running six southbound trains to Union Station and six northbound trains each Saturday and Sunday (plus holidays) from June 23 to September 3 on its Barrie line.

Aha, that explains train whistle in the morning, train whistle in the afternoon and train whistle at night.

Town of Aurora Celebrates, Canada Day Parade July 1st, 2012

Happy Canada Day!

Canada Day July 1st, 2012 Town of Aurora Celebration, Aurora’s Young Canadians

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 04:00:03 +0000

There is first time for everything and this year was our first attending the July 1st Canada Day parade in Aurora. Everything worked out great – the parking, the spot, and getting there on time to see the beginning of the red-white, truly Canadian decorated parade.

Beautifully decorated moving displays. Happy Canada shouts and waves to the crowd. But that was not it, it was the spirit of the people celebrating the Canada Day in Aurora.

Town of Aurora Celebrates, Happy Canada Day 2012

I took zillion of pictures. It will be impossible for me to include them in one post here, therefore this week I will have the Canada Day special – series of various topic posts and of course celebration images to share.

Note, if you see a photo of someone you know or of yourself, by all means you can have 4×6/5×7 digital copy for personal use and if used on other website name credit is appreciated. Just drop me a comment or see contact page for my email address.

Town of Aurora Celebrates, Happy Canada Day 2012

It was amazing to see children and youth be involved in the parade. It was amazing to see lot of families with children attending and celebrating. Therefore, this post is dedicated to the Aurora’s young Canadians.

Look at those picture. Not hard to notice how greatly young Auroran’s engaged in this year’s celebration. The faces on the photos show it all – smiles, discipline, motivation, dedication, respect.

Town of Aurora Celebrates, Happy Canada Day 2012

Well this give me an opportunity to talk about youth’s engagement in Canadian history, politics and environment. I came across few articles and websites on the internet worth reviewing. I wasn’t even aware of so many things that are available for young Canadians.

Let start with Forum for young Canadians: ‘Forum for Young Canadians, now in its 37th year, is an annual series of one-week sessions held in the fall and spring. Each year, a total of 315 young Canadians aged 15 to 19 come to Parliament Hill to experience first-hand how the Government of Canada works. Canadian Heritage is investing more than $80 million each year in youth programming to allow more than 100,000 youth across Canada to learn about their country.‘
Source: Harper Government Invests in Canada’s Youth: Forum for Young Canadians.

Then there is the initiative connecting Young Canadians to nature and history. Nature Canada and the Historica-Dominion Institute, Parks Canada initiative of the My Parks Pass which grants Grade 8 / Secondary 2 Canadian students free access for one full year to any of Parks Canada’s national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas.

“The My Parks Pass program has reached over 400,000 young Canadians each year and I have had the chance to personally see the sparkle in their eyes as they get, in many cases, a first glimpse of Canada’s most treasured natural and historic places,” said the Honourable Peter Kent, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada. “Canada’s future lies in the hands of its young people, and I’m proud to be giving them an opportunity to experience and develop a meaningful connection to the very essence of Canada.“
Source: Government of Canada Connecting Young Canadians to Nature and History.

Government Canada also has a very resourceful site for Youth Canada – jobs, careers, education, money, health and more. And of course there is a blog and Derek is the author.

Great opportunities for young Canadians everywhere and I would like to introduce one more initiative I am starting, Aurora-Youth-Writes. The community FOCUS (livinginaurora.COM) platform is for everyone; however, we would like to invite the Aurora youth to participate as well.

Topics are endless – politics, history, art, music, sports or environment. You can write opinions or views, stories, or publish poems, and may be initiate discussions. Excellent opportunity to create live writing portfolio. Excellent opportunity for us adults to hear young Auroran’s voice.

Summer vacations are now in effect but I will be approaching schools and organizations to promote Aurora youth to write. Should you have any questions or concerns pertaining this initiative please write me. Note that all the posts and comments on the community FOCUS site are moderated

Happy Canada Day!

Town of Aurora Celebrates, Happy Canada Day 2012

Canada Day, Fireworks Or Space Explosions

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 05:44:31 +0000

Another great Canada Day fireworks presentation at the Lambert Wilson Park in Aurora. I was able to sneak out to take some photographs. The truth is and the only truth is that every year is my practice year. I am not good when comes to taking photos of the fireworks.

These are some of many now abstract photos of the fireworks I took on the Canada Day. This year I was little too close. I was kind of disappointed with the outcome, but when I viewed them I saw something else – explosions in the space.

Speaking of explosions, I yet to find out today that an asteroid size of a tour bus just barely missed the Earth on June 27, 2011. I guess this is a reminder that we are always at risk.

For today let me leave you with this quote by Julie Payette, a Canadian engineer and a Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut. Payette has completed two spaceflights logging more than 25 days in space.

‘You can imagine that when you are ten, twelve years old and you’re growing up in a town in Canada and you’re French Canadian and you’re telling everybody Hey, I’d like to be an astronaut one day. Then people pat you on the back, smile a little bit and say “Yeah, sure.” And they hope that you’re going to change your mind and find a more down-to-earth job, which is what I did eventually.’ ~ Julie Payette