I believe every face at Aurora’s Canada Day celebrations on July 1st, 2012, whether in the parade or among the audience, played a part in creating the festive atmosphere. If I could capture the essence of each person—through their expressions and the energy of the event—it would be a celebration of spirit, patriotism, and smiles.

The clear blue sky, perfect lighting, and the beautiful downtown facade were just a few of the elements that helped me capture the moment. On that day, I truly felt like I captured the spirit of proud Aurorans—and most importantly, proud Canadians. Every wave, every cheer, and every smile added to the unforgettable atmosphere of the day, making it clear that Canada Day in Aurora was a celebration of both national and local pride.

Unfortunately, this will be my last post about the 2012 parade, but I could honestly keep talking about it forever. The memories of that day will stay with me, and I can’t wait to see how next year’s celebrations will unfold. With Aurora’s 150th anniversary on the horizon, I’m sure the parade and festivities will be even more special.

I wanted to share something cool with you! Back in June 2012, Councillor Evelyn Buck delivered an engaging speech during a council meeting. She reminisced about the fantastic Canada Day celebrations in 1963 (Aurora’s 100th anniversary) and 1967 (Canada’s 100th anniversary), and how the community came together for those milestones. Her speech was all about involving the people of Aurora in planning for the town’s 150th anniversary in 2013, and it really sparked excitement for what was to come. I posted Cllr. Buck’s speech on our community FOCUS site – you should definitely check it out!

After hearing Councillor Buck’s inspiring speech, I felt motivated to start a ‘People’s History’ page on our community FOCUS site. I think it would be amazing to have stories written by the people of Aurora, or former Aurorans, sharing their experiences and memories of the town. While historians can give us the facts, it’s the people who can offer a true sense of what life has been like here. These personal stories are invaluable and will be lost if they’re not shared. So, I encourage everyone to participate and share your stories. After all, a story isn’t really a story until it’s told, and I’m sure we all have some incredible ones to share!