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Former mayor “honoured” by Nokiidaa Trail tribute

February 18, 2015   ·   0 Comments

By Brock Weir

Former Aurora mayor Tim Jones has always been a champion of “character” – and a room in Whitchurch-Stouffville’s Community Safety Village is mute testament to that. But now Mr. Jones is receiving a permanent honour for his community service on home turf.

Council approved renaming a section of Aurora’s portion of the Nokiidaa Trail “the Tim Jones Trail” last week in recognition of his nearly three decades of service as an elected representative, and his continuing work as a community volunteer.

The section designated in tribute to Mr. Jones is likely to be at the south end of the Sheppard’s Bush leg of the popular pedestrian walk.
“It is a terrific honour,” says Mr. Jones.

In one of Mr. Jones’ terms as a councillor, a focus of that council was securing trails in Aurora’s northeast quadrant. From that, the principle of trails was woven into “the fabric of our town”, a legacy he says he remains proud of.

“[Advocates like] Klaus Wehrenberg and David Tomlinson were very adamant about the development, going for what I would call ‘the ideal’ and Council usually settled on the ‘real’,” he says. “I am glad they were there because it really helped to give us what we have today, which I think is probably one of the greatest trails systems in any town going.”

As mayor, Mr. Jones says his councils stuck to their guns and did the “best they could” to insist trails be a component of new development. Although he admits in the eyes of some these efforts might not have been good enough, it was the “best you could do without ending up at an OMB hearing.”
The motion to rename a part of the trail in Mr. Jones’ honour was presented to Council by Councillor Paul Pirri and seconded by Councillor Tom Mrakas, and received the unanimous support around the table.

“There is no doubt in any of our minds that this man cares about this community and this is our way to say thank you for that commitment and that caring over his 28 year career in municipal politics,” said Councillor Pirri.

“I think it is a great honour for our longest serving mayor,” added Councillor Mrakas. “For me, it is a great way to honour someone who has done a lot for this community and continues to do that work.”

Mr. Jones currently serves as Director of Development for CHATS – Community and Home Assistance to Seniors – as well as serving, along with former Newmarket mayor (and fellow Nokiidaa Trail honoree) Tom Taylor, as ambassador for Neighbourhood Network.

         

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