Neighbour Paper December 2022 Newmarket/Aurora

ELLEN CAMPBELL

ADVOCATING FOR SURVIVORS OF ABUSE FOR OVER 30 YEARS

Photo by Glenn Rodger Photography

NEIGHBOUR

UPDATE

Happy Holidays, Neighbours!

Welcome to the December edition of the Neighbour Paper. As 2022 comes to an end, we can’t help but look back on the year and smile. There have been so many amazing events, community moments and relationships built throughout our first 9 months in business and we are so grateful for all of the support that we have received.

We’d like to thank our community partners and the neighbourhood for helping us build another amazing edition - we hope that you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed putting it together!

There is so much to celebrate this month:

Hanukkah is December 18th - 26th; also known as the Festival of Lights, this Jewish festival commemorates the recovery of Jerusalem and subsequent rededication of the Second Temple at the beginning of the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE.

Winter Solstice falls on December 21st! Also called the hibernal solstice, this is the day of the year with the least amount of daylight and the longest night. But good news, the days will only get longer from here on out (...until June 21st).

Christmas Day is December 25th; an annual commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on this day as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world.

Kwanzaa is December 26th - January 1st; an annual celebration of African-American culture, which culminates in a communal feast called Karamu, usually on the sixth day. It was created by activist Maulana Karenga, based on African harvest festival traditions from various parts of West and Southeast Africa.

To cap off the year, December 31st is New Year’s Eve! Also known as Old Year's Day or Saint Sylvester's Day in many countries. We wish you health and happiness in 2023!

NEIGHBOUR COVER STORY

Ellen Campbell

A survivor of childhood sexual abuse with a long road to healing, CEO & Founder of Abuse Hurts, Ellen Campbell translated her own recovery into hope for others. She opened a recovery bookstore in downtown Toronto and developed a conference centre for adult survivors going through recovery. During her tenure as Executive Director for Starlight Children’s Foundation, where she served for twelve years, she founded the Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness (Abuse Hurts) and in 1993 held the first National Conference for Adult Survivors of Sexual Abuse. That was to be the first of what would be three national conferences for adult survivors and over the following decade, Abuse Hurts also began designing programs for children.

The Centre is a national leader in the development of programs to prevent abuse, in advocating for the rights of those who have been abused, and in the creation of survivor-friendly ways of helping abuse victims find healing. In 1998, Abuse Hurts established the program to address the sex scandal at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto and is still managing it today.

As CEO & Founder of Abuse Hurts, the name Ellen Campbell has become synonymous with abuse prevention and recovery in Canada. In recognition of her work and the national influence achieved by the organization, in December 2006 the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada appointed Ellen to The Minister’s Advisory Committee on Judicial Appointments for Ontario, a position that she continued to hold until 2010. Abuse Hurts is also a member of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) Violence in the Media Coalition, through Ellen’s participation. Ellen has also received numerous awards including The Queen’s Jubilee Medal and the Order of Ontario.

Photo by Glenn Rodger Photography

Don’t forget to follow @NeighbourMedia on Instagram and Facebook for real time information and content sharing!

Photo by Glenn Rodger Photography

Welcome to Main Street RMT REGISTERED MASSAGE THERAPIST PRACTITIONERS Shannyn Cui Debby Yuan Jane Liu Sunny Huang Fiona Zi Sherry Bi BENEFITS OF RMT TREATMENTS Reducing or eliminating pain Improving joint mobility Improving lymphatic drainage Reducing muscular tension 187 Main Street South Unit 207, Newmarket 905 23

& Wellness Clinic!

Our team of Registered Massage Therapists will provide a well-tailored massage to fit your specific needs. While proficient in muscle relaxation and stress reduction techniques, we typically see clients who require more technical, deep-tissue work. Our practice thrives on providing preventative care, restoring range of motion/function, and eliminating pain from past injuries, overuse syndromes, and other restrictive issues.

muscle tension and swelling

athletic performance

muscle stiffness

Neighbour Media would like to congratulate and thank the Women's Centre of York Region for all the work they do to help women in our community! The WCYR celebrated their 45th anniversary on October 27th with a group of amazing women and special guest Jully Black. To find out more about WCYR visit www.wcyr.ca

On November 3rd, Fire Services (CYFS) hosted its annual Recognition Ceremony. Several CYFS staff were presented with a congratulatory certificate or awarded with: Federal Exemplary Service Medals and Bars, Provincial Long Service Medals and Bars, and the Jim Allen Award. In addition, many were recognized for a promotion or for joining the service team. Each year, anonymous nominations are reviewed and recipients are selected by a committee representing a cross-section of CYFS staff and leadership. Congratulations to all of the recipients!

find out more about The

Network please visit www.theablenetwork.ca

Meet Joe, the owner of Swiss Chalet on Henderson Dr. in Aurora, and Meredith, a member of The ABLE Network who has been one of Joe's employee's for many years! If you go into Harvey's/Swiss Chalet you will find Meredith at her favourite station looking after the drinks. Thank you Joe for being an inclusive employer. Thank you Meredith for your kindness and welcoming smile. To

ABLE

Santa Claus the Most Famous Senior in Aurora and Newmarket?

If not the most famous senior, certainly Santa Claus is the best loved senior for many in Aurora and Newmarket--and around the world. In France, he’s Pere Noel; in Germany and Switzerland, he’s Kris Kringle; in England, he’s Father Christmas. In Russia, he goes by Babouschka and, in Italy, as La Befana, to name a few.

Santa’s ‘career’ started in Turkey around 280 C.E., when he was born to Christian parents who named him Nicholas. After his death, veneration of St. Nicholas spread throughout Europe and, by the Renaissance in the 1500’s, he was the most popular saint in Europe. The Dutch brought him to the New World in the 17th century. And, it was only in the early 1800’s that he emerged with the celebration of Christmas on December 25th.

Today, you may not be aware, but Santa, our most famous senior, uses advanced technology to make his important night in Richmond Hill happen; two examples are (1):

The Naughty and Nice list? Excel spreadsheets are advanced algorithms. Flying reindeer ? Highly sophisticated robot drones with mag-lev capability (1) Home Care Blog, Seniors In The News, Everyone’s Favorite Senior Icon: Santa Claus, December 13th, 2018.

For advice about seniors and care at home, please kindly contact Brian Porter, Director and Owner of Living Assistance Services (LAS), at 416.483.0070 (office), 905.758.2486 (cell), or b.porter@laservices.ca and visit: livingassistance.ca

華語服務客戶經理 : Helen Huang 華 : 416.880.6889 or h.huang@LAServices.ca

Partner:

The York Region

Network was thrilled to be the recipient charity of the 100 Women Who Care Central York's giving circle. The funds will go a long way in supporting the programs and services they offer to residents across York Region. To learn more visit www.yrfn.ca

Neighbour shout-out to Gwillimdale Farms and Courtney who visited Rose of Sharon on November 3rd to donate harvest root vegetables for their cooking class as well as a bag of veggies for each of the mothers to take home. Justine from Rose of Sharon Services for Young Mothers showed the moms how to make the farms roasted root vegetables recipe and a delicious one sheet pan meal. Rose of Sharon is in need of a number of items this holiday season including grocery gift cards. If you are able to help please visit www.roseofsharon.com

Food

Is

Purses of Hope

Abuse Hurts invites you to participate in their Purses for Hope campaign this holiday season!

As we fill orders for many children during our Toy Drive, we like to include a filled purse for the mothers in each order because they often provide a list of what their children need or like, but rarely ask for anything for themselves.

Christmas can be quite a stressful season for a mother with children who are in or just coming out of the system. There is a strong desire to make sure her children’s needs are met, but also that they do not feel forgotten or unimportant during a season that promotes joy and generosity. Which is not easy when her finances are limited…

We ask that you help us put smiles on children’s faces and that will be a lot easier to do when Mom is smiling too. You can fill a new or gently used purse with makeup, toiletries, feminine products, gift cards and more, then drop it off at one of several locations listed in our Purses for Hope ad, in this edition. Or, you can donate a purse and we can fill it – either way, it’s a great way to bring joy to families this December!

The Newmarket Chamber of Commerce After Hours was not only a great opportunity to reconnect, but also an evening that you had the chance to shout BINGO! Chamber Member Market Brewing Co., who hosted the event, has recently been licensed as a Charity Bingo Hall where every Thursday night they host BINGO for Charity. Chamber members were able to get a taste of the fun during a few fun rounds during the After Hours event.

Goodman’s has developed out of a partnership with Metropolis Mercantile & Café. We have been providing the food items currently o ered there for over 2 years now and will continue to do so once the Goodman's storefront opens at 185 Main Street…we are a family and always will be.

We will continue to operate out of Metropolis until our new home is ready and have begun to o er some of what is to come in the new space, including specialty food products, baked goods and other treats. Here are a few of the items you can find from us:

Charcuterie Boards for Holiday entertaining; for preorder Our Traditional Holiday Treats that we’ve always o ered: Whipped Toblerone Shortbread and Peppermint Bark; made in-house from our own recipes

NEW: Sticky To ee Puddings; family size, for preorder Specialty Food Products for Entertaining over the Holidays

Congratulations!! 10 years ago on November 16th, Good Vibes on Main opened their doors! Since then Vickie & Ken have been spreading Good Vibes throughout Newmarket. They are community ambassadors and are constantly giving back to their community. We were honoured to join Mayor John Taylor, Councillor Bob Kwapis and the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce to celebrate this amazing milestone! #shoplocal

CONNE CT WIT H U S

THIS WINTER

Winter 2023 Program Guide

Our Winter 2023 Program Guide has programs and activities for all ages. The guide will be available for online viewing no later than December 6. Pre-registration is required. To register online, go to aurora.ca/recguide and view our online guide. Once you have selected the program you wish to register for, simply click on the code # and you will automatically be directed to our e-PLAY online registration system. You can also visit the A.F.L.C. or S.A.R.C. to pay in-person.

Winterfest Camp - Junior and Senior

Take a break from the cold weather and join us for games, sports, crafts and more!

Winterfest Camps are available for ages 4 to 6 and 7 to 12. Dates for our camps run from December 28 to 30 and January 3 to 6

For more details, visit aurora.ca/camps

Preschool Drop-in at the S.A.R.C.

Have fun with your preschooler (newborn to 5 years) during one of our Saturday drop-in times. Visit our Preschool webpage for full details at aurora.ca/preschool

Holiday Schedules

Have fun over the holidays! We have programs and activities for everyone to enjoy. Visit our Holiday Schedules webpage for full details at aurora.ca/holidayschedules

Letter from MAYOR MRAKAS

Celebrate the holiday season at Aurora’s Christmas Market and Deck the Halls!

I hope everyone has a chance to put some time aside in the month of December, the most wonderful time of the year, and spend it with family and friends. One of the ways to celebrate the start of the holidays is to come out and experience Aurora’s Christmas Market presented by Healthy Planet.

The market will be held in Aurora Town Park from December 2 to 4 and December 9 to 11 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (no admittance after 8:45 p.m.). The market is one of the Top 100 Festivals and Events in Ontario and is filled with unique seasonal vendors, workshops, demonstrations and more. This event is free to attend so please take this opportunity to experience this amazing market with your family, friends and neighbours! Check out aurora.ca/christmasmarket for more details.

If you like bright lights and Christmas decorations, our Town is also hosting Aurora’s Deck the Halls Tour from December 12 to December 23 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. This event allows you and your family to drive around to the participating homes on our tour map and view the beautiful Christmas lights and decorations. This a wonderful opportunity to add some festive cheer to the community and is a safe way to admire the beauty of the season in the comfort of your own vehicle. To access the tour map and for more details, visit aurora.ca/deckthehalls.

From my family to yours, wishing all Aurorans a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year! Together, as a strong, united community let’s make an effort to help the less fortunate and support each other over the holiday season. Please have a happy and safe holiday!

Sincerely,

Mayor Tom Mrakas

T OWN O F A UROR A

WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

On November 2nd Cocoa40 held their o cial Grand Opening! What a "sweet" addition to Main St Newmarket, offering gourmet hand-crafted chocolates and confections made from the best French Valrhona chocolate.

On October 20th Noodle Max celebrated their Grand Opening with Mayor Tom Mrakas, Seanna Murray from the Aurora Chamber of Commerce, family and friends. We can't get enough of these made-to-order traditional hand pulled noodles! The service and food take greatness to the MAX. Located at 15440 Bayview Ave Unit B05, do yourself a favour and check them out!

A BIG Neighbour Congratulations to The Samosa Master Inc. South Asian Grocery & Fresh Food for taking over the South Asian Grocery Store that is in the front of their Samosa shop! If you're looking for authentic South Asian products look no further, they are also offering cash & carry products! If you haven't tried their Samosas yet, we highly recommend that you stop by their store located 130 Davis Drive.

On Saturday October 22nd, Petal Me Sugar Florist held their Grand Opening! Located at 2 Orchard Heights Blvd in the St. Andrews Plaza, not only can you pick up and order flowers, they are also offering workshops, including their DIY Winter Planter Workshop and DIY Winter/Christmas Wreath Workshop.

Congratulations Samantha Gowda-Singh, Desjardins Insurance Agent, on the o cial opening of her new o ce at 235 Industrial Pkwy S. in Aurora. Samantha Gowda-Singh is a resident of Aurora and has been in the insurance business for 7 years. Wishing you tons of success in your new space!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE SALVATION ARMY

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL?...

While many of us experience joy this holiday season, for many in our community, Christmas doesn't feel so jolly.

Between paying bills, keeping food on the table, and making ends meet– let alone buying Christmas Gifts– many members of our community are burdened, needing love, support, and hope!

The Salvation Army in Central York Region provides Christmas support to over 800 families annually.

If you see our iconic Christmas Kettle this holiday season, consider giving generously to those in need.

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON?

Come visit our Salvation Army History Exhibit at Aurora's Hillary House, located at 15372 Yonge St. N in Aurora. Until December 23, there will be an exhibit highlighting the Salvation Army's long history in Canada, and in Newmarket/Aurora. With historical artifacts, art pieces, and more, this is a visit you'll want to make!

DONATE

The Remembrance Day Service in Aurora took place at the Cenotaph. We thank all of those who have served and are currently serving our Country, and to the Aurora Legion for honouring them.

Thank you Newmarket Veterans' Association for the beautiful Remembrance Day Service at the Newmarket Cemetery on November 11th.

It’s that time of year again! The Key Advantage Team is here with their annual Key Needs Challenge” where they focus on the KEY needs of our community during the holiday season. This year, the Key Advantage Team reached out to Abuse Hurts to see what their needs were. The team went out and purchased a variety of items from the Abuse Hurts wishlist and made a donation as a way to say thank you to an organization that does so much for our community!

COBS Bread Aurora Gateway raised a ton of Dough on October 19th during their "Raising Dough for Welcoming Arms" event. Owners Bhavin & Nidhi donated 100% of their proceeds from this day to Welcoming Arms. On November 9th, they presented a cheque to Welcoming Arms for $4,500.00! This donation

Welcome to Royal Rose Art Gallery & Gifts

Located in the heart of Aurora, you will find a truly beautiful space waiting for you at Royal Rose Art Gallery & Gifts. Founded in September 2021, Royal Rose Art Gallery & Gifts is a locally-owned and women-owned business that strives to support Aurora’s love for the arts through various means.

The gallery supports local artists by proudly displaying and selling their work off the gallery’s historic brick walls. Local artisans and vendors are supported by the gallery’s gift shop, which sells their handmade and/or locally sourced goods. Royal Rose further encourages Aurora’s arts culture by offering engaging experiences through events and classes.

Keep an eye on the gallery’s website, as well as Facebook and Instagram, to stay up to date on the gallery’s events! One past event offered by the gallery was a clothing sample sale from a local fashion designer.

Bring out your children’s creative side during Royal Rose’s art classes. Taught by an experienced instructor, these classes allow for young students to explore different art mediums - ranging from acrylic and watercolour painting, sketching, oil pastels, clay sculpting, and more.

Royal Rose Art Gallery & Gifts knew that they couldn’t keep their beautiful space to themselves, so the gallery offers itself as a rentable venue. Book a children’s birthday party and Royal Rose will throw a fun painting party for them, or book another private party such as a bridal shower or anniversary. Royal Rose Art Gallery & Gifts is here to give Aurora’s arts community exactly what it needs.

Sunshine Park was inspired and founded by Aurora based designer Hoda Soliman. This clothing line has been marked as Canada’s happiest clothing brand. The weekend of November 18-20th, Sunshine Park teamed up with Rosa, owner of the Royal Rose Gallery, and hosted a sample sale for the public to come in and pick up pieces at a discounted price! Check out www.sunshine-park.com to see Hoda's beautiful clothing.

Sip & Shop, hosted by Style Upcycle at the Replenish General Store in Aurora, was a tremendous success! The community was invited to shop gorgeous upcycled clothing at amazing prices and have a "sip" of wine and some delicious snacks while they explored the store on October 20th.

Partner:

MESSAGE FROM MPP DAWN GALLAGHER MURPHY

Happy Holidays

It has been a pleasure to attend numerous community events over the past few weeks to celebrate, congratulate, and recognize members of our community. I had the honour of attending the Central York Fire Service 20222 Recognition Ceremony at Station 4-5, presenting a congratulatory scroll to Stefania, the owner and founder of Cocoa40 Inc – a new business on Main Street in Newmarket, visiting Metro #798 located on Davis Drive in Newmarket to congratulate the store manager for winning Silver in the 2021 Foodland Ontario awards, attending the Aurora Sport Hall of Fame – 2022 Induction Celebration where four new members were inducted. I also had the privilege of visiting Southlake Regional Health Care Center where I met Brandi Ferenc, who received the Women’s Executive Network, top 100 Canada’s Most Powerful Women of the Year Award. Way to go Brandi, so proud of our local skilled trades persons. Lest we not forget the Remembrance Day parades in Newmarket and Aurora. Thank you to all our veterans and service men and women who are currently serving our country.

On November 19th and 26th my staff, volunteers (including my husband and son) and I participated in the Newmarket and Aurora Santa Claus Parades. These are some of my favourite events of the year! Thousands of our community members gathered to embrace the holiday spirit! Thank you to everyone who came out to see all the magnificently decorated floats, and to all the participants, thank you for sharing your time and talent with our community.

As we now are into the winter months, it is important to remember our winter driving tip – “see snow? Drive slow.” Do your part and ensure that your vehicle is winter ready before hitting the roads this holiday season.

I want to take this time to wish my community members a very Happy Holiday, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, and a very Happy New Year. Take this time to celebrate and reflect with family, friends and loved ones. I wish you all a wonderful holiday season, stay safe.

On October 28th the Poppy Campaign began with a Flag Raising at the Aurora Legion.

Led by Legion President Lori Hoyes and Poppy Chair Bonnie Robertson, they were joined by a class from Aurora Prep Academy, MPP Dawn Gallagher Murphy and MP Leah Taylor Roy. This was followed by another Flag Raising at the Aurora Town Hall.

A

Partner:

Congratulations to Bookworms & Co. on celebrating their 1 Year Anniversary on October 22nd! Loba and her family have created an inclusive business supporting the community, local authors and the arts. You will find a wide selection of books, puzzles and games that celebrate diversity. Consider stopping in and supporting this family owned local business that does so much for our community.

www.bookwormsco.com

The Aurora Chamber of Commerce hosted their Networking Breakfast at the Holiday Inn & Suites on November 15th. It was a great opportunity for local businesses to meet and network while enjoying a delicious hot breakfast!

NEIGHBOURHOOD EVENTS

Enjoy a wonderful evening of inspired music from many countries across the world and a selection of Holiday music at the Aurora Community Band Annual Holiday Concert: JOURNEYS - Music From Around The World. Join us for the York Symphony Orchestra Annual Holiday Concert, filled with good cheer, all your favourite carols and the ever-popular audience sing-a-long with full symphony orchestra accompaniment.

WHEN: December 9th, 8pm / 10th, 3:30pm-8pm

WHERE: Trinity Anglican Church in Aurora

Cookie Claus will be here for Christmas Storytime this Holiday season! All free to attend. Please arrive at 11am as storytime will begin at 11:30am. Free gift with purchase of the featured book, The Christmas Tree That Changed The World, plus free activities and more! Get your free photo with Santa on December 10th from 11-1pm www.bookwormsco.com

WHEN: December 10th & 17th, 11am WHERE: Bookworms & Co.

Presented by RyGuy Comedy, Brew HAHA is a beautiful marriage of delicious craft beer and hilarious comedy! Featuring headliner AL VAL (Just For Laughs, CBC, CraveTV, Second City, and more!) Each ticket includes a 12oz beer (19+) or soft drink, courtesy of Old Flame Brewing Co. Get your tickets at www.eventbrite.com - early-bird promo code: EARLYDEC, offering 15% off tickets up until December 11th.

WHEN: December 22nd, 7:30pm-9pm

WHERE: Old Flame Brewing Co.

We are excited to be hosting Breakfast with Santa back in-person this year! A great breakfast with pancakes, sausage, eggs, bacon, coffee, tea and juice. Lots of fun Christmas crafts. Family pictures with Santa and gifts for youth ages 10 and under. Tickets are limited - to get yours please visit www.newmarketoptimists.club

WHEN: December 10th, 9am-12pm WHERE: Newmarket Optimist Youth Centre

average dad band!" @tangentlive

WHEN: December 16th, 7pm-10pm

WHERE: Market Brewing Co.

Chabad Newmarket, partnered with local small businesses, will be hosting a Chanukah Village from 2pm-4pm on Main Street, offering various activities and giveaways for kids! Followed by the Menorah Lighting at Riverwalk. / The Town of Aurora, in partnership with Chabad Aurora, will host this year's Menorah Lighting Ceremony. The ceremony will include the lighting of the menorah, traditional foods and a fire juggling show.

WHEN: December 18th, 4pm-5pm / December 19th, 6pm-8pm WHERE: Newmarket's Riverwalk Commons / Aurora Town Hall

We're excited to welcome back Tangent, playing live in the MB Co. Taproom! Tangent are a talented five-piece Classic Rock band from Aurora, bringing you the hits from the 60's, 70's, 80's & 90's that get you singing and dancing. Known for gigs at bars, pubs, festivals and outdoor venues they "ain't your

Good Vibes on Main

Good Vibes on Main opened on historic Main Street, Newmarket on November 16th, 2012. Nestled among unique shops and restaurants, we have loved being a part of the Main Street and Newmarket community. In August 2022 we moved to a bigger location on Main Street, ready for another 10 years of good vibes!

Family owned and operated by Ken and Vickie Sparks, our goal is to spread optimism and good vibes to one and all! We have been fans of Life is Good for years now - since we first encountered it in San Diego while on holiday. We immediately connected to the brand because of the Rocket (the dog on the shirts), but ultimately, it was the positive messages that truly resonated with us. We are excited to share that we are now an o cial Life is Good store, one of only two in the country!

As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we want to thank our customers for embracing us and our positive messages - helping us spread good vibes one shirt at a time.

Bhavin and Nidhi are residents of Aurora who own the local COBS Bread bakery.

Around July of 2018, we started looking into joining COBS. We were looking at different franchise bakeries, but picked COBS because of their philosophy to bake everything fresh and donate unsold products. Being a part of the community is important to us. We opened our doors in August of 2019 and our commitment to the community is that whether you're picking up a scratch-loaf of bread for your family or a treat for yourself, you can always be sure that the day you walk into the bakery is the same day we baked it. You will also never have to worry about added preservatives in our bread.

Through our end of day giving program, we donate all unsold products to local charities. My inbox is full of requests for donations from charities that this bakery previously supported. I am continuing those partnerships and plan to include some other organizations as well. I picked COBS Bread because of the importance they put on supporting the community, so it’s very important to me that COBS Bread Aurora Gateway is known as the Community Bakery.

Community Living provides a range of essential daily living supports to people with developmental/intellectual disabilities. Our supports include Day Programs, Employment Programs, Community Living Supports (16 homes), Supported Independent Living, Foster Families, and Respite Care. We support over 450 people in Aurora, East Gwillimbury, King City, Newmarket and Stouffville.

Community Living has a long-standing history of stability (68 years), impact and support in our communities, and is committed to removing all barriers to inclusion. We are a Charitable, Non profit Organization governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. We are funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services and comply with all its mandates, standards and policies.

VISION - "A Community Where Everyone Belongs"

MISSION - Enable people with a developmental/intellectual disability to achieve their fullest potential

VALUES - Respect, Integrity, Excellence

Thank you to Neighbour Partner Wasim Jarrah for supporting this month’s Charity Highlight page! We appreciate your commitment to community and charity. Mobile 416-899-5566 www.WasimJarrah.com

Drink and Play

Aurora Christmas Market

Presented by Healthy Planet

December 2-4 & 9-11

5pm-9:30pm (no admittance after 8:45pm) Aurora Town Park (entrance from Larmont Street) Free to attend

Check out one of the Top 100 Festivals and Events in Ontario! Aurora's Christmas Market will be filled with good cheer, festive nightly entertainment, hands-on Christmas themed workshops and activities (located in The Armoury), fantastic seasonal vendors and so much more. To learn more or to check out the entertainment and workshop schedules, visit www.aurora.ca

Frozen Fridays

Old Flame Festivus

December 17, 4pm-10pm

December 18th, 11am-6pm

Old Flame Brewing Co. Newmarket

Free to attend

Live Christmas Music from Local Artists, Local Food Truck and Drink Vendors, Ugly Christmas Sweater Party and Featuring a Christmas Winter Patio all weekend long.

Santa Paws is coming to YAPPY

HOUR

Tim Hortons First Night

December 31

Magna Centre

Free to attend

Bring the whole family and celebrate the New Year at this year's Tim Hortons First Night. Guests will get to enjoy public skating (12pm-3pm), swimming (12pm-3pm), a live outdoor concert performance by Switchbeat (5pm-6pm), free Tim Hortons coffee (5pm-6:30pm) and live fireworks display (6pm-6:15pm)!

December 7

4pm–8pm

Market Brewing Company

Free to attend. Vendors + MB Co. (Cash, Credit, Debit), Photos with Santa (Cash)

Hosted by York Professional Dog Walking & Pet SittingNewmarket/Aurora and Good Vibes on Main, this year's photos with our amazing Santa Paws will be done by Hooves and Paws Photography. For $20 you will receive one beautiful high resolution digital image. Good Vibes on Main, WAGZ WEAR Personalized Dog and Pet Accessories will also be set up for holiday shopping. Enjoy a local craft beer or cider from Market Brewing Co. Feel free to bring your own food and hangout while enjoying the event!

A

Family

Christmas

by AURORA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

December 11

10am-4pm

Hillary House National Historic Site Tickets are $3/per child and $5/per adult

Festive crafts and treats, Christmas storytelling, and even Santa himself will be in attendance! Bring the whole family to spend time at our annual holiday event and take photos on our decorative property.

Pre-registration is required for the timed-ticket entry.

TAYLOR

As we head into December, I want to wish everyone a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season.

As we enjoy the company of friends and family and the joy of the season, it is a great time to reflect on how fortunate we are to live in Newmarket and how we can help to keep this town a friendly and welcoming place for everyone.

I would encourage everyone to choose local when shopping this season. There are so many great businesses in Newmarket, it's easy to find a present for even the most hard-to-buy-for people on your list.

While this holiday season will be the closest to “normal” in the past two years, many in our community are still facing challenges. In addition to supporting local businesses, also be sure to check in with friends and neighbours who may struggle for one reason or another during the holidays. Also, consider supporting one or more of the great community agencies that help those less fortunate during the holiday season and throughout the year. We know this is a caring community and that is more clear than ever during the holiday season.

Happy Holidays Newmarket!

On October 21st, along with family, friends, local dignitaries and the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce, Murray Family Chiropractic celebrated 20 Years of serving the community! There was also a special guest in attendance, Dr. Murray's first client June, who is 93 years young! Please join us in congratulating Dr. Murray on this significant milestone!

Letter from MAYOR

Holidays!

Member of Parliament Happy Holidays Happy

Leah here, your Member of Parliament for Aurora- Oak RidgesRichmond Hill. On behalf of my family and team, I would like to wish you and your family a restful and peaceful holiday season. It is my sincere wish that you enjoy your time with your family and friends over the holidays. Time together sharing a meal, getting outdoors to enjoy our beautiful nature and helping those who need a little assistance at this time of year all bring good cheer.

We are part of a caring community and country and have much to be grateful for. Thank you to all of you who have reached out to our o ce to give us input or support and to all of you for the privilege of representing you. This year, I am especially grateful for my husband and my family. My husband, Peter, is on the road to recovery from his heart attack. I could not be more grateful to all the essential workers who work continuously to ensure our safety and well-being!

I hope this holiday season is a time of laughter and love for all! Take care, and I hope to see you in the new year if not before.

from your

Congratulations to these individuals for receiving the Queen's Jubilee Pin from the o ce of MP - Aurora, Oak Ridges, Richmond Hill, Leah Taylor Roy! The Queen's Jubilee is awarded to those who have for many years served the community with their hard work and dedication. This pin celebrated the 70th Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's accession to the throne. It also marked these individuals achievements and involvement in our community while paying tribute to Her Majesty's lifetime of committed service to Canada, the Commonwealth, and its citizens.

Neighbour Media's Myles Doak is the grandson of World War II Air Force vetran, Myles McInnis. #LestWeForget

Partner:

Preschool Canada Aurora

Preschool Canada Aurora is proud to offer a bright spacious location in the heart of Aurora with affordable subsidized care, passionate and qualified educators and premium care offered to Infant, Toddler and Preschool. Space is limited as we have opted into the Canada Wide Early Learning Childcare Project aiming to be at $10 a day by 2025. Our passionate educators create enriched programming specifically with your child in mind.

At Preschool Canada Aurora we believe in and value every child’s potential and distinct perspective of the world. In our observations, planning and education delivery, we incorporate four essential pillars into all that we do:

- The sense of BELONGING

- Physical and mental WELL BEING

- Exploration and ENGAGEMENT

- COMMUNICATION

We know how busy life is and the challenges of raising a family in today’s world. Our goal is to strengthen the bridge between your work and family lives by creating a special place to support and care for your child.

Parents, you can be assured we will take wonderful care of your children and provide a safe, nurturing environment for your child to explore, grow, learn and thrive.

Contact us today and come for a tour, we look forward to meeting you and your family.

Partner:

Enriched Programs

Specializing in Infant, Toddler and Preschool Passionate and Bright and Spacious Classrooms

Inclusive and Diverse

Preschool Canada Aurora Director: Debbie Mauca 108 Hollidge Blvd, Aurora, L4G 8A3 (905) 726-2226

Aurora.director@preschoolcanada.com www.preschoolcanada.com @preschoolcanada_aurora

Preschool Canada Aurora

Learn. Grow. Thrive.

35

The Holly Jolly Lodge

Experience the magic of the holiday season at Upper Canada Mall.

Located in the Centre Court on the lower level by Dollarama until December 24th. To avoid disappointment they encourage guests to reserve their Santa visit & photo package in advance, as limited walk-ups are available on a first-come-first-served basis. Visit www.uppercanadamall.com learn more and to reserve your visit!

The Pine Tree Potters Guild Annual Pottery Sale took place from November 17th - 20th at the Newmarket Old Town Hall. Francine Palmer was one of

potters that was selling her pottery at the event.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS

‘Tis the season to eat, drink and be merry! Whether you are hosting at home or looking for a venue for your holiday guests, Aurora is home to some excellent venues and caterers, who are sure to make your party sparkle.

THE AURORA ARMOURY- CFWI

Set with the beautiful backdrop of town park in the winter, The Armoury is a majestic setting for a holiday event. Their culinary team will create custom itineraries to meet the needs of your unique event. Everything from food, décor, A/V requirements and social activities will be handled by their professional on-site team. They also can cater your at-home parties!

auroraarmourycfwi.ca

ROMY’S

This chef owned and operated establishment, located in the heart of downtown Aurora brings new flavours and old world charm to life. Whether it’s a lunch date, booking your private party, catering your next event or picking up to go options, you’ll be sure to have a memorable meal at Romy’s.

romys.ca

CATHARINA’S KITCHEN

If you are looking for in-o ce or at-home catering, Catharina’s Kitchen can help take the stress out of cooking. From breakfast to lunch to full fare dining there is a menu to suit your needs. catharinaskitchen.com/menus

FOOD IN MOTION

The Kitchen by Food In Motion offers flexible full-service catering and take-home meals. They are all about bringing people together through food. Their service is designed to be executed with on-site staff or dropped off right to your event.

foodinmotion.ca

ROYAL VENETIAN

The Royal Venetian Mansion is more than your average banquet hall. The Georgian style mansion is perfect for events of any size, and is adaptable for weddings, social and corporate events. The culinary team at the Royal Venetian ensures that each dish is created and prepared to meet the highest of standards in both quality and presentation. Ask them about catering your next event!

royalvenetian.ca

SWEET DUTCHESS KITCHEN & CAFE

Create a private dining experience with Chef Marcia Dellepoort. Choose from a fully customizable menu and let them take care of everything so you can focus on your guests! Sweet Dutchess is located in the St. Andrew’s Shopping Centre. You are also sure to find unique gifts in the retail store for the foodie on your list.

sweetdutchess.ca

Opening a business or know someone who is? Check out the Chamber! visit us at aurorachamber.on.ca to discover the benefits and see why so many Aurora businesses are members.

The Mercedes-Benz Newmarket Canadian Concert Classics Series at Newmarket Old Town brought incredible musical talent to the community! The final of the three Fall concerts was amazing. Donné Roberts and his six-piece band lit up the room on November 13th! The evening began with hors d’oeuvres compliments of Cachet, an art exhibit in the lobby and drinks from Market Brewing Company. This intimate venue setting was the perfect place to feel fully immersed in the arts.

Japanese Style Cheescake Newmarket

charity.

Region

From my family to yours, Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah and Happy Holidays!

Neighbour

to 100

Care-

Celebrating 7 years, they have given $287,133 to local organizations! On October 26th, at Market Brewing Co., a cheque was presented to the Southlake Foundation for over $12,000, as they were the recipient of the third quarter donation. Congratulations to York Region Food Network for being selected as the recipient for the fourth quarter of 2022. If you are interested in being part of this inspiring group of women visit www.100womencyr.ca

shout-out

Women Who

Central York Region!!

Beep Beep.. On October 29th the SARIT team set up outside of Franks Organic Garden and community members were invited to stop by and test drive one of these micro-mobility vehicles. SARIT stands for Safe Affordable Reliable Innovative Transport. Neighbour Media stopped by to take a test drive and our review can be summed up in one word - FUN!!

From Michael Parsa

- Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill

Russell. I love to chase the ball and jump in the pool... over and over and over again! I definitely don't act my age and please don't remind me how old I am - age is just a number.

Mr. Earl Grey! A 3 month old Himalayan/Persian mix. I am still figuring out my way in the world, but my older sister Lucy thinks I've got potential!

Pointed Himalayan and am quite the princess, as you can see…it’s what I do best! I have a lot of work to do with my new little brother, Mr. Earl Grey. But he will make a great prince one day!

Argo

I’m Argo! A 2 year old purebred English Cream Golden Retriever. I live in Port Credit and love my morning 4km walks by the water with my Mom. On weekends you can find me on different trails all around the GTA with my Mom & Dad. In the summer I head up north to my cottage to swim and in the winter, I love playing in the snow!

Wren & Ripley

We're Wren and Ripley - best buddies from St. Andrews on the hill! Like all great friends, we love to see each other on our walks. Our favourite activity is to wrestle with each other on a neighbours front lawn. Wren is a fun loving Bernadoodle, people-pleaser and is just over a year old. Ripley is a feisty havanese that is almost seven months old.

Sullivan

Hi, I’m Sullivan! I'm a 14 month old St. Bernadoodle. You can catch me after my walks hanging out on the Old Flame patio with my Mom and Dad, listening to some great tunes! I love to swim, snuggle and play with my tennis ball in the snow.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a type of holistic, natural healthcare system that dates back at least 2,500. TCM is “holistic” and “natural” because it stimulates the body’s own healing mechanisms and considers all aspects of a patient’s life, rather than just obvious signs or symptoms. TCM practitioners view the body as a complex network of interconnected parts, rather than separate systems or organs. TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE PRACTITIONERS Andy Yip Jenny Cheng BENEFITS OF TCM INCLUDE Reduces In ammation Improves Your Muscle Strength and Flexibility Protects and Improves your Cognitive Health Helps Lower the Body's Stress Response Has Very Few Side Effects 187 Main Street South Unit 207, Newmarket 905 23 5-2880

TCM treatments aim to correct imbalances in the body and primarily work in three major ways: Welcome to Main Street RMT & Wellness Clinic!

a patient’s external factors and environment

The annual Pumpkin Parade happened on November 1st at Newmarket's Riverwalk Commons! Event sponsor Riverwalk Wealth was there to hand out treats to all the voters who came out to pick their favourite pumpkins for each category; ‘Jack-of-all-Lanterns’, the spookiest, the cutest and the most creative pumpkins!

We asked the community to help us crown the winner of our Neighbour Media Halloween Costume Contest by voting for their favourite costume on social media. Thank you to everyone who entered and congratulations to Kristen and her dog Argo for their victory as Eggs and Bacon!

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Aging in Place…. “I just Want to Stay At Home!”

THE PHYSICAL STRESS OF MOVING: for many seniors, moving out of a family home means stress sorting through decades of keepsakes and possessions.

THE FEAR OF LOSING INDEPENDENCE: moving elsewhere may mean feeling a loss of independence, for example not having your own schedule by eating with family or at times when you always want to do so.

ANXIETY OVER LEAVING A COMMUNITY: a move to senior living may mean changing decades-old routines, and some seniors may worry that a move will further isolate them from friendships that have lasted their entire life.

EMOTIONAL TIES TO THE FAMILY HOME: A house is just a house, but a home is something to be cherished. Leaving a physical structure that has encapsulated decades worth of memories and is the backdrop to family holidays and reunions can be emotional.

FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY: staying in your own home may simply be more affordable as it may avoid significant monthly payments for accommodation elsewhere, which, after having paid down your mortgage, you have not been responsible for many past years.

For advice about seniors and care at home, please kindly contact Brian Porter, Director and Owner of Living Assistance Services (LAS), at 416.483.0070 (office), 905.758.2486 (cell), or b.porter@laservices.ca and visit: livingassistance.ca 華語服務客戶經理 : Helen Huang 華 : 416.880.6889 or h.huang@LAServices.ca

Partner:

Thank you Aurora Farmers' Market & Artisan Fair for another season of fun and fantastic vendors! What a great way to end the season with this adorable Halloween Pet Parade on October 29th!

Good Vibes on Main celebrated their 10th Anniversary at Market Brewing Company on November 11th. It was an evening of dancing to the awesome tunes of Glenn Marais & The Mojo Train, while enjoying a Good Vibes x Market Brewing Co. Porter beer! Not only was it a super fun event, but it was also for a good cause. About $3000 was raised for MusicCan, a charity that provides instruments and lessons to local kids!

On October 29th, Aurora OPP members attended Bookworms and Co. and R and D Comics and Collectables in Aurora for the annual HSD Book Drive for Kids. After completing their shopping, patrons had the option of purchasing another book or comic which would then be distributed to youth in need, in the community. The two stores collected approximately 14 boxes of books, comics, graphic novels and even some games and puzzles. All these items will be distributed by community partner, Welcoming Arms, to youth, teens and tweens in the community.

FOR OUR NEIGHBOURS

Hey Neighbours! This page is for you to enjoy each month. We will be featuring games, puzzles, contests, giveaways and so much more. You can also follow our social media accounts to stay up to date and to potentially receive some hints to help you solve future puzzles. @NeighbourMedia

CAN YOU SPOT ALL 7 DIFFERENCES?

If you get stuck, follow @neighbourmedia on Instagram and Facebook. We will post the solution later this month!

Get to Know YOUR NEIGHBOURS

What is your most memorable community moment?

Losing my son at the Santa Claus parade. (Don’t worry - we found him)

What is your go-to local restaurant?

Ground Burger Bar & Olde Village Free House

How long have you lived in the community? 47 years

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Other than here: Sydney, Australia

What does being a good neighbour mean to you? It means listening to people, empathizing and being courteous, polite, and looking out for one another.

What is your most memorable community moment?

Participating with my family and the Newmarket Hawks at the 2021 Santa Claus Parade. My husband and I were involved in creating and decorating a winning float. The magic of the day was shared with many Newmarket families!

What are your top 3 favourite movies? The Polar Express 2. Top Gun (both) 3. Grease

If you could give advice to your younger self, what would it be? I would tell myself to continue taking risks, to always look outside the box when decision making and dance and laugh like nobody's watching.

What is your favourite holiday to celebrate? My favorite holiday is Christmas! There is nothing like the magic of the season.

Netflix or a night out? Oh…Netflix night… hands down, with lots of treats and junk food! Perhaps a glass of wine too!

Basem Kassem

How long have you lived in the community?

I lived in Newmarket for 15 years, then my girlfriend and I moved to Keswick in 2020! My family

What is your favourite season (winter, spring, summer, fall), and why?

Summer! There’s so many activities to do, from golf to cornhole. The only problem is it is too short.

Where is your favourite place to go in the community? Fave place in the community is definitely Main Street. Nothing beats the sliders at the George!

What does being a good neighbour mean to you?

Lending a helping hand whenever someone is in need, it’s all about being there for one another.

What is your favourite sport? Do you play for any local teams?

Golf! I’ve been a member at Carrying Place for a few years now, nothing beats being at the course and enjoying what nature has to offer.

Want to be featured on this page? Email us and we will introduce you to the neighbourhood!

Commercial/Residential HVAC Technician with Concept Air Systems

Teacher at Mazo de la Roche P.S. since 2000

Caroline Blake

Project Coordinator at Roadhouse & Rose Funeral Home

Dan McPherson

HAP PY

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Photo by Glenn Rodger Photography