SARC name is coming down, Mayor confirms

The Town of Aurora is taking down the name of the Stronach Aurora Recreation Complex, Mayor Tom Mrakas confirms.

The move follows a court decision on Friday, June 12, which found Magna founder Frank Stronach, 93, guilty of one count of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault.

Stronach, who first faced a series of charges in 2024 related to incidents going back to the 1970s, pled not guilty to 12 charges relating to seven complainants who came forward.

Mayor Mrakas confirms to The Auroran that, in light of Friday's conviction handed down by Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy, the Town will be “taken down” the “Stronach Aurora Recreation Complex” (SARC) name from the northeast Aurora recreation centre.

A formal statement will be coming this week, he says.

The SARC, located on Wellington Street East, just west of Leslie Street, is a stone's throw away from Magna International's Wellington Street campus, and Mrakas says the naming rights to the recreation centre belong to Magna rather than the Stronach family.

“When circumstances such as these arise, we have a responsibility to act in the best interests of our residents and the community as a whole,” he says. “Sexual assault, sexual violence, and violence of any kind have no place in our society, and the Town of Aurora will always stand on the side of respect, dignity, and safety for all.”

Stronach resigned as chair of Magna's board in 2011 and plays no role in the company.

The Town's move to address the name of the SARC follows a decision made by Newmarket Council on Monday night to re-name Frank Stronach Park.

The park, located on Veterans Way, just off Leslie Street, will now be known as Veterans Park, Council decided.

Newmarket-based Southlake Health confirms they are also undergoing a similar process regarding the name of the Stronach Regional Cancer Centre.

“Sexual assault or violence of any kind has no place in society and will not be tolerated by Southlake,” said Southlake Health in a statement. “A review of the philanthropic naming recognition of our cancer centre is underway following a formal request from Magna.”

Requests for comment from Stronach's team had not been received at press time.

Following Justice Molloy's decision on Friday, Yellow Brick House, a women's shelter based in Aurora and Richmond Hill, said the verdict “reinforces a critical truth: sexual violence is serious, and accountability remains essential, regardless of how much time has passed since the harm occurred.

“This moment is not only about one case. It's about the many survivors who have lived for years, sometimes decades, with trauma, self-blame, and silence. It is about those who froze in fear, who calculated their safety in the moment, or who felt overpowered and unheard,” said the organization. “Today's outcome may offer validation for some. For others, it may reopen wounds. What remains clear is this: survivors need safe, trauma-informed pathways to justice. They need systems that recognize how trauma affects memory, behaviour, and reporting timelines. They need communities that respond with belief, dignity and support.”

Sentencing for Stronach related to these two convictions is expected to begin this fall, while a further set of sexual-based criminal charges will be subject of a Newmarket trial in 2027. He vigorously denies the claims.

By Brock Weir
Editor
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter