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Aurora/Newmarket CFUW tour features 6 homes, 2 gardens on Sunday

Tour features homes and gardens in Newmarket, Aurora, Holland Landing, Oak Ridges on June 11, with the goal to raise $30,000 for scholarships
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The main feature of one of the Newmarket gardens on the CFUW tour is a goldfish pond. File photo/Greg King for NewmarketToday

The much anticipated Come be Inspired CFUW home and garden tour takes place Sunday, June 11, with ribbon-cutting ceremonies in Newmarket and Aurora.

Newmarket Mayor John Taylor and Aurora Mayor Tom Mrakas, along with MPs Leah Taylor Roy and Tony Van Bynen and MPPs Michael Parsa and Dawn Gallagher Murphy, will come together for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the 2023 tour. They will be joined by homeowners Donna and Stephen McCorquodale of Aurora and Jaimie and Reid Hartley of Newmarket.

“I congratulate CFUW Aurora/Newmarket as one of the largest clubs in the organization across Canada, significantly contributing to the lives of young women in our communities. I was fortunate to have been one of those young women. Receiving a CFUW scholarship many years ago enabled me to complete my master’s degree,” says Taylor Roy, who is a member of the Aurora/Newmarket club.

The 2023 tour, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., is the club’s signature fundraising event and will feature six homes and two gardens in Holland Landing, Aurora, Newmarket and Oak Ridges.

Tickets are $40 and are still available here.

The planning for this year’s tour began mere weeks after CFUW Aurora/Newmarket held its debut tour last year. The steering committee set a goal of raising $30,000 for their scholarship program. Last year’s tour raised $27,000.

“We are delighted to report that because of our generous sponsors, advertisers, donors and community partners and, of course, those who have purchased tickets, we will surpass our goal by at least a few thousand dollars,” says Valerie Hume, co-chair of the advertising committee.

“This extraordinary response by the community shows how much scholarships for young women are valued and appreciated.”

This year’s event sponsors are Scotia Wealth Management, H.J Pfaff Audi, RBC Wealth Management, Delmanor Aurora, New Roots Garden Centre, the towns of Aurora and Newmarket, NewmarketToday and Metroland Star Media.

Young women graduating from secondary schools in the northern area of York Region were invited to apply for $2,500 scholarships to support their post-secondary education, whether it be apprenticeship, college or university programs.

CFUW A/N is in the process of administering 14 educational awards to young women to help with the cost of tuition, books and living expenses as they begin a new educational path in September.

“We are investing in the future of young women. Tour guests will be inspired by homes and gardens they visit, and this allows our club to inspire young women on their educational journeys as we invest in their future,” says charitable trust president Janice Van Dyke.

Here is an overview of this year’s tour:

  • Holland Landing - A home designed by Andrea McMullen of ADM Designs. You can expect to see stunning new design elements both in the home style and furnishings.
  • Newmarket – This garden was transformed by landscape architects, Pathways to Perennials has beautiful stone pathways and perennial gardens that provide seasonal interest.
  • Newmarket - This home is tucked away on one of Newmarket's most sought-after cul-de-sacs and has a large gourmet kitchen and stunning custom millwork crafted by the talented team of Hartley Built.
  • Newmarket - This peaceful sanctuary featuring a fairy garden, a pond and a wide array of annuals and perennials has been featured in NewmarketToday and on other garden tours.
  • Newmarket - Nestled into a mature community, this home designed by Amanda Shields Interiors and built by Hartley Built incorporates stunning, modern features.
  • Aurora - This Aurora Highlands 1969 backsplit has been redesigned, restructured, and re-engineered to create the open kitchen, family room and dining room. An eclectic art collection adorns the walls of this tastefully designed home.
  • Aurora - Built in 1888, this beautifully maintained yellow brick home has been furnished and decorated with respect for the era in which it was built and is enhanced with a lovely collection of artwork.
  • Oak Ridges - This home pays tribute to family and travel. The large property is wooded in the front and boasts a stunning terraced lawn down to Lake Wilcox.

To learn more about the Home and Garden Tour and the work CFUW does in the community, visit the club’s website at cfuwauroranewmarket.com.