Agenda - Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee - 20231019Town of Aurora
Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee
Meeting Agenda
Date:Thursday, October 19, 2023
Time:7 p.m.
Location:Holland Room, Aurora Town Hall
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Pages
1.Call to Order
2.Land Acknowledgement
3.Approval of the Agenda
4.Declarations of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof
5.Receipt of the Minutes
5.1 Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of June 15,
2023
1
That the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting
minutes of June 15, 2023, be received for information.
1.
6.Delegations
7.Matters for Consideration
7.1 Memorandum from Manager, Business Support; Re: Facility Allocation
Policies Review
6
That the memorandum regarding Facility Allocation Polices
Review be received; and
1.
That the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee comments
regarding Facility Allocation Policies Review be received and
referred to staff for consideration and further action as
appropriate.
2.
7.2 Memorandum from Manager, Business Support; Re: Feasibility of a 38
Permanent Liquor License at the Aurora Community Centre
That the memorandum regarding Feasibility of a Permanent
Liquor License at the Aurora Community Centre be received; and
1.
That the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee comments
regarding Feasibility of a Permanent Liquor License at the
Aurora Community Centre be received and referred to staff for
consideration and further action as appropriate.
2.
8.Informational Items
9.New Business
10.Adjournment
Town of Aurora
Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes
Date:
Time:
Location:
Thursday, June 15, 2023
7 p.m.
Holland Room, Aurora Town Hall
Committee Members: Councillor Ron Weese (Chair)
Irene Clement
Jessie Fraser*
Adrian Martin* (departed 7:23 p.m./returned 7:45 p.m.)
Shaheen Moledina*
Corrina Tai*
Members Absent: Michelle Dakin (Vice Chair)
David Gren
Other Attendees: Gary Greidanus, Senior Landscape Architect*
Lisa Warth, Manager, Recreation
Linda Bottos, Council/Committee Coordinator
*Attended electronically
_____________________________________________________________________
1. Call to Order
The Chair called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
2. Land Acknowledgement
The Committee acknowledged that the meeting took place on Anishinaabe lands,
the traditional and treaty territory of the Chippewas of Georgina Island,
recognizing the many other Nations whose presence here continues to this day,
the special relationship the Chippewas have with the lands and waters of this
territory, and that Aurora has shared responsibility for the stewardship of these
lands and waters. It was noted that Aurora is part of the treaty lands of the
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Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
Thursday, June 15, 2023 2
Mississaugas and Chippewas, recognized through Treaty #13 and the Williams
Treaties of 1923.
3. Approval of the Agenda
Moved by Shaheen Moledina
Seconded by Irene Clement
That the revised agenda as circulated by Legislative Services be approved.
Carried
4. Declarations of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof
There were no declarations of pecuniary interest under the Municipal Conflict of
Interest Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.50.
5. Receipt of the Minutes
5.1 Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of April 27,
2023
Moved by Jessie Fraser
Seconded by Shaheen Moledina
That the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting minutes of
April 27, 2023, be received for information.
Carried
6. Delegations
None.
7. Matters for Consideration
7.1 Memorandum from Recreation Supervisor, Community Programs; Re:
Recreation Needs Assessment for Persons with Disabilities
Staff provided an overview of the memorandum noting the project will
focus mainly on the inclusive programs and services desired by the
community and how to best facilitate their participation in recreation and
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Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
Thursday, June 15, 2023 3
leisure activities. The Committee and staff discussed various aspects and
suggestions including: overlap between project scope and facilities;
planning stages and community consultation; staff training; hiring of
qualified staff; needs assessments and resources; accommodation of
various special needs; feedback and communication with residents in
multiple languages; and an improved registration form to allow greater
input from parents/guardians.
Moved by Shaheen Moledina
Seconded by Jessie Fraser
1. That the memorandum regarding Recreation Needs Assessment for
Persons with Disabilities be received; and
2. That the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee comments
regarding Recreation Needs Assessment for Persons with Disabilities
be received and referred to staff for consideration and further action
as appropriate.
Carried
7.2 Memorandum from Director of Operations; Re: Shining Hill Neighbourhood
Park – Preliminary Design
Staff provided an overview of the memorandum noting the plan to
consolidate any Advisory Committee comments and report back to
Council in September with a finalized design and cost estimate. The
Committee and staff discussed various aspects and suggestions
including: mitigation of park amenity sounds and lighting impact on
adjacent residential areas; tree loss and compensation; environmental
assessments; type of splash pad; dedicated pickleball court versus multi-
use court; multi-sport basketball court; park and amenity lighting; multi-
use soccer field; appropriate bike racks; connection to trail system; trail
maintenance, lighting and accessibility; playground accessibility; and
maintenance cost agreements.
Moved by Irene Clement
Seconded by Shaheen Moledina
1. That the memorandum regarding Shining Hill Neighbourhood Park –
Preliminary Design be received; and
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Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
Thursday, June 15, 2023 4
2. That the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee comments
regarding Shining Hill Neighbourhood Park – Preliminary Design be
received and referred to staff for consideration and further action as
appropriate.
Carried
7.3 Memorandum from Director of Operations; Re: Summit Park Additional
Amenities
Staff provided an overview of the memorandum noting the plan to
consolidate any Advisory Committee comments and report back to
Council in September for budget approval. The Committee and staff
discussed various aspects and suggestions including consideration of:
natural playground structures; a demographic study for the area to
determine potential target user groups; public consultation on the
proposed playground and park; appropriate bike racks; park and amenity
lighting including courts, playground and fitness area; and accessibility.
Moved by Irene Clement
Seconded by Jessie Fraser
1. That the memorandum regarding Summit Park Additional Amenities
be received; and
2. That the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee comments
regarding Summit Park Additional Amenities be received and referred
to staff for consideration and further action as appropriate.
Carried
8. Informational Items
None.
9. New Business
The Committee inquired about the Town’s policy on communicating upcoming
community events to residents, and staff advised on the various methods
employed including social media, Town website, advertising in local newspapers,
and notices posted in facilities and businesses around Town.
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Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
Thursday, June 15, 2023 5
The Committee inquired about musical events in parks, and staff advised on the
upcoming schedule of events to be held throughout the summer, for which a
printed flyer will be available in The Auroran newspaper.
The Committee suggested that communication and messaging in a variety of
languages, including traditional methods of communication, should be
considered.
The Committee inquired about whether any assessments would be done on
Town parks respecting accessibility and inclusivity, and staff advised that a
comprehensive study would be completed in 2024.
10. Adjournment
Moved by Corrina Tai
Seconded by Jessie Fraser
That the meeting be adjourned at 8:18 p.m.
Carried
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100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora
Memorandum
Community Services
Re: Facility Allocation Policies Review
To: Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee
From: John Firman, Manager, Business Support
Date: October 19, 2023
Recommendation
1. That the memorandum regarding Facility Allocation Polices Review be received; and
2. That the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee comments regarding Facility
Allocation Policies Review be received and referred to staff for consideration and
further action as appropriate.
Background
The Town’s existing facility allocation policies are currently overdue for review. These
policies being:
Ice Allocation Policy
Room-Hall Permitting Policy
Sports Field and Park Use Policy
All of these policies were last reviewed and updated in 2017, with the exception of a
minor review of the Sports Field and Park Use Policy in 2020 to address specific
concerns related to tennis and pickleball court permitting.
Analysis
For the past several months staff have been reviewing the existing policies, consulting
with user groups, other business units and Council. Through this consultation process,
the following key issues were identified:
There is a need to improve access to facilities for program growth.
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Facility Allocation Policies Review
October 19, 2023 Page 2 of 4
Aurora-based groups have difficulty accessing facilities due to the legacy rights
held by groups from outside of Aurora.
Not all groups operating as non-profit organizations meet our existing definition
which requires non-profit incorporation.
Concerns were raised about for-profit organizations having the same access as
non-profit community organizations.
The majority of other issues identified were administrative or procedural in nature.
To help ensure consistency and to better enable the Town to respond to the need for
minor procedural changes, staff have consolidated the three existing policies into one
“Facility Allocation Policy” and several individual allocation procedures.
The key changes to the previous policies are summarized as follows:
Combined the Room/Hall Permitting Policy, Ice Allocation Policy and Sport Field
and Park Use Policy into one Facility Allocation Policy
Standardized allocation priority as follows:
1. Town of Aurora
2. Junior Hockey: Aurora Tigers Jr. A and Central York Panthers U22AA Elite
(applies to ice rentals only)
3. 3rd Party Summer Camps booked elsewhere at the same site (applies only
to gymnasiums in the months of July and August)
4. Aurora-based non-profit youth
5. Representative/regional non-profit youth
6. Aurora-based non-profit adult
7. Representative/regional non-profit adult
8. Aurora School Groups
9. Aurora-based for-profit youth
10. Aurora-based for-profit adults
11. Representative/regional for-profit
12. Other groups and private individuals
Non-profit groups have been separated from for-profit groups, with
higher priority being given to adult non-profit groups than for-profit
youth groups
Added special priority for 3rd party camps in gymnasiums
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Facility Allocation Policies Review
October 19, 2023 Page 3 of 4
Adjusted Junior Hockey priority to include Panthers U22AA
Adjusted definition of non-profit organization to include those operating in the
spirit of non-profit:
Any incorporated not-for-profit organization or registered charitable organization.
Proof of status may be required at the discretion of the Director.
Any group operating in the spirit of a non-profit organization may also qualify,
provided that the group is willing to keep detailed financial records showing only
incidental surplus revenue on an annual basis. These records must be disclosed
to the Town on an annual basis during the seasonal permitting period for the
previous year.
Updated legacy rights to apply to Town of Aurora or Aurora-based and
Representative/Regional groups only, as opposed to everyone.
Added language to formalize several existing administrative matters, including:
o Collect deposit at time of booking.
o Permits created for the following calendar year will be subject to the rates
and fees as set out by Council and may be subject to increase.
o Weather-related cancellation requests must be submitted within 48 hours.
o Permit revisions for seasonal requests are due by a set deadline in order
to qualify for legacy rights.
The primary changes to existing procedures are summarized as follows:
Added specific seasonal deadlines.
Added the Dome turf to field procedures.
Incorporated updated language re: pickleball into court procedure.
Removed Town Hall meeting rooms from list of rooms available to non-profit
groups at no charge.
Attachments
Attachment 1 - Draft – Facility Allocation Policy
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Facility Allocation Policies Review
October 19, 2023 Page 4 of 4
Attachment 2 - Draft – Arena Allocation Procedure
Attachment 3 - Draft – Ball Diamond Allocation Procedure
Attachment 4 - Draft – Court Allocation Procedure
Attachment 5 - Draft – Field Allocation Procedure
Attachment 6 - Draft – Park Allocation Procedure
Attachment 7 - Draft – Room Allocation Procedure
Page 9 of 40
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora Attachment 1
Facility Allocation Policy
Community Services
Contact: Manager, Business Support
Approval Authority: Council
Effective: November 29, 2023
______________________________________________________________________________________
Purpose
To provide transparency and structure for user groups and individuals pertaining to the
fair allocation and use of Town owned and/or operated facilities.
To ensure consistency in the programming and ongoing use of the Town’s facility
inventory; both municipally owned and/or managed facilities.
To provide a framework and consistent approach to the ongoing and occasional use of
the Town’s community spaces in a fair and equitable manner.
To ensure that the Town’s investment in community spaces is managed in the best
interest of all users and the citizens of Aurora.
To establish clear guidelines and communication between the Business Support
Division, the Facility Management Division, Parks Division, and other internal
stakeholders and/or the user group contacts.
To accommodate the needs of a growing municipality and the increased demands on
the Town’s community spaces.
To clearly define the rules of use and procedures in maintaining compliance.
Scope
This policy is an amalgamation of the following policies, and replaces said policies:
• Ice Allocation Policy (2017)
• Room/Hall Permitting Policy (2018)
• Sports Field and Park Use Policy (2020)
This policy applies to all facility permit holders and all individual and/or user groups
requesting use of Town owned and/or operated community spaces, including Town
staff requesting use of and/or responsible for the operation of these facilities.
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This policy applies to all Town owned/operated indoor and outdoor facilities, with the
following exclusions:
• Facilities whose use is governed by lease or other agreement
• Tannery Room and departmental meeting rooms at Town Hall and the Joint
Operations Centre.
Definitions
Adult Organization
A group that does not meet the requirements to be classified as a “Youth” organization,
and that demonstrates a minimum of 50% participation from Aurora residents, or
ratepayers in the Town of Aurora, to be deemed “Aurora Based”.
Aurora-Based
A group that demonstrates that it meets the minimum requirements for its age category
(Adult or Youth), of participation from Aurora residents or ratepayers in the Town of
Aurora.
Director
The Director of Community Services or his/her designate or successor.
Facility
Any Town owned and/or operated permittable space, not including the spaces identified
as exclusions in the Scope.
Junior Hockey Team
An Aurora-based or regional representative Junior level hockey team. At the time of
writing, the teams included are Aurora Tigers Jr. A Hockey Club and Central York Girls
Hockey Association Panthers U22AA.
Non-Profit Organization
Any incorporated not-for-profit organization or registered charitable organization. Proof
of status may be required at the discretion of the Director.
Any group operating in the spirit of a non-profit organization may also qualify, provided
that the group is willing to keep detailed financial records showing only incidental
surplus revenue on an annual basis. These records must be disclosed to the Town on
an annual basis during the seasonal permitting period for the previous year.
Normal Operating Hours
The hours in which the facility is usually staffed and available for permitting. This may
not coincide with normal business hours for Town operations within the facility.
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3
Permit Holder
The organization, group or individual to which a facility rental permit has been issued,
including any and all participants, volunteers, guests and invitees of the permit holder
and their participants, volunteers, guests and invitees.
Representative/Regional Organization
An organization that does not meet the minimum participation required to be deemed
Aurora-based but offers a particular program to Aurora residents that is not offered by
an Aurora-based group.
School Group
A school group that is located in Aurora, including public, catholic, and private primary
and secondary schools.
Seasonal Permit Holder
Refers to the organization, group or individual to which a seasonal facility rental permit
has been issued, including any and all participants, volunteers, guests and invitees of
the permit holder and their participants, volunteers, guests and invitees. A seasonal
permit includes regular, repeating dates that spans the length of a season, or majority
thereof.
Town
Refers to the Town of Aurora.
Youth Organization
An organization that demonstrates that it has a minimum of 80% participation of youth
aged 17 or younger, with a minimum of 70% participation from Aurora residents or
ratepayers in the Town of Aurora, to be “Aurora-based”.
Policy
Allocation Procedures
Submission of external requests
All requests for use of facilities by individuals, businesses, community groups and all
other requests other than from Town staff, shall be submitted to the Facility Bookings
Administrator in accordance with annual or seasonal submission deadlines, or a
minimum of two weeks prior to the permit date. Regardless of facility availability,
requests submitted with less than two weeks’ notice may not be able to be
accommodated.
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4
Submission of annual and seasonal requests
All seasonal facility requests shall be submitted in the format prescribed by the Facility
Bookings Administrator, no later than the published deadline each year. Permit revisions
received after the published deadline may not qualify for legacy rights.
Designated permit holder contacts
Prior to the issuance of a permit, individuals and user groups must provide to the
Facility Bookings Administrator, the name, address, telephone number and email
contact information of the individual to be named on the permit. This individual is
responsible for all obligations of the Permit Holder in accordance with this policy, and
other applicable Town policies, procedures, and Bylaws.
Changes or deletions and additions to any permit must be sent by the person to whom
the contract was issued, unless written authorization has been received by the Facility
Bookings Administrator including a list of persons authorized to do so.
All user groups shall submit a list of executives, if any, including contact information, on
an annual basis, within seven days following the election/appointment of the executives
at the organization’s Annual General Meeting, or upon request of the Director. Any
permit change requests as a result of a board changeover will be reviewed on a case-by-
case basis to determine feasibility if made outside the regular permit request schedule.
Legacy Rights
Legacy rights apply to the Town of Aurora or Aurora-based and Representative/Regional
groups seasonal permit holders and annual special events/tournaments only. Due to the
rotating ice maintenance schedule, legacy rights do not apply to spring/summer arena
permits. Legacy rights do not apply to rooms and halls.
All Aurora-based and Representative/Regional group seasonal permit holders will
maintain their existing permit times on an annual basis, until such time as the permit
holder surrenders that time. Times are approximate and do not guarantee a specific
location. All reasonable efforts will be made to maintain time and location; however, the
Town has the right to make adjustments to meet overall needs.
Exceptions may be made at the mutual agreement of an existing permit holder and the
Director for the release of permitted time on a one-time basis to accommodate the
needs of another organization or for facilities re-allocated at the discretion of the
Director.
Allocation Priority
The following allocation procedures apply only to new requests, time surrendered by an
existing permit holder, or in the event that new facilities are made available.
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The following allocation priority will be utilized for all seasonal requests submitted in
accordance with seasonal permitting request procedures. In all other cases, permits will
be issued on a first come first serve basis with the established priority ranking applied
when deemed necessary by the Director.
Facilities will be allocated in the following priority order:
o Town of Aurora
o Junior Hockey: Aurora Tigers Jr. A and Central York Panthers U22AA Elite
(applies to ice rentals only)
o 3rd Party Summer Camps booked elsewhere at the same site (applies only
to gymnasiums in the months of July and August)
o Aurora-based non-profit youth
o Representative/regional non-profit youth
o Aurora-based non-profit adult
o Representative/regional non-profit adult
o Aurora School Groups
o Aurora-based for-profit youth
o Aurora-based for-profit adults
o Representative/regional for-profit
o Other groups and private individuals
Any organization claiming either “Youth” or “Aurora-based” status shall be required to
submit a participant list for the organization along with the request. The participant list
shall be in the form of a letter signed by the president of the sports organization and
submitted to the attention of the Facilities Booking Administrator outlining the total
number of registered participants/members, including name, municipality of residency,
and age (if requesting “Youth” status) from the previous season. Providing false
information may result in the loss of current and/or future permits.
Rental Periods
Permits will only be issued for rental periods, as follows:
• Minimum period of one hour, unless approved by Community Services
• Minimum increments of 30 minutes, unless approved by Community Services
Special Circumstances
Community Services staff reserves the right to alter facility permits to accommodate
special events, play-off requirements, tournaments, and for other special circumstances
as may be required. Any such alterations will be done on a one-time basis and impacted
permit holders will resume their legacy rights in the following season. In the event that
the re-allocation of facility time is necessary, Community Services staff will work with
the affected permit holder to re-allocate facility time in as fair a manner as possible and
in an effort to minimize any impact.
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Fees and Charges
1. User fees shall be applied in accordance with the current Town of Aurora Fees
and Charges By-Law applicable at the time of booking.
2. User fees reflect the hourly rates charged and include the costs associated with
facility lighting, ongoing facility maintenance and repair, including various
supplies required to operate the facility. User fees do not include additional
services required by user groups. Additional set-up fees may be applied for
extensive set-up requests, at the discretion of the Director.
3. Additional fees may be applied where required in accordance with this policy.
4. A deposit may be required at the time of booking to reserve the requested time.
5. Additional fees and/or security deposits will be applicable for special events,
tournaments, and other special circumstances as determined by the Director.
The amount of these fees shall be based on the actual cost incurred by the Town,
and in accordance with the Fees and Charges By-law existing at the time of the
special event/activity. Security deposits will be required for any booking that may
incur additional costs due to damage, setup/cleanup etc. and are mandatory in
some facility locations.
6. All fees and charges levied by third parties related to additional licences, permits,
insurance or other requirements as determined by the Director, are the sole
responsibility of the permit holder and are not subject to refund or
reimbursement by the Town under any circumstances.
7. All organizations will be issued a permit for the full amount of time that has been
booked for the entire season of play. Selected permit holders may be issued
monthly statements on the 1st of each month to each group and payments are
due within 30 days of the issuance of each statement. Failure to remit payments
on time may result in the cancellation of facility permits and or reallocation of
facilities to other user groups at the discretion of the Director.
8. Permits for a calendar year that are booked in the previous calendar year will be
subject to any fee increases in accordance with the Town’s Fees and Charges
Bylaw as may be approved by Council from time to time. Annual fee increases, if
applicable, are typically, but not always, approved in the Fall to become effective
January 1st of the next calendar year.
Facility Use Regulations
1. All classes of facilities will be scheduled for organized use by the Town of
Aurora’s Facility Bookings Administrators based on the Town’s facility allocation
criteria and upon receipt of the user group’s written facility permit request.
2. All permit requests beyond the normal opening or closing time of a specific
facility are subject to the approval of the Director.
3. Permit holders must disclose any and all planned usage of the facilities when
requesting a permit. The Town reserves the right to deny permits for any usage
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deemed by the Director to be potentially detrimental to the good and safe
maintenance and condition of the facility, or to be inappropriate to be held within
the facility.
4. All permits must be signed and returned to the Facility Bookings Administrator a
minimum of 2 weeks prior to any facility usage. Failure to submit signed
permit(s) will result in the group not being permitted to use the facility. In the
event that a facility is booked less than 2 weeks in advance, the permit must be
signed and returned prior to any facility usage.
5. All permit holders must abide by the terms and conditions outlined in the facility
permit.
6. All permit holders must abide by the Town’s Municipal Alcohol Policy and all
other applicable policies, procedures, regulations and legislation including, but
not limited to those listed in the References section.
7. Permit holders are required to follow the direction of Town of Aurora staff
regarding the use of Town facilities and the conduct of all participants, staff,
volunteers, guests and invitees of the permit holder at all times.
8. All permit holders shall remove from their permitted facility all garbage, refuse or
debris. This includes but is not limited to, rooms, hallways, sidelines, dugouts,
player areas and spectator areas. Failure to do so may result in the permit holder
being invoiced for the Towns costs to clean up the affected area. No further
permits will be issued to the offending permit holder until payment has been
received by the Town.
9. Damages to a playing surface and/or other area of the facility and restoration
expenses incurred by the Town resulting from unauthorized use of the facility at
any time will be assessed to the associated permit holder or to the affiliated
organization of the permit holder. The amount of damages will be based on the
time and materials required to repair the damages and any lost facility rental
revenue resulting from the closing of the facility for repairs. All payments in
relation to the above shall be paid in full prior to the permit holder’s further use of
the facility or the re-issuance of facility use permits.
10. The Town of Aurora reserves the right to require police supervision or security
staff at any event at the expense of the permit holder. The Town of Aurora
reserves the right to require a Security Deposit for any event. The eligibility and
the amount of the refund for a Security Deposit will be considered the week
following the event.
11. Sub-leasing or booking of facilities by the permit holder to a third party will not be
permitted under any circumstances. Any and all agreements to permanently or
temporarily release permitted time to another user group shall be administered
by the Facility Bookings Administrator, subject to the approval of the Director. No
user group shall be permitted to use any facility without a permit being issued in
that user group’s name.
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8
12. Should it be determined that there is unauthorized use of facilities at any time
without a permit the Town reserves the right to suspend or refuse renewal of the
permit holder’s permits indefinitely. Upon confirmation of the unauthorized use
of the facility the associate user group may be fined a financial penalty based on
10 times the normal hourly rental rate of the facility. The penalty shall be paid in
full prior to the issuance of any further facility use permits or any resumption of
use by the affected user group.
Cancellations
1. The Facility Bookings Administrator must be notified in writing at least 14 days in
advance of any facility use cancellations to be entitled to a refund of the permit
fees. No refunds shall be issued for cancellations with less than 14 days’ written
notice. Ice cancellations are subject to a 20% cancellation fee if 14 days’ written
notice is provided. Seasonal permits do not allow for individual date
cancellations.
2. All internal Town of Aurora bookings for programs, special events or other
initiatives will be cancelled a minimum of two weeks prior to the booking date for
purposes of operational scheduling and re-permitting the facility.
3. Any group or individual that commits two (2) “no-shows” may be subject to
cancellation or denial of future permits, at the discretion of the Director.
4. Weather related cancellations or facility closures will not constitute cause for a
refund of user fees for lost time experienced by the permit holder. The Town will
accept requests from the permit holder that have been impacted by a facility
closure to reschedule lost playing time at no additional cost to the affected
group(s), provided the request is sent within 48 hours of the weather incident. For
individual bookings that cannot be reasonably rescheduled due to the nature of
the activity or availability of suitable facilities, refunds may be provided at the
discretion of the Director.
References
• Arena Allocation Procedure
• Baseball Diamond Allocation Procedure
• Court (Pickleball and Tennis) Allocation Procedure
• Field Allocation Procedure
• Park Allocation Procedure
• Room/Hall Allocation Procedure
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Other regulations, policies, and procedures applicable to facility permits, include but are
not limited to:
• Fees and Charges By-law
• Municipal Alcohol Policy
• Third Party Events in Outdoor Town Facilities Policy
• Health Protection and Promotion Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.7
• Liquor Licence Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. L.19
• Liquor Control Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. L.18
• Gaming Control Act, S.O. 1992, c. 24
• Council Chambers and Holland Room Use Policy
• Smoke-Free Ontario Act, S.O. 1994, c. 10
• Parks Bylaw
• Noise By-law
Review Timeline
This policy will be reviewed 5 years after the initial approval date.
Page 18 of 40
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora Attachment 2
Arena Allocation Procedure
Community Services
Contact: Supervisor, Business Support, Community Services
Effective: November 29, 2023
______________________________________________________________________________________
Procedure for Facility Allocation Policy
The purpose of this procedure is to outline the arena-specific considerations of the
allocation policy.
Allocation Procedures
Seasonal requests are due on or before the following dates:
• Fall/Winter: April 1
• Special Events (following year): April 1
• Spring/Summer (following year): October 15
Seasonal permits must be reviewed, and revisions must be submitted within 21 days of
receipt from the Facility Bookings Administrator. If seasonal permits are not confirmed
by the deadline, legacy rights may not be maintained.
Out of season ice allocation (Spring and Summer or May through August) and all arena
floor allocation will be made available and scheduled by the Community Services
Department according to programming opportunities serving the interest of Aurora
residents.
The mandate of the Community Services Department is to provide a variety of leisure
opportunities for all Aurora residents. To this end, Community Services Department
programs or initiatives and youth programs are recognized as a high priority in terms of
arena allocation.
The Community Services Department will allocate sufficient time for arena maintenance
activities to ensure arena surfaces, equipment and fixtures are maintained to industry
standards.
The Town of Aurora is supportive of having junior hockey programs in Town. As such,
the Town will allocate appropriate ice time and provide facility support to the teams for
the benefit of Aurora residents and businesses.
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2
The Community Services Department will host a mandatory ice allocation meeting each
year to discuss annual Fall/Winter ice allocation, no later than June 15th of each
calendar year. The Community Services Department will schedule user group meetings
as required throughout the year.
Submission of Town-run recreation program requests
All requests for use of facilities for recreation programming shall be submitted to the
Business Support Services division as part of the seasonal program guide process.
Advanced Aquatics, Special Events and arenas are booked for a year at a time in
advance of the seasonal process.
Booking of facility spaces and supporting equipment shall be the responsibility of the
Business Support staff, under the direction of the Recreation team for each respective
program season, including entry into the permitting system with set-up requirements.
Facility Maintenance
All 60-minute ice rental periods include a 10-minute maintenance period for ice
resurfacing, during which the permit holder is not permitted on the ice and no objects
may be placed on the arena boards or allowed to overhang the arena boards.
The Town of Aurora reserves the right to schedule the 10-minute ice-resurfacing period
at either the beginning or the end of the rental period. For ice rental periods of greater
than one consecutive hour, ice resurfacing will be conducted at the discretion of Town
of Aurora staff. Staff will make reasonable efforts to consult with the permit holder,
however, the decision of the Town of Aurora staff shall be final.
Town of Aurora staff may sound the horn to signal the end of a rental period or to
indicate the need for all participants to vacate the ice immediately for resurfacing or
reasons of safety or security.
Rental Rate Categories
1. Non-Prime Between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays
2. Morning Time Between 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. weekdays
3. Prime-Time Between 4 p.m. to closing weekdays
Between 6 a.m. to closing weekends
References / Codes
• Facility Allocation Policy
Page 20 of 40
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora Attachment 3
Ball Diamond Allocation
Procedure
Community Services
Contact: Supervisor, Business Support, Community Services
Effective: November 29, 2023
______________________________________________________________________________________
Procedure for Facility Allocation Policy
The purpose of this procedure is to outline the ball diamond-specific considerations of
the allocation policy.
Allocation Procedures
Seasonal requests are due on or before the following dates:
• Special Events (following year): April 1
• Tournaments (following year): September 15
• Spring/Summer (following year): October 15
Seasonal permits must be reviewed, and revisions must be submitted within 21 days of
receipt from the Facility Bookings Administrator. If seasonal permits are not confirmed
by the deadline, legacy rights may not be maintained.
For tournaments and special events that have been approved by the Manager of Parks
Operations and/or Manager of Business Support, diamond use limitations outlined
above may be waived.
All Class “A” and “E” sports fields are subject to an 11:00pm curfew. Continued play
beyond 11:00pm and/or use of the facility lighting system beyond 11:15pm will not be
permitted without approval from the Director.
Permit holders are advised that regularly scheduled maintenance is conducted on a
routine basis, and such routine maintenance may be cancelled or delayed should the
facility be in use at the time of scheduled maintenance.
Submission of Town-run recreation program requests
All requests for use of facilities for recreation programming shall be submitted to the
Business Support Services division as part of the seasonal program guide process.
Advanced Aquatics, Special Events and arenas are booked for a year at a time in
advance of the seasonal process.
Page 21 of 40
2
Booking of facility spaces and supporting equipment shall be the responsibility of the
Business Support staff, under the direction of the Recreation team for each respective
program season, including entry into the permitting system with set-up requirements.
Facility Use Regulations
1. All required field maintenance will be provided in accordance with the Town’s
service level maintenance standards, excluding the provision of labour and
equipment required to prepare the playing surface of softball/baseball diamonds,
e.g., infield lining, lining equipment, bases, and equipment storage box padlocks.
2. For softball/baseball diamonds, the Town will provide one (1) storage box with
pad lock and one (1) key for the containment of line marking chalk and a
sufficient supply of line marking chalk will be provided in each location required
by the permit holder upon notification to the Facility Bookings Administrator.
Extra keys may be obtained from the Facility Bookings Administrator.
3. Should the permit holder require equipment storage on site at any
softball/baseball diamond, the permit holder will be required to purchase an
equipment storage box from the Town. The Town will permit one (1) storage box
per permit holder to be located at the facility of its choice. Additional storage
boxes may be approved at the discretion of the Town. All additional costs will be
borne by the user group.
4. To ensure consistency, storage boxes must be purchased from the Town and the
box must be fitted with a pad lock provided by the permit holder and remained
locked at all times. Storage boxes found to be unlocked will be locked by the
Town and the permit holder will be billed a minimum of $175.00 for the time
required to secure the box and for the provision of a Town lock. Contact the
Parks Operations office for further information and pricing of equipment storage
boxes.
5. Prior to the issuance of a permit the user group shall provide to the Facility
Bookings Administrator, the name, address and telephone contact numbers of
the primary contact person responsible for field bookings for the organization.
This contact information will be used by the Town to notify the organization of all
pertinent facility information concerning short-term weather-related field closings
or other facility related information.
Facility Classification and Schedule of Usage
Class A Baseball
Description: Town owned and/or managed senior baseball facility with lighting and
irrigation.
Locations: Lambert Willson Park, Stewart Burnett Park
Total: 2
Page 22 of 40
3
Schedule: Permitted for use seven (7) days per week between the hours of 8:30 a.m.
to 11 p.m.
Class A Softball
Description: Town owned and/or managed senior softball facility with lighting and
irrigation.
Locations: Town Park, Norm Weller Park, Fleury Park, Lambert Willson Park (3),
James Lloyd Park, Optimist Park, Hallmark Lands (2)
Total: 10
Schedule: Permitted for use seven (7) days per week between the hours of 8:30 a.m.
to 11 p.m.
Class B Softball
Description: Town owned and/or managed senior softball facility without lights.
Locations: Copland Park
Total: 1
Schedule: Permitted for use seven (7) days per week between the hours of 3:30- p.m.
to sundown.
Class C Softball
Description: Town owned and/or managed junior softball facility without lights.
Locations: Confederation Park (2), Machell Park (2), Elizabeth Hader Park, Summit
Park
Total: 6
Schedule: Permitted for use seven (7) days per week between the hours of 3:30 p.m.
to sundown. Aurora schools may permit during the school day upon
approval.
References / Codes
• Facility Allocation Policy
Page 23 of 40
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora Attachment 4
Court Allocation Procedure
Community Services
Contact: Supervisor, Business Support, Community Services
Effective: November 29, 2023
______________________________________________________________________________________
Procedure for Facility Allocation Policy
The purpose of this procedure is to outline the court-specific considerations of the
allocation policy. This applies to tennis and pickleball courts.
Allocation Procedures
Seasonal requests are due on or before the following dates
• Special Events (following year): April 1
• Tournaments (following year): September 15
• Spring/Summer (following year): October 15
Seasonal permits must be reviewed and revisions must be submitted within 21 days of
receipt from the Facility Bookings Administrator. If seasonal permits are not confirmed
by the deadline, legacy rights may not be maintained.
Submission of Town-run recreation program requests
All requests for use of facilities for recreation programming shall be submitted to the
Business Support Services division as part of the seasonal program guide process.
Advanced Aquatics, Special Events and arenas are booked for a year at a time in
advance of the seasonal process.
Booking of facility spaces and supporting equipment shall be the responsibility of the
Business Support staff, under the direction of the Recreation team for each respective
program season, including entry into the permitting system with set-up requirements.
Scheduling Considerations
1. Tennis court permitting is prohibited at all locations, with the exception of Fleury
Park.
2. Pickleball court permitting is prohibited at all locations, with the exception of
Thomas Coates Park.
3. Permits shall be limited to a maximum of two (2) tennis courts and one (1)
pickleball court at any given time.
4. The following exemptions apply to the sections above:
• Programs operated by or on behalf of the Town of Aurora
Page 24 of 40
2
• Aurora Community Tennis Club
• Schools in Aurora
• Tournaments or special events approved by the Director
5. Drop-in play at all dedicated tennis courts shall be on a first-come-first-served
basis, with a mandatory requirement that the court(s) be vacated every hour, on
the hour to allow the next person(s) in line to play.
6. Drop-in play at all dedicated pickleball courts shall be on a first-come-first-served
basis, with a mandatory requirement that the paddle method is used to allow the
next player(s) in line to play.
7. Drop-in play at all shared tennis/pickleball courts shall be on a first-come-first-
serve basis, utilizing the paddle method for pickleball and on the hour for tennis.
8. Prior to the issuance of a permit the user group shall provide to the Facility
Bookings Administrator, the name, address and telephone contact numbers of
the primary contact person responsible for field bookings for the organization.
This contact information will be used by the Town to notify the organization of all
pertinent facility information concerning short-term weather-related field closings
or other facility related information.
Facility Classification and Schedule of Usage
Tennis Courts
Description: Town owned and/or managed tennis courts lined for tennis only.
Locations: David English Park (2), Summit Park (2), Thomas Coates Park (2),
McMahon Park (3)
Total: 9
Schedule: McMahon Park only, permitted under separate agreement to the Aurora
Community Tennis Club.
Tennis/Pickleball Courts
Description: Town owned and/or managed tennis courts lined for both tennis and
pickleball.
Locations: Norm Weller Park (2), Fleury Park (4)
Total: 6
Schedule: Fleury Park only, permitted for use seven (7) days per week between the
hours of 9 a.m. to dusk, for unlit courts and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. for lit courts
up to a maximum of two (2) courts.
Pickleball Courts
Description: Town owned and/or managed pickleball courts lined for pickleball only.
Locations: Thomas Coates Park (2), Trent Park (2)
Page 25 of 40
3
Total: 4
Schedule: Thomas Coates Park only, permitted for use seven (7) days per week
between the hours of 9 a.m. to dusk, to a maximum of one (1) court.
For tournaments and special events that have been approved by the Manager of Parks
Operations and/or Manager of Business Support, court use limitations outlined above
may be waived.
References / Codes
• Facility Allocation Policy
Page 26 of 40
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora Attachment 5
Field Allocation Procedure
Community Services
Contact: Supervisor, Business Support, Community Services
Effective: November 29, 2023
______________________________________________________________________________________
Procedure for Facility Allocation Policy
The purpose of this procedure is to outline the field-specific considerations of the
allocation policy.
Allocation Procedures
Seasonal requests are due on or before the following dates:
• Special Events (following year): April 1
• Tournaments (following year): September 15
• Spring/Summer (following year): October 15
Seasonal permits must be reviewed, and revisions must be submitted within 21 days of
receipt from the Facility Bookings Administrator. If seasonal permits are not confirmed
by the deadline, legacy rights may not be maintained.
Allocation of Artificial Turf Fields
As the St. Maximillian Kolbe and Stewart Burnett artificial turf fields have been
designed, in part, to support specific community programming, the following additional
allocation priority will be applied:
St. Maximillian Kolbe artificial turf field:
First priority shall be given to all sports other than soccer, in accordance with seasonal
booking procedures, and in accordance with the allocation priority listed in the Facility
Allocation Policy.
Once all non-soccer related sports have been accommodated, soccer requests will then
be considered, in accordance with seasonal booking procedures, and in accordance
with the allocation priority listed in the Facility Allocation Policy.
Stewart Burnett Park artificial turf field:
First priority shall be given to the Aurora Youth Soccer Club’s League 1 and Ontario
Player Development League programming, in accordance with seasonal booking
procedures, and in accordance with the allocation priority listed in the Facility Allocation
Policy.
Page 27 of 40
2
Second priority shall be given to all other soccer requests, in accordance with seasonal
booking procedures, and in accordance with the allocation priority listed in the Facility
Allocation Policy.
Once all soccer related requests have been accommodated, non-soccer requests will
then be considered, in accordance with seasonal booking procedures, and in
accordance with the allocation priority listed in the Facility Allocation Policy.
Sheppard’s Bush artificial turf field:
Allocation of the Sheppard’s Bush artificial turf field shall be in accordance with the
Facility Allocation Policy.
Submission of Town-run recreation program requests
All requests for use of facilities for recreation programming shall be submitted to the
Business Support Services division as part of the seasonal program guide process.
Advanced Aquatics, Special Events and arenas are booked for a year at a time in
advance of the seasonal process.
Booking of facility spaces and supporting equipment shall be the responsibility of the
Business Support staff, under the direction of the Recreation team for each respective
program season, including entry into the permitting system with set-up requirements.
Scheduling Considerations
Prior to the issuance of a permit the user group shall provide to the Facility Bookings
Administrator, the name, address, and telephone contact numbers of the primary
contact person responsible for field bookings for the organization. This contact
information will be used by the Town to notify the organization of all pertinent facility
information concerning short-term weather-related field closings or other facility related
information.
Permit holders are advised that regularly scheduled maintenance is conducted on a
routine basis, and such routine maintenance may be cancelled or delayed should the
facility be in use at the time of scheduled maintenance.
All Class “A” and “E” sports fields are subject to an 11 p.m. curfew. Continued play
beyond 11 p.m. and/or use of the facility lighting system beyond 11:15 p.m. will not be
permitted without approval from the Director.
Rental Rate categories for Class “F” sports fields are as follows:
Prime Time Between 4 p.m. to closing weekdays
Between 6 a.m. to closing weekends
Holidays (including March Break)
Non-Prime Time All other times not listed above
Page 28 of 40
3
Facility Use Regulations
1. The season of play for all class A, B, C and D sports field facilities, as classified in
the Facility Classification section of this procedure, shall commence on or about
the 15th of May and continue through to September 30th, pending weather and
field conditions. To conduct seasonal field maintenance operations, no facility
permits will be issued prior to or after this period unless approved in writing by
the Manager of Parks Operations.
2. The season of play for class E artificial turf fields, as classified in Section 8.0 of
this policy, shall commence on or about April 1st and continue through to
November 30th each year pending field conditions.
3. Permits may be issued for class E artificial turf fields, as classified in the Facility
Classification section of this procedure, at other times, subject to the approval of
the Manager of Parks Operations pending field conditions.
4. Each permit holder shall be responsible for shutting off of the facility lighting
system immediately following use of the facility. Should the permit holder fail to
ensure the system is shut off following the use of the facility the Town will issue
a formal notice of warning to the permit holder. Following a second occurrence
the permit holder will be assessed a penalty of $250.00.
5. All required field maintenance will be provided in accordance with the Town’s
service level maintenance standards, excluding the provision of labour and
equipment required to prepare the playing surface of softball/baseball diamonds,
e.g. infield lining, lining equipment, bases, and equipment storage box padlocks.
6. Permitted times for all outdoor sport facilities include a 5-minute changeover
period at the end of each booking. The last hour of each booking will be 55
minutes long to allow the following permit to commence at the scheduled start
time.
7. Should the permit holder require equipment storage on site at any field, the
permit holder will be required to purchase an equipment storage box from the
Town. The Town will permit one (1) storage box per permit holder to be located
at the facility of its choice. Additional storage boxes may be approved at the
discretion of the Town. All additional costs will be borne by the user group.
To ensure consistency, storage boxes must be purchased from the Town and the
box must be fitted with a pad lock provided by the permit holder and remained
locked at all times. Storage boxes found to be unlocked will be locked by the
Town and the permit holder will be billed a minimum of $175.00 for the time
required to secure the box and for the provision of a Town lock. Contact the
Parks Operations office for further information and pricing of equipment storage
boxes.
Page 29 of 40
4
Facility Classification and Schedule of Usage
Class A Senior Soccer
Description: Full sized (11 v 11) Town owned and/or managed senior soccer
pitch with lighting and irrigation.
Locations: Fleury Park, Highland Park*, Optimist Park
Total: 3
Schedule: Permitted for use not more than five (5) days in a seven (7) day
period with two (2) consecutive days of rest in a seven (7) day
period throughout the playing season.
Permitted for use for regularly scheduled games only and not more
than two (2) games in a 24-hour period. Practise play is not
permitted on any class “A” facility.
*Highland Park is operated under separate agreement with the
Aurora Soccer Club.
Class B Senior Soccer
Description: Full sized (11 v 11) Town owned and/or managed senior soccer
pitch without lights.
Locations: Summit Park, Craddock Park, Lambert Willson Park (Legion), Norm
Weller Park, Machell Park, Confederation Park, Stronach(2)
Total: 8
Schedule: Permitted for use not more than six (6) days in a seven (7) day
period with one (1) day of rest in a seven (7) day period throughout
the playing season.
Permitted for use for not more than one (1) game during a 24 hour
period.
Class C Mini Soccer
Description: Medium sized (9 v 9 and 7 v 7) Town owned and/or managed
soccer pitches.
Locations (9 v 9): Sheppard’s Bush (3), Hamilton Park, Stronach (2)
Total: 6
Page 30 of 40
5
Locations (7 v 7): Sheppard’s Bush (5), Harmon Park, Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Park,
Hickson Park, Ada Johnson Park, Stronach (2), Machell Park
(Sunoco)
Total: 12
Schedule: Permitted for seven (7) days per week for not more than two (2)
games in a 24-hour period.
Class D Micro Soccer
Description: Small sized (5 v 5 and 3 v 3) Town owned and/or managed soccer
pitches.
Locations (5 v 5): Stronach (10), other locations as may be temporarily approved.
Total: 10
Locations (3 v 3): Town Park (2), Stronach (3), other locations as may be temporarily
approved.
Total: 5
Schedule: Permitted for seven (7) days per week for not more than two (2)
games in a 24-hour period.
Class E Senior Soccer
Description: Full sized Town owned and/or managed artificial turf sports field
with lighting.
Locations: Sheppard’s Bush, St. Maximillian Kolbe CHS, Stewart Burnett Park
Total: 3
Schedule: Permitted for use seven (7) days per week between the hours of 7
a.m. to 11 p.m. unless otherwise dictated through shared use
agreements.
Class F Indoor Artificial Turf Field
Description: One-third full-sized Town owned and/or managed artificial turf
sports field with lighting.
Locations: Aurora Sports Dome (3)
Total: 3
Schedule: Permitted for use seven (7) days per week between the hours of 7
a.m. to 11 p.m.
Page 31 of 40
6
For tournaments and special events that have been approved by the Manager of Parks
Operations and/or Manager of Business Support, field use limitations outlined above
may be waived.
References / Codes
• Facility Allocation Policy
Page 32 of 40
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora Attachment 6
Park Allocation Procedure
Community Services
Contact: Supervisor, Business Support, Community Services
Effective: November 29, 2023
______________________________________________________________________________________
Procedure for Facility Allocation Policy
The purpose of this procedure is to outline the park-specific considerations of the
allocation policy.
Allocation Procedures
Seasonal requests are due on or before the following dates:
• Special Events (following year): April 1
• Tournaments (following year): September 15
• Spring/Summer (following year): October 15
Seasonal permits must be reviewed, and revisions must be submitted within 21 days of
receipt from the Facility Bookings Administrator. If seasonal permits are not confirmed
by the deadline, legacy rights may not be maintained.
Scheduling Considerations
Permit holders are advised that regularly scheduled maintenance is conducted on a
routine basis, and such routine maintenance may be cancelled or delayed should the
facility be in use at the time of scheduled maintenance.
Submission of Town-run recreation program requests
All requests for use of facilities for recreation programming shall be submitted to the
Business Support Services division as part of the seasonal program guide process.
Advanced Aquatics, Special Events and arenas are booked for a year at a time in
advance of the seasonal process.
Booking of facility spaces and supporting equipment shall be the responsibility of the
Business Support staff, under the direction of the Recreation team for each respective
program season, including entry into the permitting system with set-up requirements.
Fees and Charges
Fees will be charged for the delivery and removal of picnic tables, waste containers,
other equipment and additional park maintenance requirements associated with
Page 33 of 40
2
maintenance, restoration, garbage collection, and increased washroom maintenance
during and after the special event/activity.
Park use fees and/or security deposits will also apply to any organized event occurring
in a park where, in the opinion of the Manager of Parks Operations or Manager of
Business Support, the nature of the event poses a risk of damage to the park or facility
or where the Town will incur additional expense associated with restoration and
cleanup.
References / Codes
• Facility Allocation Policy
Page 34 of 40
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora Attachment 7
Room Allocation Procedure
Community Services
Contact: Supervisor, Business Support, Community Services
Effective: November 29, 2023
______________________________________________________________________________________
Procedure for Facility Allocation Policy
The purpose of this procedure is to outline the room-specific considerations of the
allocation policy.
Allocation Procedures
Seasonal requests are due on or before the following dates:
• Fall/Winter: April 1
• Special Events (following year): April 1
• Spring/Summer (following year): October 15
Seasonal permits must be reviewed, and revisions must be submitted within 21 days of
receipt from the Facility Bookings Administrator. If seasonal permits are not confirmed
by the deadline, legacy rights may not be maintained.
The following allocation priority will be utilized for all annual and seasonal requests
submitted in accordance with annual/seasonal permitting request procedures. In all
other cases, permits will be issued on a first come first serve basis with the established
priority ranking applied when deemed necessary by the Director.
1. Town Council and Council Committees.
2. Town of Aurora special events and recreation programming, including
programming/events operated by third parties on behalf of the Town of Aurora.
3. Town of Aurora departmental meetings, open houses, training programs and
other Town activities.
4. Non-Town groups as outlined in the Facility Allocation Policy
Submission of Town-run recreation program requests
All requests for use of facilities for recreation programming shall be submitted to the
Business Support Services division as part of the seasonal program guide process.
Advanced Aquatics, Special Events and arenas are booked for a year at a time in
advance of the seasonal process.
Page 35 of 40
2
Booking of facility spaces and supporting equipment shall be the responsibility of the
Business Support staff, under the direction of the Recreation team for each respective
program season, including entry into the permitting system with set-up requirements.
For Town use requests, this policy does not apply to:
• Tannery Room
• Department meeting rooms at Town Hall and the Joint Operations Centre
Fees and Charges
There will be no charge for room reservation or coffee service (where coffee service is
available) when Department staff or Council members are in attendance conducting
Town business or acting as representatives of the Town, or where an organization
wishes to hold a Federal or Provincial All Candidates event.
Aurora based non-profit groups, excluding other levels of government, agencies, boards
and commissions, may permit the following rooms free of charge during the normal
operating hours of the facility:
• Meeting Room #1 and Meeting Room #2, Aurora Community Centre
• Meeting Room, Aurora Family Leisure Complex
• Meeting Room, Stronach Aurora Recreation Complex
Any organization requesting to have fees waived for a meeting room booking may be
required to submit supporting documentation satisfactory to the Director at the time of
submission.
Facility Use Regulations
1. No open flame is permitted inside any Town facility without the approval of the
Director.
2. No food preparation equipment is permitted in Town facilities without the
approval of the Director, and from Public Health and/or York Central Fire Services
where applicable.
3. For youth events (i.e.: band competitions) and other events as determined by the
Director, paid duty police officers must be present for the duration of the event,
with a minimum adult: youth supervision ratio of 1:10.
4. Alcohol is not permitted at any event specific to children/youth or where
children/youth are anticipated to make up the majority of the participants.
5. All permit holders must supply their own dishes, glasses and other
food/beverage service supplies. Catering is permitted in Town facilities.
6. Permits issued are for use of the permitted space only, and do not include use of
Town owned equipment or materials, unless otherwise specified in the permit.
Page 36 of 40
3
7. Requests for use of Town owned equipment or materials, including but not
limited to use of tables and chairs, and any set-up requirements must be
submitted in writing no later than 14 days prior to the permit date.
8. All permits shall start and end promptly at the time specified on the permit. Any
additional time required by the permit holder for set-up and clean-up, must be
included in the permit request and shall form part of the permit, and is subject to
all fees in accordance with this policy.
9. No permits shall be issued beyond 12 a.m., or prior to the normal scheduled
opening time of any facility unless authorized by the Director. All permits for
Victoria Hall shall end no later than 11 p.m.
References / Codes
• Facility Allocation Policy
Page 37 of 40
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora
Memorandum
Community Services
Re: Feasibility of a Permanent Liquor License at the Aurora Community Centre
To: Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee
From: John Firman, Manager, Business Support
Date: October 19, 2023
Recommendation
1. That the memorandum regarding Feasibility of a Permanent Liquor License at the
Aurora Community Centre be received; and
2. That the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee comments regarding Feasibility
of a Permanent Liquor License at the Aurora Community Centre be received and
referred to staff for consideration and further action as appropriate.
Background
At the February Council Meeting the following Motion was passed:
1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That staff be directed to investigate and
report back to Council on the feasibility of a permanent liquor license at the Aurora
Community Centre arena; and
2. Be It Further Resolved That staff report back with the recommended amendments
to the Municipal Alcohol Policy that would need updating to facilitate this
opportunity.
Analysis
Staff have surveyed other municipalities and found a variety of existing scenarios:
Some do not allow alcohol under any circumstances.
Some allow alcohol only through Special Occasion Permit (SOP) for special
events.
Page 38 of 40
Feasibility of a Permanent Liquor License at the Aurora Community Centre
October 19, 2023 Page 2 of 3
Some have permanent liquor licenses through restaurants or other vendors in
place at major centres, usually where high-profile teams play,
The latter being most comparable to the Aurora Community Centre where we have a
large seating area and is home to the Aurora Tigers Jr. A Hockey Club.
The municipalities surveyed did not identify any major concerns, however, it should be
noted that in almost all cases the liquor license was associated with a full-service
restaurant on the premises. These are typically located in larger facilities that have
multiple amenities (arenas, gymnasiums) and multiple teams/groups that can sustain
this type of business.
Staff also surveyed regular user groups of the Aurora Community Centre’s McAlpine
Ford Arena. While none of the user groups had any objection to the Town obtaining a
liquor license, only one group expressed interest in utilizing the license to allow alcohol
at their events. One group specifically requested that alcohol not be offered during their
permit times.
While it may be feasible to proceed with obtaining a liquor license, the challenge will be
in presenting a business case to support the expense and identify the appropriate
operating model. There is limited opportunity to generate enough revenue to offset
costs, which may include:
Purchase and storage of alcohol.
Ensuring food is available for sale at the same time.
Hiring, training, certification and scheduling of staff.
Security and/or Paid Duty Police during events.
In order to make this financially viable it may be necessary to waive permit fees for the
Auditorium for licensed events.
If the Town were to proceed, it is recommended that a 3rd party operator be contracted
to provide this service, as this would be more efficient and cost effective compared to
the Town managing the service.
The Legal & Legislative Services team is currently reviewing this matter and will provide
comments related to risk management in the upcoming Council Report.
Page 39 of 40
Feasibility of a Permanent Liquor License at the Aurora Community Centre
October 19, 2023 Page 3 of 3
Based on the information gathered to date, staff do not recommend proceeding at this
time, as it is anticipated that the Town would operate this service at a financial loss. If
Council wishes to proceed, it is recommended that we undertake a pilot project by
obtaining SOP’s for selected Aurora Tigers’ games only and partner with a 3rd party
operator to assess the viability of providing alcohol sales.
Obtaining a permanent liquor license may require minor amendments to the Municipal
Alcohol Policy, and may require an amendment to the Fees and Charges Bylaw to waive
permit fees, resulting in lost revenue.
Attachments
None.
Page 40 of 40