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.
This award recipient has demonstrated all-round community involvement rather than specific activity or contribution.
Congratulations to the 2020 Citizen of the Year
Tom Connor
The 2020 Citizen of the Year Award is Tom Connor. He has been a resident of Aurora since 1973 and has proudly raised his family in Aurora’s community. Tom has been a volunteer in Aurora for the past 40 years. Through his work in the local community, Tom has built a network of connections, neighbourhood resources and lifelong friends.
He is a devoted volunteer giving his time over the past four decades, to various organizations in Aurora such as the Aurora Minor Hockey Association, Aurora Youth Soccer, the Optimist Club of Aurora, the Town’s Committee of Adjustment, the Aurora Public Library Board and Martha’s Table.
Through his extensive volunteering with the hockey association, he recognized the need for a youth hockey program. In the early 1980s, he presented a proposal to the former Mayor Dick Illingworth about creating a recreational hockey program. He founded and grew this hockey program with the help of many volunteers.
Tom is an avid supporter of the Aurora Optimist Club. He served as a member for 25 years and was on the executive team as president and treasurer. For several years, he coordinated bingo, one of the largest fundraisers for the club. He is a member and current chair of the Aurora Public Library Board and has served on the board for more than 20 years. He is also a team lead for Martha’s Table and has diligently served community lunches out of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church every Thursday. Tom’s compassion, dedication and commitment to Aurora is inspiring.
Year | Award Winner |
---|---|
2019 | Barb Allan |
2018 | Josie Kearney |
2017 | Peter van Schaik |
2016 | Mary Georgopoulos |
2015 | Diane Buchanan |
2014 | Beverley Wood |
2013 | Ron Wallace |
2012 | Brian North |
2011 | Jo-anne Spitzer |
2010 | Gordon Barnes |
2009 | David Tomlinson |
2008 | Susan Walmer |
2007 | Dorothy Clark-McClure |
2006 | Sylvia Gilchrist |
2005 | Bud Gilbert |
2004 | Phil Horsman |
2003 | Dr. John McIntyre |
2002 | Bob Hartwell |
2001 | Ken Smith |
2000 | Jackie Stubbs |
1999 | Vic Priestly |
1998 | Ferguson Mobbs |
1997 | Gerry Payne |
1996 | Steve Hinder |
1995 | Susan Gwilliam |
1994 | Dianne Harrison |
1993 | Wanda McKenzie |
1992 | Jack DeGraaf |
1991 | Bucky McLarty |
1990 | Arnold Miller |
1989 | Dick Illingworth |
1988 | Norm Stewart |
1987 | Nora McRoberts |
1986 | Fred Conklin |
1985 | Bill Coleman |
1984 | Lowell McClenny |
1983 | Dr. Leslie Oliver |
1982 | Vic Paraninfo |
1981 | Eric Smith |
1980 | Jack Williamson |
1979 | Omar Khamissa |
1978 | Bill Dinsmore |
1977 | Fred Bolsby |
1976 | Dr. Crawford Rose |
1975 | Rev. Homer McAvoy |
1974 | Jack Wood |
1973 | Don Glass |
1972 | J. E. (Dick) Buchanan |
1971 | Annebelle Black |
1970 | Bob Blick |