Aurora’s Strategic Plan for 2031 is a great concept. It’s definitely important to plan for the future and set long-term goals. However, I just hope we don’t get too caught up in creating an ambitious list of things to do and end up not achieving any of them.

What I’ve seen so far is that the Aurora Strategic Plan feels more like a shell with no real substance. The wording sounds nice now, but will it actually materialize like that 20 years from now in 2031? My suggestion is to focus on a few solid, simple ideas.

It’s great that the Town of Aurora is involving the local public, but the information should be shared in a more straightforward manner. I don’t need to see draft material—the current draft feels more like a process outline. Do we really need to see that? To me, it seems incomplete and unprofessional. Even the forums don’t seem to be taken seriously by residents.

Maybe I’m just thinking differently, but I don’t understand why a separate website is needed just for the strategic plan. It could have easily been part of the current Aurora website. While it’s nice that the communication department is trying to cover every detail, I question why taxpayers’ money is being spent on this. Why are we branding the Aurora Strategic Plan? I’m not sure what purpose it serves.

If the team behind the plan thinks that more complexity is better, they’re mistaken. Even websites need to be strategically planned to deliver clear, effective information.

The execution of the Aurora Strategic Plan really gives me something to think about. So, every once in a while, I’ll be sharing some of my ideas.

20 years is a long time—long enough to grow a nice tree. So, perhaps this is the perfect time to plant the seeds for our future. I’m not talking about growing real trees right now, but that’s a topic I’ll get into later because, yes, we definitely need more shade trees.

But for now, let’s talk about planting the seed of innovation. We need to get schools, businesses, and the town itself more involved in scientific and engineering fields. Let me explain as simply as possible.

Science and engineering fairs sponsored by local businesses and the Town of Aurora for Aurora schools could be a game-changer. We often underestimate the potential of young minds, but with a little initiative and collaboration from local businesses, we could unearth some brilliant ideas from students that would provide economic benefits to everyone involved.

Here’s the idea:

1. The Town of Aurora and local businesses collaborate to organize an annual science and engineering fair.
2. Aurora students select a local business to partner with.
3. The business assigns a project idea to the student(s).
4. The end result could be a new product, an enhanced product, or an efficient process—endless possibilities for project ideas.
5. Participating students are rewarded for their accomplishments.
6. Since the business provides the tools and resources, the business owns the idea.
7. If the idea is viable, it gets implemented.
8. The business grows, and the students may even land future summer or full-time jobs with the company.
9. As businesses grow, the Town of Aurora benefits.

There are no restrictions here—The Town of Aurora could even participate in this initiative with their own projects.

These steps are straightforward and could drive both business growth and community involvement. What we need are businesses that are here to stay. Just the other day, I drove along Industrial Parkway and noticed how many signs there were for “For Lease”—too many empty buildings.

So, I thought I’d throw out this idea—one of my “crazy” ones—for driving business growth in the long run. We need to start thinking about initiatives like this today to ensure a prosperous future for Aurora.

This could also be a great opportunity for students and their future. Early introduction to real-world work would help keep them engaged and focused. Kids are always looking for challenges, so why not offer them more?

We already do this with art, so why not apply the same approach to science and innovation? Providing students with the chance to solve real problems and contribute to tangible outcomes could ignite their passion for learning and set them on a successful path.

It’s definitely something worth considering.

COMMENTS

Christopher Watts said: November 5, 2011 at 12:07

“Anna, I agree with what you have laid out, and will forward it to some of the councillors that are on the steering committee for the Strategic Plan. I share the same reservations, and from sitting in on one of these meetings I can confirm the lack of engagement is frightening. When you compare the bungling the town of Aurora has done to what they are doing in King: http://sustainableking.com

It’s amazing that they were able to get 100 people out, have food and prizes, activities and gather valuable feedback, most likely for less than the $75,000 Aurora council has spent on the consultants it has hired for our Strategic Plan, who so far have held few meetings, none of them well attended, none of them with any engagement and still no vision statement.

On one hand it’s sad that we incur such an expense for a job that staff could do, but is spared from due to the guise of “impartiality” yet on the other I’m not convinced that the feeble communications department at the town could do much better.

I hope that there are some councillors that step up to the plate with this and prevent it from becoming the disaster the 2006 plan was.”

Anna Lozyk Romeo said: November 9, 2011 at 00:19

“Chris, I am a little disappointed with the current outcome, but I am sure that your inputs and suggestions will keep the plan going. I believe in long-term change, and if we want to see results in 20 years, we must act now. I think King had the right idea. Aurora should have done the same, a little more strategically too. We walk, we shop, we live, some of us work, we enjoy Aurora; the input should be ours.”

Marvin said: November 9, 2011 at 00:22

“Wow, surprising that Aurora (between Newmarket and Richmond Hill, right?) has so many empty storefronts. It seemed that all of Toronto was still going gangbusters in April when I was there.

I think it’s a good idea to co-opt students to intern at area businesses. The question would be, would the students regard this just as a “show up and get credit” kind of thing, or would they actually be motivated to invest time and creativity in the business. I know what the answer would be in the US but maybe it would work better in your area.”

Anna Lozyk Romeo said: November 9, 2011 at 00:44

“Hey Marvin, you seem to know a lot about my area, LOL. I think it is a good idea because I did my engineering thesis like that in university and it worked. I have no idea if the company ever built the real-size drill rig from our prototype, LOL, but some other students had guaranteed jobs and excellent results. This is just going one level down, to high school. Kids are smart, we underestimate them. I know what you mean about the credit, but if you get many students involved, statistically there should be some kind of result. And if not, then it will keep them busy and prepared for the future.”