Community honours Adrianna McCauley on birthday anniversary

June 26, 2025 · 0 Comments

By Riley Murphy

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Family, friends, and community members gathered on the street outside Pia’s Bolton home and watched as she released 24 butterflies into the air.

Twenty-four to honour what would have been her late daughter, Adrianna McCauley’s 24th birthday.

Adrianna tragically lost her life in September 2024, just three minutes from home, in a four-vehicle collision on Coleraine Drive at King Street West.

Those who knew her said she was fun-loving, community-driven, and always caring for others.

She had just graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University.

The butterflies symbolized the ones Adrianna would watch grow as a kid; she and her family would catch them as caterpillars and release them when they metamorphosized into butterflies.

On June 18, her family, friends, boyfriend, residents of Caledon, and Town of Caledon staff gathered to honour Adrianna and celebrate what would have been her 24th birthday.

Even those walking past with their dogs were invited to join in.

Pia shared that she didn’t expect the mass amount of support from the celebration.

She shared Mayor Annette Groves insisted that the road closure permits and off-duty officers were handled by her, were done in time, and taken care of.

She especially noted Tracy Smale, Supervisor, Service Caledon at the Town of Caledon, who helped secure these permits and even attended the event herself.

Pia said that the OPP has always been extremely helpful, from the time of the accident to now.

“I find it very difficult to put into words the love, the care, and the compassion that was shown from family, friends, neighbours and the community who came together to celebrate Adriana’s heavenly birthday. Thank you. Now, she flies with butterflies,” said Pia to her community.

“It was beautiful, thank you, thank you, thank you to everybody who participated. It made that day special for me, and hopefully for my daughter.”

Even the weather seemed to honour the day.

Pia said it was predicted to rain that whole night, but even at 11 p.m., when they were packing up the last of it, they hadn’t felt a single drop.

Cassandra Hall from Air Affair Balloons with her parents from Walton Interlock Paving Ltd donated the balloon display adorning the front lawn.

She had Pizzaville for the pizza, Di Giovanni Bakery for the two decorated cakes, and Nick, the local ice cream truck driver, who came with his vehicle and stayed for the celebration.

The Stafford Family Tim Hortons helped to donate coffee and condiments, an fruit trays were donated by Maria Ianni DeFilippis and family.

She shared that the community has been extremely supportive through everything, and that shone on the 18th.

Following Adrianna’s passing, Pia has been working with Traffic Safety Advisory Group and CCRSA to get Coleraine Drive and Harvest Moon King area designated as a community safe zone.

“It’s not going to do anything for me, but I don’t want anybody to go through this,” said Pia. “I want to save lives.”

The upcoming Traffic Safety Advisory Committee meetings, which Pia and many more will attend, will be on the following dates: September 8, October 6, November 3, and December 1, 2025, all occurring at 6 p.m. at the Town of Caledon Municipal Office.