BYLAW - Historic Designation War Memorial Peace Park - 20080122 - 497707DAurora-Whitchurch-King War
Memorial and Peace Park
"'\.ownof-10, THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF AURORA
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By-law Number 4977 -Ol.D
BEING A BY-LAW to designate a certain property
as being of Historical and/or Architectural Value
or Interest "The Aurora-Whitchurch-King War
Memorial and Peace Park", 14659 Yonge Street.
WHEREAS pursuant to Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S. 0. 1990, Chaptero.18,
the Council of a municipality is authorized to enact By-laws to designate a real property,
including all buildings and structures thereon, to be of cultural heritage value or interest;
AND WHEREAS the municipal council of the Corporation of the Town of Aurora has
cause to be served on the owners of the lands and premises at:
14659 Yonge Street
Aurora, ON
and up on the Ontario Heritage Foundation, notice of intention to designate the Aurora-
Whitchurch-King War Memorial and Peace Park, and a statement of the reasons for the
proposed designation, and further, has caused said notice of intention to be published in
the Era Banner, being a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality;
AND WHEREAS no notice of objection to the proposed designation has been served on
the municipality;
AND WHEREAS the reasons for designation are set out in Schedule "B" attached
hereto and form part of this By-law;
NOW THEREFORE THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CORPORATION OF THE
TOWN OF AURORA ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:
1. THAT the following real property, more particularly described in Schedule "A"
attached hereto and forming part of this By-law is hereby designated as being of
cultural heritage value or interest:
The Aurora-Whitchurch-King War Memorial and Peace Park
14659 Yonge Street
Town of Aurora
The Regional Municipality of York
2. THAT the Town solicitor is hereby authorized to cause a copyofthis By-law to be
registered against the property described in Schedule "A" attached hereto at the
Land Registry Office.
READ A FIRST AND SECOND TIME THIS 22N° DAY OF JANUARY, 2008.
READ A THIRD TIME AND FINALLY PASSED THIS 22N° DAY OF JANUARY, 2008.
PHYLLIS M. MORRIS, MAYOR
TOWN OF AURORA
THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF YORK
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CATION: Firstly, Lot 23, RCP 10328 and PT LT 76
CON 1 Whitchurch, designated as PTS
2 & 3, 65R19307
Secondly, Lot 63, RCP 10328
Town of Aurora, Regional Municipality of York
14659 Yonge Street
THIS IS SCHEDULE "A"
TO BY•LAW NO. 4977-07.D
PASSED THIS .J,d,_ DAY
OFJANwtdL-1 , 20o9.
B0~,CLERK
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PHYLLIS M. MORRIS, MAYOR
[t~f~;,;;;,~~))J SUBJECT LANDS
Murray Dr Edward St
Poplar Crt
SCHEDULE "A" TO BY-LAW NO. 4977-07.0
SCHEDULE "8" TO
BY-LAW 4977-0l.D
Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest
By-law Number 4977-07.0
Page 3 of 5
The Aurora War Memorial and Peace Park has excellent cultural heritage value. The
Cenotaph is Aurora's only memorial tower, built to recognize the local soldiers from
Aurora, King and Whitchurch who served and fell in the Great War. The Altar of
Sacrifice at the base of the Cenotaph was dedicated in 1960 to those who died in World
War II. Both monuments are set in the Peace Park, dedicated in 1992 as part of
Canada's 125th anniversary and the Peace Park Across Canada Project.
Historical Value
Built in 1925, the Aurora Cenotaph is constructed on land once owned to military
leader William Graham, who fought in the American Revolution, and also in the War
of 1812. Shortly after the end of the Great War in 1919, Sir William Mulock donated
$25,000 for a war memorial on 6 acres of land in south Aurora, on the east side of
Yonge Street. Another $25,000 was raised by the communities of King, Whitchurch,
and Aurora. The memorial tower recognizes the sacrifice made by ??local men who
did not return home after the First World War.
In 1960, the Altar of Sacrifice was erected to honour the 55 local rnen who died in
the Second World War.
Architectural Value
The Aurora War Memorial has strong architectural value as Aurora's only
memorial tower. It stands 73 feet high and was constructed of granite by the
Mcintosh Granite Company of Toronto. The lantern at the top of the tower is
solid bronze, and the names of the fallen soldiers are engraved in lead.
Contextual Value
The Aurora War Memorial and Peace Park has important contextual value as one of
Aurora's best known landmarks. The only remaining piece of parkland fronting onto
Yonge Street in south Aurora, the War Memorial and Peace Park provides a green
space and respite from the busy traffic of Yonge Street and the surrounding
commercial developments. It is the site of Remembrance Day and other memorial
services. Located on Yonge Street, the site of the War Memorial and Peace Park
was deliberately placed on the main thoroughfare in Aurora, looking over the town.
Description of Heritage Attributes
The Description of Heritage Attributes includes the following heritage attributes and
applies to all elevations and the roof including all facades, entrances, windows,
chimneys, and trim, together with construction materials of wood, brick, stone, plaster
parging, metal and glazing, their related building techniques and landscape features:
Exterior Elements:
• Cenotaph Memorial Tower, including:
• Overall tapered square tower form with buttresses at each corner of the base
and battlement
• All inscriptions and engravings
• Bronze lantern
• Altar of Sacrifice, including:
• Overall rectangular form resting on a granite base
• All inscriptions and engravings
• Granite stairs to monument
• Flag poles to the north and south of cenotaph
• Peace Park plaque mounted on stone
• Park landscape, including:
By-law Number 4977-07.0
Page 4 of 5
• Pathway from Yonge Street, and 'Veteran's Way' signage
• Mature trees and plantings
Explanatory Note
Re: Heritage Designation By-law No. 4977.07.0
By-law Number 4977-07. D
Page 5 of 5
By-law Number 4977.07.0 the following purpose and effect:
To designate the property at 14659 Yonge Street as a property of cultural heritage value
or interest pursuant to the provisions of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O,. 1990, Chapter
0.18, Part IV, Section 29.