• The Aurora Whitchurch King War Memorial, built in 1925, is nearing its 100th anniversary.
  • Aurora, King, and Stouffville have formed a joint project team to plan centennial commemorations.
  • They include new veteran banners, special exhibitions, and an October re-dedication ceremony.
  • A new Indigenous memorial will be added to Aurora War Memorial Peace Park, set for completion in 2026.
  • Aurora is also restoring the original monument, adding seating and lighting, and correcting misspelled names.
  • Stouffville will expand its veteran banner program to honour service members from multiple conflicts.

 

The Aurora Whitchurch King War Memorial was built in 1925 through a collaboration between the three municipalities. Standing 73 feet tall and crowned with a bronze lantern, the granite tower honours local servicemen who died in the Great War. It remains the centrepiece of Aurora War Memorial Peace Park, which has since grown to reflect the sacrifices of later generations.

The park now includes the Korean War Memorial, added in 2023, and the Altar of Sacrifice, installed in 1960 to recognize local soldiers who died in the Second World War. A LAV III light armoured vehicle can also be found on the grounds, commemorating the 40,000 Canadian Armed Forces members who served in Afghanistan.

As the memorial approaches its centennial, Aurora, King, and Stouffville have formed a joint project team to plan a series of commemorations. Involving staff from respective museums, their work is focused on three main elements: new veteran banners, a suite of exhibitions, and a special anniversary ceremony.

Aurora is moving ahead with several upgrades to the monument and surrounding park, including restoration work, new seating, and lighting enhancements. Research conducted during the process also revealed a need to correct the spelling of some included names, among them Lieutenant Samuel Lewis Honey, Private Fred Luxon, and J. Herbert Wallwork.

Another planned addition is a memorial honouring Indigenous soldiers, which the Town has described as a missing element in its Peace Park. An Indigenous artist will be selected to design the monument, with completion expected in 2026.

The centennial re-dedication ceremony is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. Led by the Aurora Legion, the event will feature traditional music, readings, and speeches, along with the unveiling of the restored memorial. Organizers are also reaching out to descendants of residents who helped fundraise and advocate for the original monument’s construction in 1925, providing an opportunity for their families to take part in the milestone.

One of the most visible elements of the anniversary will be new street banners honouring First World War soldiers. A set will be produced for each municipality, featuring local veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice during the conflict.

In Stouffville, however, the program will expand beyond the First World War. Its banners will also recognize residents who served and died in the Second World War, Korean War, peacekeeping operations, and training missions. The new series will replace the Town’s current Remembrance Day banners, which have reached the end of their lifecycle.

A Veteran Banner Expert Panel identified 57 Whitchurch-Stouffville residents who died in service of their country, including seven who were previously unrecognized. Stouffville’s banners will line Main Street from Oct. 1 to Nov. 13, with one symbolically honouring the unknown soldier.

On Nov. 2, the Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum will host a guided tour, Where They Walked: Stouffville’s Veteran Stories, introducing residents to the banner project and sharing the stories of local service members. Registration is available through Eventbrite. While space is limited, the Town also plans to publish the full banner collection online.

Another feature of the centennial will be a new exhibition series, titled In Their Memory: The Story of the Aurora Whitchurch King War Memorial. Drawing on artifacts and archival material from all three municipalities, the project will explore how the towns came together in 1925 to build the monument.

The exhibition will first be installed outdoors at Aurora War Memorial Peace Park. A travelling version is also being developed to circulate through Stouffville, King, and potentially other locations, and a digital version will provide online access to the material.

For Stouffville, Aurora, and King, the centennial is not only a reflection on the past. It is a chance to renew a shared commitment to remembrance and to pass on the stories of sacrifice so future generations understand the price of the freedoms they enjoy.