Alexandra Bonham - Community Driven

It looks like we have yet another AI generated gimmick put forward by Councillor Gallo. His latest computer generated scheme is, to purportedly “save residents money” by, “allowing them to amortize Development Charges (DC) for 25 years."

Just as an aside, I really think the councillor should avail himself of the courses offered by AMO so that he can learn the basics of municipal – and frankly personal – financing because it seems pretty obvious he doesn’t understand how either works.

This latest scheme is not a cost saving measure for residents – and definitely not for taxpayers. It’s a high interest loan in disguise. You are simply shifting the cost of the DCs to the homeowner. As there is no guarantee that the developer will in fact lower the price of the home.

It will cost tax payers more money in the long run and delay critical municipal revenue that will put our services and infrastructure at greater risk.

How does Mr. 0% intend to maintain his 0% promise if we need to increase taxes just to pay for services and infrastructure because suddenly our DCs are delayed 25 years?

Quick gimmicks and ChatpGPT are not the solution to our current housing affordability crisis. It's click bait for likes.

Councillor Ron Weese, President of Sport Aurora, has sat at the Council table for 3 years now - and yet, he is still acting like he doesn't understand Town of Aurora procedures, policies, and bylaws.

Councillor Weese himself sits on the board of a Cultural Partner - the Aurora Cultural Centre (ACC) - with Councillor Gallo as an Ex-Officio Director, in a similar capacity as that of Mayor Mrakas and Ms. McDougall. However, Councillor Weese and Councillor Gallo are in fact voting members whereas Mayor Mrakas and Ms. McDougall are not. Unlike former Mayor Geoff Dawe who was in fact also a voting member of ASHoF. The reason they are all Ex-Officio Directors appointed by Town Council to local boards who are not for profit corporations is so that they can advance the interests of the town.

This is not a conflict of interest under the Municipal Act.

I would assume that Councillor Weese is aware that this matter was resolved in the 2013 case of the Town of Aurora v. Her Majesty in the Right of Ontario that dealt specifically with the Cultural Centre. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled that Town Councillors appointed by Council that sit on the Cultural Centre Board - a cultural partner - have no pecuniary interest and are not in a conflict of interest under the Act or the Town’s Code of Conduct.

For Councillor Weese to continuously imply that the Mayor or any other member of council for that matter (beside himself apparently) is in a conflict of interest in his role as a non-voting member of another community partner Board of Directors - in this case the ASHoF Board - is to ignore his own position as an Ex-Officio Director for ACC.

If Councillor Weese truly believes that there is a conflict of interest, then shouldn’t both he and Councillor Gallo have recused themselves from voting on giving $570,000 of tax payer's dollars to the ACC? Should they not have refrained from any discussions in relation to the negative effects that losing $11,200 would have on the ACC? The only conclusion one can draw from Councillor Weese’s continuous implied contention that the Mayor is somehow contravening the legislation when he knows (or should know?) it is not true is for self-serving opportunistic reasons; to deflect from questions from the public about his own potential conflicts of interest.

These false assertions and allegations do not help the Town of Aurora; the town he ostensibley serves.

In case the Councillor has forgotten, this is not the first time he has personally attempted to disrupt funding to or defund entirely the ASHoF. Point of fact, he has done so previously under the guise of trying to "save the town money"; this while also voting for a 42% increase in his own Councillor’s compensation mere months after taking office, and mere minutes in that same meeting after his first attempt to defund ASHoF back in 2023.

Curious given his own organizations funding requests.

Sport Aurora has previously requested $50,000 from Town Council, $20,000 more than ASHoF's request and not one person at the table demanded they go against Town Policy to provided audited financial statements.

The Councillor is fully aware that there are current policies in place at the Town level (and in provincial and federal legislation) that exempt cultural partners such as ASHoF (and Sport Aurora should they request town funding again) from being required to submit audited financial statements.

They are required to submit current financial statements only.

However, Councillor Weese is well within his rights to put a motion on the floor to change that policy.

The Councillor can very easily put forward a motion to change the policy to apply equally to all community partners. In the absence of said motion, then I would have to agree with the many residents who see Councillor Weese’s actions as nothing more than a continued personal vendetta against ASHoF.

It does beg the question though after all, is he speaking out as Councillor Ron Weese, or President of Sport Aurora? And if he is speaking out as President of Sport Aurora, is he doing so on his own or on behalf of the board and many sport organizations he claims to lead?

I have noticed a concerning increase in attempting to silence elected officials amongst residents and councillors in recent weeks. Our elected officials have a responsibility to listen to the concerns of residents. They act as a liaison between residents and Government, be it municipal staff, fellow councillors, or in some cases our Regional, Provincial, and Federal officials. Our elected councillors have a responsibility to ensure that their ward residents are heard and to keep residents “in the know”. That being said, some residents and Councillors are appropriating the idea that they should be in charge of what our elected officials communicate, don’t communicate and when it is appropriate to communicate.

We all know that resident engagement is low. Residents do not have the time to attend every council meeting, nor do they have time to tune in and or watch them at a later time. Over the years there have been a number of Council motions and resident delegations, directing staff to improve community engagement and to update and add a variety of communication methods – be it print, social media, email, live and shared video streams or billboards and posters.

As such the Town of Aurora has made improvements to written and online communication, updated the website to be more user friendly, created Engage Aurora, and improved social media use and policy. Access to Council and Committee meetings have improved dramatically. Our elected officials have also taken steps to follow suit to some degree or another.

By comparison Federal MP’s and party leaders have been discussing their opinion on the 2026 budget for weeks – on the news, in the papers, via their websites, and on social media. That is quite literally, their job. To engage with Canadians, seek public opinion, and get their views out there.

As well as, Federal leaders and MP’s have shared images of themselves shaking hands, meeting everyday Canadians, and speaking passionately in chambers. Why? Because getting your face out there – matters. It makes you personable, it makes you recognizable, it makes you approachable. So why is it a select number of residents and councillors suddenly believe that doing so is inappropriate – when quite frankly – it is part of their job.

There is nothing stopping our elected ward councillors from using every method (including social media) at their disposal. Strong communication requires an actual commitment to residents using whatever tools are available to them, though I should note professionalism should be maintained. We have obtained a higher degree of resident awareness; this is not a negative – this is a positive. There are huge benefits to be had from our increased ability to communicate with one another, we just have to ensure that what we present (fact or opinion) is with good intention.

I am a ward 5 resident and like many of my fellow residents, I live in a town house.

Space is at a premium, where to store the new huge recycling bin, is an issue for me and for most of my neighbours.

So yes, I want to know what is being done to find an alternative to the one size does NOT fit all approach to recycling.

Residents want information.

If I were Councillor, I would share every piece of information available on this issue. I would share the multiple Town communications. I would share the near daily updates from the Mayor.

And I would speak directly to the Ward 5 residents I was elected to represent.

Dear Ward 5 Residents,

I know many of you have expressed concern about the size of the new recycling bins. I share your concerns. Many Ward 5 residents simply don’t have the space to store a 96 gallon bin.

The Mayor of Aurora, along with other N6 Mayors have been proactive in working with Circular Materials to address these concerns, and I am hopeful they will find a resolution that works for everyone. I will provide an update as soon as we have one, but in the meantime feel free to email me at (insert Council email) so that I can ensure your concerns are heard.

Thank you,

Councillor # # #

Solutions focused communication.

Solutions focused action.

That is what residents want.

Did you know that both myself and Randal have honours degrees in Music from McMaster University? Come join us for a fabulous afternoon of Holiday Music while you enjoy visiting many incredible vendors who would be thrilled to help you get started on your Christmas shopping.

🔔🎁The countdown is on — only 10 days until the Aurora Community Band’s Holiday Market! 🎁🔔

🗓 Saturday, November 15th
🕙 10 AM – 2 PM
📍 Trinity Anglican Church 79 Victoria St. Aurora, ON
✨FREE admission!✨

Join us for a festive day filled with:
🎶 Live holiday music from the Aurora Community Band
🛍 Local vendors & artisans with unique handmade gifts
🍪 Delicious seasonal treats
🎅 Plus… a special surprise guest (shhh… Santa might drop by!)

It’s the perfect way to kick off the holiday season — bring your friends and family and get into the spirit! 🎺🎷🥁

What an absolutely beautiful evening celebrating the achievements of four amazing Aurora athletes last night:

🏃‍♀️Erlinda Biondic, an inspiration to people of all ages for proving it truly is never to late to start something new, and to top it off her sense of humor and comedic timing bring about full body laughter.

🏈Robert Reid, for proving that size doesn't matter. Much like Alejandro Kirk, if you are passionate about something and you have a dream - a lot of hardwork and dedication can have you running circles around those that simply look the part.

🏒Heather Morning, whose teaching style, and skill in the sport of Hockey transcends age and gender. When Kris King says he could have learned a thing or two from you - you know you have proven sport and talent is for everyone.

🥊And last but not least Kris King, who reminds us that no matter how much things change, one thing remains the same. People love penalty minutes. That being said, spending over 2 days total in the penalty box during your NHL career does not prevent you from being a true team player, an amazing friend, and an even better family man.

I was absolutely inspired by all four of the inductees and the admiration and love in the room. It was so electric even a transformer couldn't contain its joy - but, that is a story for another time.

It was also wonderful to finally meet Reg Chappell, a man that coached Randal in swimming for the majority of his younger years. It had been about 15 years since the two had interacted and seeing the connection the two still had all these years later was amazing.

To the Hall of Famers, new and past, the Future Hall of Famers, Andreas Mikrogianakis and Taylor Thornley, and the Induction Commitee - congratulations on a successful 2025 Induction Ceremony. It truly is an event you do not want to miss.

As promised, here is a rundown of the September 16th Public Planning meeting about a potential residential development at Addison Hall Circle.

I am glad to see this move forward - the application is well done but, I do believe that they need to consider a park as an amenity for the potential residents. I hope they have something to present at Committee of the Whole.

Don't forget, the Town of Aurora invites all residents to Aurora Town Square, this evening at 5:30pm for an evening of ceremony and reflection.

Today, we pause to honour the survivors of residential schools, their families, and the generations of Indigenous Peoples whose stories and contributions must never be forgotten.

At the Aurora Sports Hall of Fame, we recognize our responsibility to answer Call to Action #87 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Final Report — ensuring that the stories of Indigenous athletes are shared, celebrated, and remembered.

Throughout September, we have proudly highlighted athletes such as Eli Ankou, Angela Chalmers, Jordin Tootoo, Fred Saskamoose, Joleen Mitton, and Eric Weston — all of whom have inspired Indigenous youth and strengthened Canadian sport.

But this is not a one-day commitment. We will continue to recognize Indigenous athletes throughout the year, making their achievements a lasting part of the national story.

Sport has the power to inspire, unite, and heal. By celebrating these athletes year-round, we honour their legacy and help ensure their impact lives on for generations.

“Recognizing Indigenous athletes today, tomorrow, and always.”

Welcome back to Septembe... oh shoot, it is nearly October. I had a wonderful vacation in British Columbia for two weeks with my Mother in Law, Father in Law and Jasper. Jasper had the opportunity to meet who we call Nana Nana. But, it means I was out of the Province for the first two weeks and have some catch up to do.

Every Sunday from now until July 2026 (when Council is down for the summer) I will be posting a weekly "In the know...".

I will cover upcoming meetings, public participation, upcoming events, and a breakdown of any past meetings from the week prior.

I want to hear from you! What are your thoughts on anything presented? Would you like to see me include other information? Do you recommend any changes to the format? Do you have an upcoming event you would like me to highlight? Or any concerns you would like addressed in more depth?

Try to keep communication to the main comment thread. Commenting on individual images can cause that image to be prioritized on it's own and I would like to keep my followers wall clean.

Important links:
💻 Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/live/M-LAv3aInW4?si=o-Nn04-y-vuBUiXm
📑 Agenda:
https://pub-auroraon.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=47a93d88-1c9c-4266-8f61-7a5c858ad663&Agenda=Agenda&lang=English

While I work on getting caught up, and due to there not being a meeting this week, I will be adding a breakdown of the September 16th and September 23rd meetings this week. I have yet to watch them as I do not want any discussion to impact my opinion on a few matters until I have voiced them in as though it was in real time.

I would like to address my concerns around some Councillor's motions, especially when directing staff to provide a report within a certain time frame etc.

Back in June 2025, I had concerns about Councillor Gallo's motion Re. 24 Hour Warming Emergency Centre and its severe lack of direction. It lacked the depth of detail required for staff to properly address this issue - and given his concerns Re. The soft costs of running the NBA Watch Parties I wonder if he has the same concerns about the lack of information in his motion that led to a report he has now criticized.

Councillor Gallo, a 24 hour warming emergency centre, is in fact a shelter. A shelter comes with requirements such as food, beds, and security. It comes with liabilities. Especially given Councillor Gaertner's amendment to include everyone. We cannot ignore the fact that this means that a 24 hour warming emergecy centre may be used by everyone from a family of 4 with children to a person experiencing homelessness. A person experiencing homelessness may have fallen on hard times, but they may also experience mental health related complications that could have a negative impact on others without proper protocols in place.

I questioned the financial impacts this would have on the town back in June 2025, and now that town staff have reported on Councillor Gallo's motion, he too appears to have reservations and has pushed the financial impacts to the Region. I understood it the same way town staff have, so I have to ask, did you think it through before presenting your motion? What were the soft costs to residents to report on a vague motion you now claim to be misunderstood?

I believe this is an important conversation to have, but I believe that clarity on motions is equally as important because "if we cannot delay any longer" one must provide as much information to town staff so that they can meet Council demand as quickly as possible.

"In a world of constant change and streaming technology, I find solace in the forest where a tree remains a tree." - Angie Welland-Crosby

It had been so hot for so long that venturing out for a walk wasn't a great idea for Jasper. It seems mother nature is taking a minor break from the heat so we have been off on our daily walks again.

I have noticed that milk w**d is becoming more prominent in the Aurora Community Arboretum and especially east of Bayview along St. John's and Leslie. I wondered if we wouldn't begin to see more monarch butterflies. Did you know that monarchs will only lay eggs on milkw**d?

Today's Monday Motivation is to try to get out for a walk, there is so much to see when we take a break from the daily grind to walk in nature.

On Friday, I had the privilege of attending the Aurora Sports Hall of Fame inaugural Summer BBQ hosted at the Armory, soon to be host to Slabtown Cider Co. It is such a fabulous venue, and I love that much like the Petch House, and Aurora Town Square we have found meaningful ways to hold on to history while also looking to the future. Progress and change are inevitable, but the truth is – we all want to hold on to things that mean something, our history and our cultural identity in some way or another.

The recent announcement of the new partnership with Slabtown has some residents questioning why such matters are discussed behind closed doors. To quote the website of the Ontario Ombudsman:

“Government transparency and the ability to observe the political process are foundational to democracy… the guiding principle has always been that municipal councils must meet in public, except in certain specific circumstances… When in doubt, open the meeting.”

There is a specific list set out by the Municipal Act, 2001, Section 239 that require municipal councils, committees and local boards to meet behind closed doors, including:

• A trade secret or scientific, technical, commercial, financial or labour relations information, supplied in confidence to the municipality or local board, which if disclosed could reasonably be expected to prejudice significantly the competitive position or interfere significantly with the contractual or other negotiations of a person, group of persons or organization.

To see the complete list and detailed guide pertaining to Open Meetings:

https://www.ombudsman.on.ca/en/info-public-bodies-and-officials/municipal-government/open-meetings-guide-municipalities %20Ombudsman%20and%20closed%20meetings%20investigations

This does not mean that once a decision has been made, the information cannot be made public should the majority of all members of council, the committee or local board agree. It is also important to note that before such a meeting, council must pass a resolution at a public meeting and must disclose the general nature of the meeting, and as of January 2008 anyone is free to file a complaint with the Ombudsman if they feel this process has been abused.

Personally, I am excited about this partnership. Ontario is known for its Craft Beers, Ciders, and more and it is about time we had one right here in Aurora. I also imagine that the Armory had a number of potential vendors interested in the site, these vendors need to sell themselves, their business, and provide a “bidding number” if that information was public from the get go it would skew the outcome greatly.

The important question isn’t “why the secrecy”. That is simply an attempt to imply that shenanigans are afoot. We should wait until after a motion has been voted on to open the meeting to question whether accountability and transparency are being upheld. Until then, it's important to be aware of the processes that Municipalities are beholden to in situations such as these.