The Town of Aurora Community Recognition Awards celebrate numerous outstanding citizens and groups, with the honour of 2024 Aurora Citizen of the Year being bestowed upon Mr. Vern Cunningham.
Citizen of the Year
Vern Cunningham, the 2024 Town of Aurora Citizen of the Year, has shown a steadfast commitment to bettering his community through volunteerism. Mr. Cunningham’s early volunteer work saw him support small business owners through his work as an Aurora Chamber of Commerce board member and serving aa 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.
20 Year Service Award
- The late Trevor McCleery
25 Year Service Award
- Mike Bender
- Irene Clement
- John Clement
- Silvana Croce
- Karen Fullbrook
- Toni Monaco
- Stanley Weisbeker
30 Year Service Award
- John Sargent
- Greg Way
35 Year Service Award
- Rob Gaby
40 Year Service Award
- Ross Haagsma
- Glenn Sharp
50 Year Service Award
- Terry Pressmar
Additional Community Recognition Award Winners
- 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