Gateway Drive is located on the opposite side of St. John’s Sideroad, across from Pinnacle Trail. The street, shown in the photo below, is lined with homes, and in the distance on the horizon, you can see the Hollandview Retirement Community. None of this existed in 1997 when we first moved to Aurora.
We moved into our new home on Halloween, juggling both trick-or-treat visitors and moving our things into the house. Since then, we’ve witnessed neighbours coming and going. I even wrote a short story for the community FOCUS about our early days in Aurora – “Living in Aurora – Trick or Treat? Yes, We Moved Here on Halloween Night.”
Speaking of the Hollandview Trail Retirement Community, on September 12th, 2012, I gave a presentation for the seniors there. Who would have thought my blog would take me on the road – something I never anticipated? I was nervous. Very nervous. But my audience turned out to be such a warm and joyful group.
When I arrived, they made me feel at ease right away. They started chatting with me, asking questions, and waving and smiling whenever I glanced their way. Some even asked, “First time doing this?” I guess they could tell.
I had forgotten the script for my presentation at home. It was called “Good Neighbour,” but I can’t share it with you now because I’ll be using the same content for my upcoming presentation at the Aurora Senior Centre!
At the presentation, I brought two visual aids with me: “Aurora 1945-1965: An Ontario Town at a Time of Great Change” and “Aurora: A History in Pictures.” These books serve as my reference when I walk around town—they help me connect with the history around me.
To my surprise, one lady in the audience was particularly engaged in my storytelling about meeting Elizabeth Milner. It turned out to be Joan Devins, who knew Milner’s sister well. Joan was also in the photo on the cover of the book, standing in front of Wells Street Public School. It’s fascinating how everything in our town seems to be connected, and it’s easy to discover those connections and learn more.
There’s more, though. I noticed a lady sitting alone at the back. I hadn’t paid much attention to her until she approached me after the presentation and offered to share information about the town whenever I needed it. This lady was Jean Baker-Pearce, and I may just take her up on her generous offer.
The story continues. As we were leaving, Jean turned to me and asked if I knew anyone who had a copy of “Aurora: Its Early Beginnings” by James Johnston. I was thrilled to tell her I had one—a yellow 1963 version in excellent condition, thanks to Ron Wallace’s expert care of valuable books. “Darn,” Jean said when she found out I got it from Ron.
So, what’s so special about this book? It’s all about the early beginnings of Aurora. Jean helped write it, and remarkably, the book was completed in just one week. It was created because, with the 100th Anniversary of Aurora approaching, no book about the town’s history had been written yet.
It was such a special evening, and I truly enjoyed meeting the kind ladies in the audience. Yes, they were almost all women—there was only one gentleman in the back. While I didn’t catch everyone’s names, I remember a few small exchanges. One lady sitting in the front gently asked if I had done this type of presentation before. Another asked numerous questions about my profession and shared that her granddaughter was studying engineering. There was a lady who came up to me afterward to share a story about a red cardinal, and another who asked for directions to the Nokiidaa Trail Link boardwalk. Lastly, two ladies by the wall smiled and waved at me, which was a nice, warm gesture to end the evening.
That night, I felt like a celebrity. I know—it’s just a Living in Aurora blog, but for me, small things really do matter. When I arrived, it felt like the whole building was in on the excitement. Everywhere I turned, I saw notices about my presentation: first, on the information flat screen at the entrance, and then another in the elevator. That notice in the elevator? I swear I set a new personal record. I pulled my camera out of my bag, turned it on, took off the cap, and snapped a photo—all while going down just one floor!
Moments like these remind me of how many hidden treasures are waiting to be discovered in our town—and the best part? They’re not that hard to find.
