Biography
Phyllis Morris
I have been a resident of Aurora since 1990 and York Region since 1983.
As an active volunteer in the community, after initiating and leading a successful community-wide fundraising campaign to help build a new arena in town,
I was encouraged to run for a seat on Town Council.
I was first elected to Aurora Council in November 1994. And was re-elected in 1997. Serving as Deputy Mayor for three years from 2003-2006. In 2006 I was elected as Aurora's first four-year Mayor.
I've always enjoyed identifying issues important to people. As a result I've taken an active interest in the environment, town planning, local economic development, budget oversight and management, cultural appreciation & promotion, and natural and built heritage preservation. As an elected official, my goal was to facilitate the public's access to the processes of government, so that my constituents' needs were heard.
My interest in and passion for Aurora continues.
Other Past Experience in My Role as an Elected Official and as a community volunteer
Issue-Related Campaigns
Horse - Riding Safety for children
Initiated and oversaw Aurora becoming the first community in Canada to have a Commercial Horse Riding Establishment Licensing By-law. The by-law was similarly adopted in other York Region and GTA Municipalities and within two years led to an amendment to Ontario's Highway Traffic Act, which regulates the wearing of riding helmets, and boots with a heel for all childen under 18 while horseback riding in commercial establishments.
Right-to-Dry Campaign (2005)
Successfully initiated and steered a Province wide Right-to-Dry Campaign that resulted in the Goverment of Ontario rescinding the use of restrictive land use covenants that had for many years been placed on property titles by developers. This change permitted many residents the right to choose to use clotheslines across Ontario. The initiative captured the attention of the "National Post" and "New York Times".
Serving Aurora, Ontario as a Volunteer
Environmental Memberships & Support
Education and business experience
Phyllis Morris holds a Law Enforcement Diploma (High Honours) fom Seneca College, King City, and was Valedictorian in 1995, winning the Tony Fuelling Memorial Award. She graduated in August 2003 from Seneca College as a Court and Tribunal Agent. Prior to moving to York Region, Phyllis Morris worked in the United Kingdom for the Ministry of Defence. Her many years of business experience have included running her own retail company in England. She worked in the Human Resources field in Ontario for more than 10 years, recruiting and coordinating staffing for new plant start-ups in the automotive and food retail industries in both North America and Europe; including Steinberg Inc. Miracle Food Mart ; TRIAM - Powerlasers Inc; & Tower Automotive Inc. She has been a member of the Aurora Chamber of Commerce for many years and as Mayor served as a Town Liaison on their Board of Directors. She was a weekly columnist for the local, award winning Aurora Banner and former bi-monthly host and producer of Cable 10's "Council In Action", interviewing Aurora Town Council Members, 2003 - 2006.
As an active volunteer in the community, after initiating and leading a successful community-wide fundraising campaign to help build a new arena in town,
I was encouraged to run for a seat on Town Council.
I was first elected to Aurora Council in November 1994. And was re-elected in 1997. Serving as Deputy Mayor for three years from 2003-2006. In 2006 I was elected as Aurora's first four-year Mayor.
I've always enjoyed identifying issues important to people. As a result I've taken an active interest in the environment, town planning, local economic development, budget oversight and management, cultural appreciation & promotion, and natural and built heritage preservation. As an elected official, my goal was to facilitate the public's access to the processes of government, so that my constituents' needs were heard.
My interest in and passion for Aurora continues.
Other Past Experience in My Role as an Elected Official and as a community volunteer
- Region of York, Planning and Economic Development Committee
- Region of York, Finance and Adminstration Committee
- Vice-Chair of Region of York, Audit Committee
- Region of York, Health and Emergency Services Committee
- Region Of York, Public Planning Committee
- Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Standing Commitees – International Relations, Increasing Women's Participation in Municipal Governance, Environment and Sustainable Development. Attended as a delegate on an FCM Alternate Energy Mission in the United Kingdom.
- One of two Ontario Mayors appointed by the Minister of Environment to serve on the Lake Simcoe Stakeholder Advisory Committee, which advised the Minister on the establishment of the Lake Simcoe Protection Legislation
- Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority, Expansion Committee (Ad hoc)
- Chair of Town of Aurora's Administration & Finance Committee
- Chair of Town Council's Economic Development Advisory Committee
- Chair of Town of Aurora Public Planning Committee
- Growth Management Team member, which guided OPA 17, controlling growth to the year 2016
- Code of Ethics Review Committee - Chairperson (Successfully Initiated the Code of Ethics for Aurora Town Council)
- Supported a Code of Conduct for Town Council
- Founding Chair of Town Council's Environmental Advisory Committee
- Member of the Aurora/Newmarket Central York Fire Services Joint Council Committee 2003 -2006, which administers and oversees fire and fire prevention services
- Chair of the Town of Aurora, Public Planning Committee
- Ex-Officio Member of Town Council's eight Advisory CommitteesChair of Town of Aurora's Downtown Revitalization Committee (Yonge and Wellington Streets Promenade Study ) The study/plan was adopted as presented and recommended by the current council in January 2011 . It now forms part of the Towns current Official Plan.
- Chair of Town of Aurora's 2C lands secondary Plan and 2010 Five Year Official Plan Review Committees.
- Council volunteer appointee/ Member, Markham-Aurora Hydro Task Force
- Town of Aurora Council representative, Ontario Power Authority Political Review Forum
- Served as Town of Aurora Council representative to the "Canadian Federation of Intercultural Friendship & Police Liason Committee"
- Served two terms as an Aurora Public Library Trustee 1994 -2000
- Aurora Public Library, Facility Review Committee - which initiated and led to the current library being built on Yonge street
- Downtown Aurora Community Core Review , Council Committee member
- Aurora's Growth Management Study, Council appointee
- Leisure Services Advisory Committee, Member for six years and Chairperson
- Member of the organizing committee which initiated the current Aurora Community Arboretum
- Town liaison to the Board of Directors, Aurora Chamber of Commerce
- Honorary Commandant, Queen's York Rangers, 1st American - Army Cadet Corps
- Honorary President, Aurora & District Historical Society
Issue-Related Campaigns
Horse - Riding Safety for children
Initiated and oversaw Aurora becoming the first community in Canada to have a Commercial Horse Riding Establishment Licensing By-law. The by-law was similarly adopted in other York Region and GTA Municipalities and within two years led to an amendment to Ontario's Highway Traffic Act, which regulates the wearing of riding helmets, and boots with a heel for all childen under 18 while horseback riding in commercial establishments.
Right-to-Dry Campaign (2005)
Successfully initiated and steered a Province wide Right-to-Dry Campaign that resulted in the Goverment of Ontario rescinding the use of restrictive land use covenants that had for many years been placed on property titles by developers. This change permitted many residents the right to choose to use clotheslines across Ontario. The initiative captured the attention of the "National Post" and "New York Times".
Serving Aurora, Ontario as a Volunteer
- Founder and chair of the volunteer citizen group, New Arena for Aurora's Recreation (NAFAR), that raised $117,000 for the building of the third ice pad at the Aurora Community Centre arena. Ice user groups also contributed an additional $1 million toward this facility through ice user surcharges
- Special Gifts Chairperson, Southlake Regional Health Centre's "Nurture the Future" $15 million capital campaign
- MAGNA Country Hoedown - nine year volunteer and Co-Chair in 1993 and 1994 - this event has raised over $1.5 million for local charities
- Heart & Stroke Foundation's, Big Bike For Stroke – Team Captain
- Member, Royal Canadian Legion
- Past Team Mom - Aurora Minor Hockey Association
- Past Team Mom & Registrar for the Aurora Youth Soccer Club
- Honourary Chair of Aurora's first RELAY for Life and participated as a Team captain
Environmental Memberships & Support
- ACORN (Aurora Citizen's Respecting Nature), Founding Chair
- ACAP (Aurora Community Arboretum Program), Founding Director
- S.T.O.R.M. (Save the Oak Ridges Moraine)
- P.A.R.K.S. ( People Against Restructuring Known Sanctuaries Everywhere )
- York Region Environmental Alliance
Education and business experience
Phyllis Morris holds a Law Enforcement Diploma (High Honours) fom Seneca College, King City, and was Valedictorian in 1995, winning the Tony Fuelling Memorial Award. She graduated in August 2003 from Seneca College as a Court and Tribunal Agent. Prior to moving to York Region, Phyllis Morris worked in the United Kingdom for the Ministry of Defence. Her many years of business experience have included running her own retail company in England. She worked in the Human Resources field in Ontario for more than 10 years, recruiting and coordinating staffing for new plant start-ups in the automotive and food retail industries in both North America and Europe; including Steinberg Inc. Miracle Food Mart ; TRIAM - Powerlasers Inc; & Tower Automotive Inc. She has been a member of the Aurora Chamber of Commerce for many years and as Mayor served as a Town Liaison on their Board of Directors. She was a weekly columnist for the local, award winning Aurora Banner and former bi-monthly host and producer of Cable 10's "Council In Action", interviewing Aurora Town Council Members, 2003 - 2006.