About Me

Brimming with passion for his town, for storytelling, for those in need and for life itself, David Heard is a rare treasure to outreach initiatives hard at work in the town of Aurora.

A genuine humanitarian who always has a smile on his face and a story to share, David successfully combines an anti-bullying message with his established historical walking tour.

Every Saturday from June through October David can be found manning his booth at the Aurora Farmers Market (http://www.town.aurora.on.ca/aurora/index.aspx?ArticleID=2094&lang=en-CA) and conducting a historical walking tour the first Saturday of the month.

Come on out and meet Dave, share some laughs and learn more about your town and yourself.

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2012 (8)
2011 (31)
2010 (14)
2009 (24)
 

"Artic Adventure Aurora Ontario Canada"

 "Artic Adventure Aurora Ontario Canada"
YouTube  
Please enjoy the reality of our great town.

CLICK AND ENJOY

A great Family Day event just north of Toronto,Ontario
Here.....
© 2012 YouTube, LLC
901 Cherry Ave, San Bruno, CA 94066

Posted by astepintimeaurora 
 

Fw: bullies411 sent you a video: "Aurora Ontario needs Youth Centre..."

 
Subject: bullies411 sent you a video: "Aurora Ontario needs Youth Centre..."
YouTube  
bullies411 has shared a video with you on YouTube:
***Please click on image and watch
© 2012 YouTube, LLC
901 Cherry Ave, San Bruno, CA 94066

Posted by astepintimeaurora 
 

The Final Christmas Survey Results,

 

Christmas Song Survey

6)White Christmas                           4
7)The Christmas Song                   4
8) I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa      4
9)Rudolph                                      3
10)Santa Baby                                3
11)12 Days of Christmas                 3
12)All I want for Christmas              3
13)White Chrismas/ Drummer boy  3
14)Home for Christmas                    2
15)Oh Tannembaum                        2
16)Run Rudolph Run                        2
17)Mele Kalikimaka                           2
18)Silver and Gold                             2
19)We wish you a Merry Christmas    2
20)Do they know its Christmas          2
21)I wish I could Skate on a river        2
22)Winter Wonderland                       2
23)Joy to the World                            2
24)I believe in Father Christmas          1

The Rest have one vote also

Hark the Herald Angels...Mistletoe...Frosty ...Hows He Gonna Go...Have yourself A merry Little Christmas ...Deck the Halls ...Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas...Having a wonderful Christmas...Feliz Navidad...Blue Christmas...Sleigh Ride...Let it snow...Where are you Christmas...Step into Christmas ...Oh Holy Night...Old King Wenceslas...Oh Come all Ye Faithful...Away in a manger...I want a Hippo for Christmas...Hells Bells??????????????????

The last one is a hoot.A teenager was asked about his favorite Christmas song and he replied Hells Bells by AC/DC.

I said that was not a carol or song for christmas and he replied"Its got bells".

I hope Angus Young and the boys know what they are doing to ouy youth.

I am busting a gut with laughter still and wish everyone Peace in 2012.

Posted by astepintimeaurora 
 

Christmas Song Survey

I was not much of a Christmas person in the past.

Times change that is for sure.

I was asked by the Banner newspaper to answer a couple of questions about Christmas.

They were favorite song and movie.I thought about it and think of Christmas as a time of sharing so I did a survey.

I questioned  101 people and asked "what is your favorite Christmas song?"

Here are the results....

1)Jingle Bells......................................10

2)Baby its cold outside....................7

3)Silent Night....................................6

4)Jingle Bell Rock..............................5

5)Little Drummer Boy.....................4

to be continued.......

I will add more as the season progresses to the total of 101.

Posted by astepintimeaurora 
 

A STITCH IN TIME

My Grandfather arrived in Aurora shortly after the First World War.He lost his hearing due to a shell blast that his troops took while fighting in Northern Africa.He took occassional jobs as a house painter and also part-time work at the Sisman Shoe Company on Berczy Street.
He would help bail hides into the basement of the massive factory that spanned a town block from Mosley Street to Metcalfe.It was little money but he was able to get by.During the depression my Grandparents would have strangers come past their home on Ross Street(Industrial Parway South today)and call out for a bit of food.My Grampy and Gram were poor and had little yet did not refuse them.Many began to knock on the door and ask for assistance and again they would comply.I think word got out to the hobos traveling the rail that there were comapassionate people in Aurora.
Aurora was a known little community as it bustled with industry and those who knew about the gift of freedom.Just the Wells Street School had seventy seven students volunteer in the First War.Everyone in town knew of a relative or friend who served because Aurora was so small at that time.
Giving a little food was a small measure compared to the act of kindness in giving your life for your country.If you came home the fight never ended as post Traumatic stress disorder consummed the spirit of many who returned.
The impressive factory was always in sight of my Grandparents home and the trains stopped continually to unload or load the resourses our town manufacture.We were a hive of activity and proud in those days I bet.My Grampy did not talk about it much as he carried his own pain from the war.
My mother reently disclosed that her mother was the assistant to the president when they first came to Aurora in the 1910.I was shocked as now there were two family members employed there in history.
My father quit school at The Church Street School in the 1940s and took a job at the Sismans comapany.He only lasted a short period as he found it dirty and he wanted a career.I have no idea who took him under their wing but someone got him on the right track.He became an apprentice and secured several tickets(trade certificates and diploms)and served as the Chief Civilian Inspector for the Department of National Defense.Two generations had now been employed at the comapany on my fathers side and one on my Mothers.In the late 70s I left high shool and took a part-time job at Sismans.It was at the Cousins Drive location at Edward.We still manufactured footwear for the military and had a huge contact for police boots.I cannot say three generations as I never got to work in the old location,until now.
This step in time was going to teach me about emapthy and walking in anothers shoes.

Posted by astepintimeaurora 
 

He is my hero.

I have attached a posting that I sent to a local blogger.

My Father loved Aurora and his country enough to give his life.

The building is the Aurora Armouries
and his career with The Department of national Defence.
Anonymous David Heard said...
Evelyn

My Father took care of that building like it was his own home.
He was the Chief Civilian Inspector for the Department of National Defense.I am proud of him because he left school at the Church Street location and worked at Sismans shoes.He found the work hard and dirty and left to begin learning trades.Someone(I do not know who)took my Dad under their wing and he achieved about five tickets(trade certificates and diplomas).
He spent 35 years with the DND and a letter signed by Prime Minister Mulroney adorns a wall in our home.
My father loved Aurora but horrifically his job took his life.
One of his jobs in the country was to supervise the removal of old boilers and he passed in his sixties to asbestosis.
Maybe the government could give it to me as payment for taking my father from our family far too early.
I will accept the Drill Shed and turn it into an amazing farmers market.
This building was a big part of his life and a great memory for me.
I hope my father knows what he did for Canada by giving his life to protect the health of others.

Posted by astepintimeaurora 
 

   Spirit Walk Ticket On Sale NOW
Call 905 717 6647 for more info.

   Tickets Available at The Aurora Farmer Market
                           8 am -1 pm

    Or.... 15 minutes before showtimes at the Wells Street School @Mosley and Wells Street Aurora............................

Dates as follows and times.
October 28 ,29
Friday & Saturday 7 pm

Hot Ticket Devils Night Sunday October30     7 and 9pm.
Tickets $12.00    Private bookings available.

Posted by astepintimeaurora 
 

Soaring with Spirit

Where does spirit come from?
I am of the belief that you are born with it or not.
Some call it passion.I call it spirit.
Recently, my kindergarten teacher said she remembered me as a happy child.
She thought I was bright and full of energy.Little did she know that on the inside I was a very hurt child.
I was different from others, and today I know I am unique.I try to have a passion for life and a fight for social justice.
Others see me as a pain in the ass and a trouble maker.
They are correct on both counts and I am proud of it.That is my spirit.
A candidate in the previous municipal election said"you need to pick your battles".
Who made that rule?
Are there rules for social justice?
I only know one rule...I do not want to be on your team if you shaft people and take advantage of the vunerable.

Remember in a previous post I spoke about industrialization?
I mentioned a community like ours operating at full steam because of teamwork.
Imagine working that hard as a single entity.You bust your butt because you do not fit in.You get frustrated because people do not understand you have a challenge that makes you unique.
Would you not think that person would give up the fight eventually.
Not me.
I will not surrender even if they bully,push,taunt,and put hurdles in front of me.

I am a spirit like the eagle that soars above the mountain top.
I cry out so others know I am near and it is mine to see the vision.
I can see the mountain tops.
They only see the ground beneeth their feet.
My wings spread out and a feather slips from my back and sails to the ground below.
One of the others picks it up and enjoys its beauty.
I know they cannot know what it is like to soar.
I imagine right now, what an eagle feather feels like.
To be given one by an elder.To be respected so well that the ultimate gift is a vision from above and a flight of freedom.
Imagine walking in the shoes of people who see with such a vision.So much courage to survive and the expression of knowledge through a simple feather.
We will walk and share this emotion through time.They were here before us and we will soar with them for a moment.
A moment in time . We will walk in the shoes of those past..........

A step in time..............

The Aurora Spirit Walk....
                               Its not a walk.....
                                                 its a feeling.

Posted by astepintimeaurora 
 

HISTORY IS DA BOMB

A historian once told me

"if children admit they like history they might be seen as nerds."

I guess I am an adult nerd, and I am proud of it.

History is a glorious road to travel.Its teachings help us have a new perspective on current times.
It allows us to see and appreciate the things we have.
Coveting in the olden days was for the love that matters.
Your children,spouse,and family rated the highest.There was not a BMW in the dirt lane in front of the house.
If you had a buggy at all you were doing well.
It was a simpler time; I wish I could be there for a moment.
I guess I do that, and share this when we do the walks together.
It is appreciating your neighbors and aware of who walked before us.
The industrial revolution was strong in Aurora.We were a powerhouse with factories and mills humming out product by the power of water.
We were doing the business of communities of 100,000 people.Our population was a mere 4000 during one period of success.

How did we succeed at such a torrent level of production.
My friends, it was not money or technical savvy with machinery.It was surely not an unseen force.

It was teamwork...something that may be a thing of the past.We live in an era of "me,me, me".

I admit I get caught up in it.

I believe we get so distracted by our busy lives; we forget about what is around us and only have ourselves to covet.

We may have forgotten about what is the most important:family,friends,and community.

The industrial revolution is exactly what changed our families and how we live.Today technology does the same.History repeats itself as we text across the table rather than looking up and saying "hello,good to see you".

History can also have skeletons.

I love the Sleeman commercial about Al Capone.The message is some would like us to not talk about our history..."but its true".

This year we are "dropping the bomb".We are blowing the doors off Auroras History.

The AURORA SPIRIT WALK is proud to share the truth.

The Industrial Revolution to Wars past will come into space.

We will walk in their shoes...ghost,spirits and all.
 

Posted by astepintimeaurora 
 

2011 SPIRIT WALK

We found her at a peaceful location.She is resting comfortably where there are an abundance of trees.The location of her grave site was found by one of those in attendance of the Rescue Mediums/Aurora .Spirit Walk.She took it upon herself-to find dear Annie Dunning.
Many who have watched the episode have commented on its uniqueness. There were two factors that made it special. I am so elated to have been part of the journey that brought the show to Aurora. It was a love story and there was one other difference.
Did Annie move on before or after the episode?We will answer that question and many more during this year's Spirit walk.
The route is being designed now. We have decided to blaze a trail from the past. I don't think there is anything more spirit driven than walking in steps of her native peoples.
We are going to do it exactly that. There will be new stories and again a stronger sense of community upon conclusion.
We are also investigating the possibility of another VIP night that will include a walk and video presentation. This will be much like the event at the Filly and Firkin.
We are actively looking into supporting and Aurora outreach.We will announce the organization soon.
Tickets will go on sale at  your Aurora farmers market on Saturday,August 27.

You'll have a blast as here are some quotes from previous participants
"Amazing, I can't wait to do it again."

"what a great storyteller Mr. heard blew us away"

"I have taken tours in Kingston, Ottawa, in New Orleans. This was a great experience and one of the best."

 "David has passion all over this.... Aurora should be proud."

"I can't wait to tell my friends."

"I was actually a little scared, but more- so I was a  lot happy I came".

"This is a gem for our town"

            For info call 905 717 6647 0r email    astepintimeaurora@yahoo.com

Posted by astepintimeaurora