Vaughan resident recognized for community spirit
Image
Ward 4 Civic Hero Award presented to Chris Ainsworth from Thornhill
Each October, when families in Vaughan start to plan their trick-or-treating route, residents of Ward 4 in Thornhill know they can’t miss Chris Ainsworth’s house! Since 2004, Chris has gone above and beyond to transform his home into an elaborate, hand-crafted haunted house that attracts hundreds of children and parents every year.
Building upon the success of this Halloween tradition, Chris further demonstrates his spirit of community and generosity by collecting funds to support the SickKids Foundation. Since its inception, Chris’ haunted house fundraising initiative has raised a remarkable $130,000 for SickKids.
In addition to promoting goodwill and connectedness in his community, Chris is also passionate about gardening and curb appeal. He is known in the Thornhill Woods area for keeping his lawn beautiful year-round and he even helps his neighbours maintain their yards so they, too, can take pride in their homes. Chris’ love for the environment extends far beyond his property line. In his spare time, he can be found cleaning up public areas in his neighbourhood. Chris regularly organizes litter pickups around community mailboxes and plans neighbourhood family cleanup days to get more people involved in his eco-friendly efforts.
Today, during a special virtual ceremonial presentation in the Committee of the Whole Public Hearing, Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, Ward 4 Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco and Members of Council presented Chris Ainsworth with the 2020 Ward 4 Civic Hero Award.
QUOTES
“Chris Ainsworth is a deeply passionate and caring individual who embodies the spirit of generosity in everything he does. From transforming his home into a haunted Halloween destination, to raising much-needed funds in support of SickKids, to contributing to the overall beautification of Vaughan, Chris represents the very values that define our city. He is indeed a neighbour to us all. Through his creativity, Chris has found a fun and meaningful way to spread holiday spirit to citizens of all ages and give selflessly to families in need. I want to extend my warmest and sincerest appreciation to Chris for his unwavering commitment to bring out the very best of what our city has to offer.”
- Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua
“As a longtime resident of Ward 4, Chris Ainsworth is someone who can be relied on to do his part each year to ensure everyone in our community has a special Halloween. Although the provincial government encouraged York Region residents to refrain from traditional trick-or-treating this year in response to COVID-19, Chris could still be counted on to decorate his home spectacularly for families to drive by and enjoy. He is a true community champion who cares for his neighbours, city and the environment. In the Thornhill Woods area, Chris is well-known for being a good corporate citizen, a community ambassador and an exceptional volunteer, and he can often be found cleaning up public spaces in the neighbourhood. It is an honour to present Chris Ainsworth with the 2020 Ward 4 Civic Hero Award.”
- Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco, Ward 4
QUICK FACTS
- Mayor and Members of Council presented Chris Ainsworth with the 2020 Ward 4 Civic Hero Award during a special virtual ceremonial presentation in Committee of the Whole Public Hearing on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
- Vaughan’s Civic Hero Awards are presented annually to one resident from each of the City’s five wards.
- Recipients are nominated by their local Ward Councillor and acknowledged by Vaughan Council.
- The awards began in 2005 and recognize outstanding achievement and individual contributions to the community.
LEARN MORE
- 30 -