The Town of Aurora's Citizen of the Year Award is an annual award recognizing the exceptional contributions made by a local citizen to our community. The Citizen of the Year Award has been awarded by the Town of Aurora since 1970. This individual is selected by the Office of the Mayor in consultation with a small group of dedicated community volunteers.
This award recipient has demonstrated all-round community involvement rather than specific activity or contribution.
Congratulations to the 2024 Citizen of the Year
Vern Cunnigham
Vern Cunnigham, the 2024 Town of Auora Citizen of the Year, has shown a steadfast commitment to bettering his community through volunteerism. Mr. Cunnigham’s early volunteer work saw him support small business owners through his work as an Aurora Chamber of Commerce board member and serving an ambassador for the York Region Small Business Enterprise Centre. He is a member of the Optimist Club and has served as the president of the Probus Club, where he remains an active board member. He has also sat on the board of the Bereaved Families of York Region, and has been a member of the Hope House Hospice bereavement team. Most recently, in 2022, Vern joined the board of the Aurora Seniors Centre and began chairing the fundraising committee – in his first year as chair, he helped raise over $15,000.
For more information on Aurora’s Community Recognition Awards or to view a full list of award categories and criteria, please visit aurora.ca/cra.
| Year | Award Winner |
|---|---|
| 2023 |
Wendy Browne |
| 2022 |
Sam Saberi |
| 2021 |
Eric McCartney |
| 2020 | Tom Connor |
| 2019 | Barb Allan |
| 2018 | Josie Kearney |
| 2017 | Peter van Schaik |
| 2016 | Mary Georgopoulos |
| 2015 | Diane Buchanan |
| 2014 | Beverley Wood |
| 2013 | Ron Wallace |
| 2012 | Brian North |
| 2011 | Jo-anne Spitzer |
| 2010 | Gordon Barnes |
| 2009 | David Tomlinson |
| 2008 | Susan Walmer |
| 2007 | Dorothy Clark-McClure |
| 2006 | Sylvia Gilchrist |
| 2005 | Bud Gilbert |
| 2004 | Phil Horsman |
| 2003 | Dr. John McIntyre |
| 2002 | Bob Hartwell |
| 2001 | Ken Smith |
| 2000 | Jackie Stubbs |
| 1999 | Vic Priestly |
| 1998 | Ferguson Mobbs |
| 1997 | Gerry Payne |
| 1996 | Steve Hinder |
| 1995 | Susan Gwilliam |
| 1994 | Dianne Harrison |
| 1993 | Wanda McKenzie |
| 1992 | Jack DeGraaf |
| 1991 | Bucky McLarty |
| 1990 | Arnold Miller |
| 1989 | Dick Illingworth |
| 1988 | Norm Stewart |
| 1987 | Nora McRoberts |
| 1986 | Fred Conklin |
| 1985 | Bill Coleman |
| 1984 | Lowell McClenny |
| 1983 | Dr. Leslie Oliver |
| 1982 | Vic Paraninfo |
| 1981 | Eric Smith |
| 1980 | Jack Williamson |
| 1979 | Omar Khamissa |
| 1978 | Bill Dinsmore |
| 1977 | Fred Bolsby |
| 1976 | Dr. Crawford Rose |
| 1975 | Rev. Homer McAvoy |
| 1974 | Jack Wood |
| 1973 | Don Glass |
| 1972 | J. E. (Dick) Buchanan |
| 1971 | Annebelle Black |
| 1970 | Bob Blick |
