Aurora closes book on Library Square name; have your say on new moniker for major downtown project

Aurora Junction, Church Street Square, Constellation Square and Town Square are four finalists

Yorkregion.com
April 28, 2021
Lisa Queen

Want to help choose a new name for Library Square, the largest capital project in Aurora’s history and a catalyst for revitalization of the downtown?

The town is running a poll on engageaurora.ca/librarysquare until April 28 at 5 p.m., asking residents to choose their favourite name for the $51.5-million project out of four finalists.

The choices are “Aurora Junction,” “Church Street Square,” “Constellation Square” and “Town Square.”

Library Square isn’t one of the options.

But some residents want the name to remain as is.

On an informal poll on the Aurora Community Connection page on Facebook, the added name of Library Square is by far the front-runner.

But the town says finding an alternate name is an important step that will “better define the space as a downtown destination for community gatherings, arts, culture and heritage activities, special events, recreation and more.

“While the Aurora Public Library remains a key stakeholder, the project has evolved in such a way that the name Library Square no longer captures the full extent of its cross-sectoral and collaborative nature.”

The new name will reflect that the space will include the Aurora Public Library, 22 Church St. (Aurora Museum and Archives and Aurora Cultural Centre), the sky bridge and the outdoor square.

The town outlined reasons the four names being proposed have been selected as finalists.

Aurora Junction: “Junction” can be defined as an act of joining as well as a place or point of meeting, making it a fitting name for Aurora’s newest space, where people from all walks of life will come together to enjoy art, theatre, music, shopping, community gatherings and more. The term “junction” is also associated with the railway, and so this name is a nod to the importance of the railroad to the development of Aurora from a small town to a growing and diversifying municipality.

Church Street Square: Loaded with history and home to the Aurora Cultural Centre and Aurora Museum and Archives, Church Street Square honours one of Aurora’s most iconic streets. The name is place-centric and speaks to how this area has grown into the town’s home for creativity, culture, innovative programming and community gatherings.

Constellation Square: The town’s newest facility is a place of opportunity and learning, where people can aspire to be more creative, more artistic and more connected to their community. Constellation Square is a name that reflects these aspirational qualities. The name also translates well to a dramatic visual identity that is inspired by the night sky and some of the facility’s unique design features, such as the catenary lights and the backlit aluminum mesh around the Church Street School addition.

Town Square: Town squares exist across the globe and can be described as an open public space usually located in the heart of a town used for community gatherings. Although not unique, town squares have a long history and reflect the age-old desire for communities to share a space of belonging and celebration.