Agenda - Committee of the Whole - 20260310Town of Aurora
Committee of the Whole
Meeting Revised Agenda
Date:Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Time:7 p.m.
Location:Council Chambers, Aurora Town Hall
Meetings are available to the public in person and via live stream on the Town’s YouTube channel.
To participate, please visit aurora.ca/participation.
Pages
1.Call to Order
Note: Added items are marked with an asterisk (*).
According to the Procedure By-law, the consent of a two-thirds majority vote of
Members present is required to permit the addition of Delegations items 6.5 to
6.8, and Member Motions items 15.7 to 15.9, to the agenda.
2.Land Acknowledgement
3.Approval of the Agenda
4.Declarations of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof
5.Community Presentations
6.Delegations
6.1 Jocelyn Wigley, Development Manager, and Skai Spooner, Head of
Marketing, Jolt Charge; Re: Item 14.3 - PDS26-021 - Request for Sign By-
law Authorization for Third Party Digital Signage - Jolt Charge Inc., 14751
Yonge Street
1
6.2 Javed S. Khan, President and Chair, Aurora Sports Hall of Fame; Re:
Aurora Sports Hall of Fame Audit Update
21
*6.3 Shawn Deane, Resident; Re: Items 7.1 - HAC Meeting Minutes of Feb 9,
2026; 13.2 - OPS26-010; 14.1 - PDS26-023; 14.2 - PDS26-020; 16.1 - York
Regional Council Highlights of Jan 29, 2026; and 16.2 - York Regional
Council Highlights of Feb 26, 2026
22
*6.4 John Hartman, Resident; Re: Item 15.6 - Mayor Mrakas; Re: Review and 23
Release of Certain Closed Session Materials
*6.5 Nikki Alber, Resident; Re: Item 15.4 - Councillor Gallo; Re: Establishment
of a Joint Task Force and Funding Support to Combat Antisemitic Hate
and Violence and Protect Vulnerable Communities in Aurora
24
*6.6 Nada Ismail and Co-Delegates William, Nathan, and Debra, Residents; Re:
Item 10.1 - CS26-007 - Implications of Implementing a Renoviction By-law
25
*6.7 Richard Robertson, Director of Research and Advocacy, B'nai Brith
Canada; Re: Item 15.4 - Councillor Gallo; Re: Establishment of a Joint
Task Force and Funding Support to Combat Antisemitic Hate and
Violence and Protect Vulnerable Communities in Aurora
26
*6.8 Jennifer Brooks, Resident; Re: Item 15.4 - Councillor Gallo; Re:
Establishment of a Joint Task Force and Funding Support to Combat
Antisemitic Hate and Violence and Protect Vulnerable Communities in
Aurora
27
7.Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
7.1 Heritage Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of February 9, 2026 28
That the Heritage Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of
February 9, 2026, be received for information.
1.
7.2 Community Recognition Review Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of
February 11, 2026
34
That the Community Recognition Review Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes of February 11, 2026, be received for
information.
1.
7.3 Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of February 11, 2026 38
That the Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of
February 11, 2026, be received for information.
1.
7.4 Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of February 23,
2026
43
That the Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of
February 23, 2026, be received for information.
1.
8.Consent Agenda
9.Community Services Committee Agenda
9.1 CMS26-006 - Roller Skating Programming Options 48
That Report No. CMS26-006 be received; and1.
That roller skating be offered as a drop-in program.2.
10.Corporate Services Committee Agenda
10.1 CS26-007 - Implications of Implementing a Renoviction By-law 53
That Report No. CS26-007 be received; and1.
That the Town not proceed with the preparation and
implementation of a renovictions by-law and no further action
be taken.
2.
11.Finance and Information Technology Committee Agenda
11.1 FIN26-008 - Statement of Remuneration and Expenses for Members of
Council, Committees and Local Boards
62
That Report No. FIN26-008 be received for information.1.
12.Administration Committee Agenda
13.Operational Services Committee Agenda
13.1 OPS26-008 - Protecting Aurora's Oldest Trees - Heritage Tree
Management Guide
70
That Report No. OPS26-008 be received; and1.
That the Heritage Tree Management Guide, and associated
principles, be endorsed.
2.
13.2 OPS26-010 - Waterworks By-law Update 81
That Report No. OPS26-010 be received; and1.
That staff bring forward the new Waterworks, Water Meter and
Water Rates By-law, and any related by-law amendments, to a
future Council meeting for enactment.
2.
14.Planning and Development Services Committee Agenda
14.1 PDS26-023 - Home Energy Retrofit Program Design Study 118
(Presentation to be provided by Alex Hill, Partner, Dunsky Energy and
Climate Advisors)
That Report No. PDS26-023 be received; and1.
That the Home Energy Retrofit Program Design Study be
endorsed; and
2.
That staff be directed to move forward with the implementation
of the Home Energy Retrofit Program Design Study.
3.
14.2 PDS26-020 - Servicing Capacity Update 173
That Report No. PDS26-020 be received; and1.
That a total of 577 persons worth of servicing capacity from
developments as listed in Appendix “A” be revoked; and
2.
That a total of 855 persons worth of servicing capacity be
assigned toward the list of approved developments as shown in
Appendix “B” within a three-year “use-it or lose-it” timeframe;
and
3.
That staff be directed to prioritize the list of developments as
listed in Appendix “C” and provide servicing allocation should
additional capacity become available.
4.
14.3 PDS26-021 - Request for Sign By-law Authorization for Third Party
Digital Signage - Jolt Charge Inc. - 14751 Yonge Street
184
That Report No. PDS26-021 be received; and1.
That the request for authorization of a third party digital sign on
an EV charging station located at 14751 Yonge Street be
denied.
2.
14.4 PDS26-022 - Request for Sign By-law Authorization for Third Party
Digital Signage - Hossein Goli - 14810 Yonge Street
208
That Report No. PDS26-022 be received; and1.
That the request for authorization of a third party digital sign on
an existing ground sign located at 14810 Yonge Street be
denied.
2.
15.Member Motions
15.1 Councillor Thompson; Re: Exemption of Golf Courses from the Clean
Communities By-law for Grass Maintenance
220
15.2 Councillor Gilliland; Re: Feasibility of an Opt-In Municipal Alert System
for Emergencies, Weather and Service Disruptions
222
15.3 Councillor Gilliland; Re: Improving Accessibility and Public Record
Integration of Live and Archived Council Meeting Video
223
15.4 Councillor Gallo; Re: Establishment of a Joint Task Force and Funding
Support to Combat Antisemitic Hate and Violence and Protect
Vulnerable Communities in Aurora
225
15.5 Councillor Gallo; Re: Financial Reporting for the Aurora Economic
Development Corporation Board (AEDC)
227
15.6 Mayor Mrakas; Re: Review and Release of Certain Closed Session
Materials
229
*15.7 Councillor Gallo; Re: Disclosure of Documents Related to Victoria Hall
Renovations
230
*15.8 Councillor Gallo; Re: Traffic Calming Measures on Limeridge Street 232
*15.9 Mayor Mrakas; Re: Protecting Vulnerable Social Infrastructure in the
Town of Aurora
233
16.Regional Report
16.1 York Regional Council Highlights of January 29, 2026 235
That the York Regional Council Highlights of January 29, 2026,
be received for information.
1.
16.2 York Regional Council Highlights of February 26, 2026 239
That the York Regional Council Highlights of February 26, 2026,
be received for information.
1.
17.New Business
18.Public Service Announcements
19.Closed Session
20.Adjournment
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Delegation Request
This request and any written submissions or background information for consideration by either Council or
Committees of Council is being submitted to Legislative Services.
Council or Committee (Choose One) *
Committee of the Whole
Council or Committee Meeting Date *
2026-3-10
Subject *
14751 Yonge Street - Jolt EV charging unit with third party advertising
Full Name of Spokesperson and Name of Group or Person(s) being Represented (if applicable) *
Jocelyn Wigley and Skai Spooner - Jolt Charge
Brief Summary of Issue or Purpose of Delegation *
To allow for third party digital advertising on the sides of the unit. The Unit provides publicly accessible level 3
EV charging with the first 50 km at no cost. This is due to the ad-funded model we are proposing
Have you been in contact with a Town staff or Council member regarding your matter of interest? *
Yes No
Full name of the Town staff or Council member
with whom you spoke
Bill Jean
Date you spoke with Town staff or a Council
member
2025-11-25
I acknowledge that the Procedure By-law permits five (5) minutes for Delegations. *
Agree
I acknowledge that I understand and accept the delegate conduct expectations as outlined in Section
32(b) of the Procedure By-law 6228-19, as amended (link below) *
Agree
Click to view Procedure By-law 6228-19, as amended.
Page 1 of 243
Committee of the Whole14751 Yonge Street, Aurora, ONLevel 3 EV Charger with Third Party Advertising DisplaysPage 2 of 243
Jolt’s Background:K>dǁĂƐĞƐƚĂďůŝƐŚĞĚŝŶϮϬϭϴǁŝƚŚĂŵŝƐƐŝŽŶƚŽĂĐĐĞůĞƌĂƚĞƚŚĞŐůŽďĂůŵŽǀĞƚŽĞůĞĐƚƌŝĐ͕ĂŶĚǁĞ͛ƌĞĂůƌĞĂĚLJůĞĂĚŝŶŐƚŚĞĐŚĂƌŐĞ͘KƵƌ ǀŝƐŝŽŶŝƐƵŶŝǀĞƌƐĂů͕ĞƋƵŝƚĂďůĞĂĐĐĞƐƐƚŽĨƌĞĞ͕ĨĂƐƚ͕ĂŶĚĐůĞĂŶƉƵďůŝĐĐŚĂƌŐŝŶŐͲ ĐŚĂƌŐŝŶŐƚŚĂƚ͛ƐďƵŝůƚƚŽůĂƐƚĂŶĚĞdžĂĐƚůLJǁŚĞƌĞĚƌŝǀĞƌƐŶĞĞĚƚŚĞŵƚŽďĞ͘KƵƌǁŽƌůĚͲůĞĂĚŝŶŐ sĐŚĂƌŐŝŶŐƐƚĂƚŝŽŶƐĐŽŵďŝŶĞƐƚĂƚĞͲŽĨͲƚŚĞͲĂƌƚ͕ĚŝŐŝƚĂůŽƵƚͲŽĨͲŚŽŵĞŵĞĚŝĂƚĞĐŚŶŽůŽŐLJǁŝƚŚŝŶŶŽǀĂƚŝǀĞƵƌďĂŶĚĞƐŝŐŶĂŶĚĨƌĞĞ͕ĨĂƐƚĐŚĂƌŐŝŶŐĨŽƌĂŶĞdžĐĞƉƚŝŽŶĂůĐŚĂƌŐŝŶŐĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ͘tĞƉĂƌƚŶĞƌǁŝƚŚůŽĐĂůďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐĞƐ͕ŵƵŶŝĐŝƉĂůŝƚŝĞƐ͕ĂŶĚƌĞŐŝŽŶĂůŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚƐĂĐƌŽƐƐƚŚĞŐůŽďĞƚŽĚĞůŝǀĞƌĐŚĂƌŐĞƌƐƚŚĂƚƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĂďĞƐƚͲŝŶͲĐůĂƐƐĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞĨŽƌŽƵƌĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐĂŶĚŽƵƌƉĂƌƚŶĞƌƐ͘tĞƉŝŽŶĞĞƌĞĚƚŚĞƌŽĂĚƐŝĚĞĂĚǀĞƌƚŝƐŝŶŐͲĨƵŶĚĞĚ͕ĨƌĞĞ sĐŚĂƌŐŝŶŐŵŽĚĞůƚŚĂƚƌĞƐŽŶĂƚĞƐǁŝƚŚůŝŬĞͲŵŝŶĚĞĚďƌĂŶĚƐ͕ĐŽŵŵĞƌĐŝĂůƉĂƌƚŶĞƌƐ͕ĂŶĚĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚŝĞƐ͘tĞ͛ƌĞƉƌŽƵĚƚŽďĞƉŽǁĞƌŝŶŐĐůĞĂŶĞƌ͕ŐƌĞĞŶĞƌĐŝƚŝĞƐĨŽƌƚŚĞƉĞŽƉůĞŽĨƚŽĚĂLJĂŶĚƚŽŵŽƌƌŽǁ͘Page 3 of 243
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4:K>d͛ƐĂĚǀĞƌƚŝƐŝŶŐͲĨƵŶĚĞĚďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐŵŽĚĞů͕ĚĞůŝǀĞƌƐĂŶĞƐƐĞŶƚŝĂů͕ĨƌĞĞƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƚŽWƌŝǀĂƚĞ>ĂŶĚŽǁŶĞƌƐĂŶĚĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚŝĞƐĂĐƌŽƐƐĂŶĂĚĂ͕ĂĐĐĞůĞƌĂƚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞƚƌĂŶƐŝƚŝŽŶƚŽnjĞƌŽͲĞŵŝƐƐŝŽŶƐŵŽďŝůŝƚLJ͘&ƌĞĞŚĂƌŐŝŶŐϰϱͲϱϬŬŵƐŽĨĨƌĞĞƌĂŶŐĞĚĂŝůLJ;ϳŬtŚͿƉĞƌƉĞƌƐŽŶ&ϰĚ&ĂƐƚŚĂƌŐŝŶŐ>ĞǀĞůϯƌĂƉŝĚĐŚĂƌŐĞƌƐ͘ǁĞůůƚŝŵĞŽĨϮϱͲϯϬŵŝŶƵƚĞƐůĞĂŶ ŶĞƌŐLJϭϬϬйĂĐĐƌĞĚŝƚĞĚƌĞŶĞǁĂďůĞĞŶĞƌŐLJ;ǁŚĞƌĞĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞͿϰ:K>d,Z' ͮKDD Z/>Ͳ/EͲKE&/ E Page 5 of 243
The Project and Premises •Location: 14751 Yonge Street –North of Edward Street – Located in a Commercial “Big Box” Corridor •Proposal: To install a fast DC Level 3 EV charger unit accessible to public. •Third Party Displays on each side of unit – offsets costs to install and provide level 3 charging to the public•Placement on dead space on property (not taking up parking space) for wayfinding purposes.•No cost charging up to 50 km, discounted rates past 50 km.Page 6 of 243
Policy Alignment Town of Aurora’s Official Plan Supports Sustainable Transportation Goals – Aurora’s Official Plan emphasizes sustainable, multi-modal transportation options to reduce vehicle emissions and support active, transit-friendly communities; EV charging infrastructure aligns with this broader sustainable mobility direction. Encourages EV & Low-Emissions Infrastructure – The Official Plan explicitly encourages multi-unit residential and commercial developments to provide opportunities for electric and low-emissions vehicle charging infrastructure, directly supporting expanded public EV charging. Advances Environmental & Climate Policies – Implementation of clean and low-carbon infrastructure like EV chargers aligns with Official Plan objectives related to environmental protection, greenhouse gas reduction, and climate action. Aligns with Complete Community Principles – Integrating EV charging into commercial corridors supports Official Plan concepts of complete and connected communities that accommodate diverse travel needs and enhance local services. Sustainability & Climate GoalsSupports Climate Targets – Contributes to Aurora’s commitment to reduce community greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, addressing transportation as a major emissions source.Implements Adopted Municipal Policies – Aligns with the Town’s Electric Vehicle Charging Station Policy and Energy Conservation & Demand Management Plan, which prioritize EV integration in municipal facilities and parking areas.Reinforces Green Development Standards – Complements requirements for EV-ready parking in new residential and commercial developments, supporting long-term sustainable growth.Enables Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles – Expands public charging access, making EV adoption more practical and accessible for residents and businesses.Demonstrates Environmental Leadership – Advances climate-conscious planning, strengthens community resilience, and supports local economic vitality.Page 7 of 243
Page 8 of 243
To the South Along the Corridor Page 9 of 243
To the West (across the Street) Along the CorridorPage 10 of 243
To the North Along the Corridor Page 11 of 243
The Proposed Is Consistent with the Architectural Feature of the Site •JOLT’s design is sleek and modern meant to blend in with property.•The unit integrates seamlessly with the subject property and is consistent with the recently renovated building on site. It features a modern design that complements and enhances the existing aesthetic.Page 12 of 243
The Proposed Is Consistent with the Character of the Neighborhood Commercial Character & Signage CompatibilityMaintains Established Commercial Character – The section of Yonge Street is distinctly commercial in both function and zoning; the proposed complements this existing context.Enhances, Not Alters, the Corridor – The addition of EV infrastructure with third party signage supports the commercial nature of the area without changing its established character.Signage is Context-Appropriate – Commercial corridors are defined by visual communication and advertising; third-party signage is consistent with this environment.Supports Local Economic Activity – Integrated signage may provide added visibility and promotional opportunities for local businesses.Aligned with Intended Land Use – Commercial zones are planned to accommodate business promotion; proposed signage aligns with this purpose.Maintains Visual Integrity – Subject to compliance with size, placement, and illumination regulations, signage will reinforce the corridor’s character without negative impact.Page 13 of 243
Immediate Area –Commercial Corridor –Big Box Retail Stores •Appropriate area due to the commercial land use. •Big box national retailers•Third party advertising at a modest scale compliments rather than detracts from area. Page 14 of 243
The Proposed Will Not Adversely Impact To Adjacent Property Or General Public •Minimal light reach – 50m maximum light reach. •Will not proliferate out into any sensitive land use.•No animation or movement. •Screens are modest in scale and will not dominate skyline or streetscape. Page 15 of 243
The Proposed Shall Not Adversely Impact on Safety, Traffic and Accessibility No Impact on Parking Supply – Located within existing underutilized (“dead”) space; no parking spaces are removed.No Interference with Traffic Flow – Placement does not impede vehicle circulation or access to/from the site.Minimal Driver Distraction – Static display format with ~10-second dwell time (screen saver style), reducing visual distraction.Generous Intersection Setback – Approximately 76 metres from the signalized intersection of Yonge Street and Edward Street.Exceeds Typical Safety Standards – More than double the 30-metre setback commonly required for third-party signage near signalized intersections.Maintains Pedestrian & Vehicular Safety – Location and design ensure no adverse impacts on sightlines, accessibility, or intersection operations.Page 16 of 243
Same Make and Model of Digital Transit Shelters Across York RegionDigital Transit Shelter – Major Mackenzie Dr. W and Dufferin St. Digital Transit Shelter – Yonge St and Carville Rd, Richmond HillPage 17 of 243
The Proposed Shall Result In Greater Convenience To The Public •Fills a Critical Gap – No publicly accessible Level 3 chargers currently in Aurora; proposal addresses an identified infrastructure deficiency.•Delivers Free Fast Charging – Third-party signage funds installation and operation at no cost to users or landowners.•Minimal Impacts – Compact design, automatic nighttime dimming, and no video/animation reduce visual and traffic concerns.•Proven in Other Municipalities – Same format successfully operating in comparable Ontario communities.•Advances Sustainability Goals – Supports EV adoption, reduces emissions, and aligns with Aurora’s climate and growth objectives.•Provides Wayfinding for EV Charging – The digital screens act as wayfinding for EV Users looking to charge. Page 18 of 243
The Proposed Shall… •Provide EV users with 50km/h at no cost everyday (able to offer due to third party advertising).•Contribute to overall increase in publicly accessible Level 3 EV charger infrastructure.•Help to address and reduce range anxiety.•Provide increased economic opportunities for local businesses in the area.•Adhere to Canadian Code of 3rdParty Advertising.•100% Renewable EnergyPage 19 of 243
Thank You For Attending. Jocelyn Wigley Jolt Development Manager Jocelyn.Wigley@joltcharge.comPage 20 of 243
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Delegation Request
This request and any written submissions or background information for consideration by either Council or
Committees of Council is being submitted to Legislative Services.
Council or Committee (Choose One) *
Committee of the Whole
Council or Committee Meeting Date *
2026-3-10
Subject *
Aurora Sports Hall of Fame Audit Update
Full Name of Spokesperson and Name of Group or Person(s) being Represented (if applicable) *
Javed S. Khan, President & Chair
Brief Summary of Issue or Purpose of Delegation *
The Aurora Sports Hall of Fame will be presenting a delegation to provide an update on the status of the 2025
financial audit and future audits.
The delegation will outline the findings and present the recommendations of the Board of Governors.
Have you been in contact with a Town staff or Council member regarding your matter of interest? *
Yes No
I acknowledge that the Procedure By-law permits five (5) minutes for Delegations. *
Agree
I acknowledge that I understand and accept the delegate conduct expectations as outlined in Section
32(b) of the Procedure By-law 6228-19, as amended (link below) *
Agree
Click to view Procedure By-law 6228-19, as amended.
Page 21 of 243
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Delegation Request
This request and any written submissions or background information for consideration by either Council or
Committees of Council is being submitted to Legislative Services.
Council or Committee (Choose One) *
Committee of the Whole
Council or Committee Meeting Date *
2026-3-10
Subject *
I wish to comment on Agenda items 7.1, 13.2, 14.1, 14.2, 16.1 & 16.2
Full Name of Spokesperson and Name of Group or Person(s) being Represented (if applicable) *
Shawn Deane
Brief Summary of Issue or Purpose of Delegation *
I wish to comment on Agenda items 7.1, 13.2, 14.1, 14.2, 16.1 & 16.2
Have you been in contact with a Town staff or Council member regarding your matter of interest? *
Yes No
I acknowledge that the Procedure By-law permits five (5) minutes for Delegations. *
Agree
I acknowledge that I understand and accept the delegate conduct expectations as outlined in Section
32(b) of the Procedure By-law 6228-19, as amended (link below) *
Agree
Click to view Procedure By-law 6228-19, as amended.
Page 22 of 243
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Delegation Request
This request and any written submissions or background information for consideration by either Council or
Committees of Council is being submitted to Legislative Services.
Council or Committee (Choose One) *
Committee of the Whole
Council or Committee Meeting Date *
2026-3-10
Subject *
Review and Release of Certain Closed Session materials
Full Name of Spokesperson and Name of Group or Person(s) being Represented (if applicable) *
John Hartman
Brief Summary of Issue or Purpose of Delegation *
Seek clarification on matters outlined in the Agenda item noted above as documented by the Mayor of Aurora
Have you been in contact with a Town staff or Council member regarding your matter of interest? *
Yes No
I acknowledge that the Procedure By-law permits five (5) minutes for Delegations. *
Agree
I acknowledge that I understand and accept the delegate conduct expectations as outlined in Section
32(b) of the Procedure By-law 6228-19, as amended (link below) *
Agree
Click to view Procedure By-law 6228-19, as amended.
Page 23 of 243
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Delegation Request
This request and any written submissions or background information for consideration by either Council or
Committees of Council is being submitted to Legislative Services.
Council or Committee (Choose One) *
Committee of the Whole
Council or Committee Meeting Date *
2026-3-10
Subject *
15.4 Councillor Gallo; Re: Establishment of a Joint Task Force and Funding Support to Combat Antisemitic
Hate and Violence and Protect Vulnerable Communities in Aurora
Full Name of Spokesperson and Name of Group or Person(s) being Represented (if applicable) *
Nikki Alber
Brief Summary of Issue or Purpose of Delegation *
I would like to speak in support of Councillor Gallo's motion.
Have you been in contact with a Town staff or Council member regarding your matter of interest? *
Yes No
Full name of the Town staff or Council member
with whom you spoke
Wendy Gaertner
Date you spoke with Town staff or a Council
member
2026-3-8
I acknowledge that the Procedure By-law permits five (5) minutes for Delegations. *
Agree
I acknowledge that I understand and accept the delegate conduct expectations as outlined in Section
32(b) of the Procedure By-law 6228-19, as amended (link below) *
Agree
Click to view Procedure By-law 6228-19, as amended.
Page 24 of 243
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Delegation Request
This request and any written submissions or background information for consideration by either Council or
Committees of Council is being submitted to Legislative Services.
Council or Committee (Choose One) *
Committee of the Whole
Council or Committee Meeting Date *
2026-3-10
Subject *
Town Report on Renovictions (CS26‑007 – Implications of Implementing a Renoviction By-law)
Full Name of Spokesperson and Name of Group or Person(s) being Represented (if applicable) *
Nada Ismail and Co Delegates: Willam, Nathan & Debra
Brief Summary of Issue or Purpose of Delegation *
My group and I would like to take our five minutes collectively to delegate to Council regarding the Town’s
report on renovictions and the recommendation not to proceed with a renoviction by-law. measures.
Have you been in contact with a Town staff or Council member regarding your matter of interest? *
Yes No
Full name of the Town staff or Council member
with whom you spoke
Councikor Ron Weese
Date you spoke with Town staff or a Council
member
2026-3-8
I acknowledge that the Procedure By-law permits five (5) minutes for Delegations. *
Agree
I acknowledge that I understand and accept the delegate conduct expectations as outlined in Section
32(b) of the Procedure By-law 6228-19, as amended (link below) *
Agree
Click to view Procedure By-law 6228-19, as amended.
Page 25 of 243
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Delegation Request
This request and any written submissions or background information for consideration by either Council or
Committees of Council is being submitted to Legislative Services.
Council or Committee (Choose One) *
Committee of the Whole
Council or Committee Meeting Date *
2026-3-10
Subject *
Establishment of a Joint Task Force and Funding Support to Combat Antisemitic Hate and Violence and
Protect Vulnerable Communities in Aurora
Full Name of Spokesperson and Name of Group or Person(s) being Represented (if applicable) *
Richard Robertson - Director of Research and Advocacy, B'nai Brith Canada
Brief Summary of Issue or Purpose of Delegation *
Delegation in support of Councillor Gallo's motion
Have you been in contact with a Town staff or Council member regarding your matter of interest? *
Yes No
I acknowledge that the Procedure By-law permits five (5) minutes for Delegations. *
Agree
I acknowledge that I understand and accept the delegate conduct expectations as outlined in Section
32(b) of the Procedure By-law 6228-19, as amended (link below) *
Agree
Click to view Procedure By-law 6228-19, as amended.
Page 26 of 243
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Delegation Request
This request and any written submissions or background information for consideration by either Council or
Committees of Council is being submitted to Legislative Services.
Council or Committee (Choose One) *
Committee of the Whole
Council or Committee Meeting Date *
2026-3-10
Subject *
Motions regarding an antisemitism task force
Full Name of Spokesperson and Name of Group or Person(s) being Represented (if applicable) *
Jennifer Brooks
Brief Summary of Issue or Purpose of Delegation *
A brief acknowledgement of the importance of these motions to address the growing antisemitic terror acts
happening in the GTA and what our community needs to do to stay safe.
Have you been in contact with a Town staff or Council member regarding your matter of interest? *
Yes No
I acknowledge that the Procedure By-law permits five (5) minutes for Delegations. *
Agree
I acknowledge that I understand and accept the delegate conduct expectations as outlined in Section
32(b) of the Procedure By-law 6228-19, as amended (link below) *
Agree
Click to view Procedure By-law 6228-19, as amended.
Page 27 of 243
Town of Aurora
Heritage Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes
Date:
Time:
Location:
Monday, February 9, 2026
7 p.m.
Holland Room, Aurora Town Hall
Committee Members: Councillor Wendy Gaertner (Chair)
Cynthia Bettio
Linda Duringer
John Green (Vice Chair), Aurora Historical Society
Representative
Bob McRoberts, Honourary Member
Rocco Morsillo
Chris Polsinelli* (departed 9:02 p.m.)
Other Attendees: Councillor Ron Weese
Matthew Volpintesta, Manager, Parks and Fleet*
Adam Robb, Manager, Policy Planning and Heritage
Linda Bottos, Council/Committee Coordinator
*Attended electronically
_____________________________________________________________________
1. Call to Order
The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
The Committee consented to extend the hour to 9:30 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
Page 28 of 243
Heritage Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
February 9, 2026 2
lands and waters. It was noted that Aurora is part of the treaty lands of the
Mississaugas and Chippewas, recognized through Treaty #13 and the Williams
Treaties of 1923.
3. Approval of the Agenda
Moved by John Green
Seconded by Cynthia Bettio
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 Heritage Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of December 8, 2025
Moved by Cynthia Bettio
Seconded by Rocco Morsillo
1. That the Heritage Advisory Committee meeting minutes of December
8, 2025, be received for information.
Carried
6. Delegations
6.1 David Heard, Resident; Re: Heritage Fund Request
David Heard presented an overview of the Dave’s Vinyl Party project, an
expansive, historical vinyl record archive, including its positive impact on
the community, groups, and individuals; tourism potential; support of the
Town’s Strategic Plan related to the celebration of culture, heritage music
and arts, diversity, and multiculturalism; 2026 goals; and funding request.
Page 29 of 243
Heritage Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
February 9, 2026 3
Moved by Rocco Morsillo
Seconded by John Green
That the comments of the delegation be received for information.
Carried
6.2 Christopher Watts, The Aurora Heritage Authority; Re: Management of
Aurora's Interpretive Plaques
Christopher Watts referred to item 7.3, Plaque Wording – 10-12 Spruce
Street, and expressed concerns regarding the proposed plaque wording
and mounting location, the current guidelines for interpretive plaques, and
the policy around the timing of plaque creation.
Moved by Bob McRoberts
Seconded by John Green
That the comments of the delegation be received for information.
Carried
7. Matters for Consideration
7.1 Memorandum from Manager, Parks and Fleet; Re: The Protection and
Commemoration of Aurora’s Oldest Trees that Hold Natural and Cultural
Significance
Staff provided an overview of the memorandum and draft End-of-Life Tree
Management Guide.
The Committee and staff discussed various aspects including the
program’s initial focus on town-owned trees; consideration of privately-
owned trees; the protection of trees on designated heritage properties and
criteria for previously designated heritage trees; growing trees from seeds;
repurposing of heritage tree wood; the role of historical research, staff,
and community resources to help identify significant trees; penalties for
illegal tree removal; and plans for review and enhancement of the Town’s
private tree protection by-law. It was suggested that most of the trees in
the pet cemetery should be protected, and that new trees not be planted
too close to the road. The Committee further highlighted the need for
Page 30 of 243
Heritage Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
February 9, 2026 4
standards and metrics, and clarity on the significance of the heritage tree
designation and associated responsibilities. Staff reviewed the next steps.
The Committee expressed general support for the framework of the draft
Guide and suggested an alternative name for the Guide.
Moved by Cynthia Bettio
Seconded by Linda Duringer
1. That the memorandum regarding The Protection and Commemoration
of Aurora’s Oldest Trees that Hold Natural and Cultural Significance be
received; and
2. That the Heritage Advisory Committee comments regarding The
Protection and Commemoration of Aurora’s Oldest Trees that Hold
Natural and Cultural Significance be received and referred to staff for
consideration and further action as appropriate.
Carried
7.2 Memorandum from Manager, Policy Planning and Heritage; Re: Heritage
Permit Application HPA-2026-01 - 15375 Yonge Street
Staff provided an overview of the memorandum and proposed alterations
to facilitate the opening of a single-physician healthcare office on the
designated property at 15375 Yonge Street, located within the Northeast
Old Aurora Heritage Conservation District.
The Committee and staff discussed various aspects including exterior
replacement materials; signage for the healthcare office; and accessibility.
The Committee expressed concern regarding the protection of heritage
trees on the property, and suggested that the colour for repainting the
existing painted façade should be more consistent with surrounding
properties. The Committee was generally supportive of the application.
Moved by Cynthia Bettio
Seconded by Rocco Morsillo
1. That the memorandum regarding Heritage Permit Application HPA-
2026-01 - 15375 Yonge Street be received; and
Page 31 of 243
Heritage Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
February 9, 2026 5
2. That the Heritage Advisory Committee comments regarding Heritage
Permit Application HPA-2026-01 - 15375 Yonge Street be received and
referred to staff for consideration and further action as appropriate.
Carried
7.3 Memorandum from Manager, Policy Planning and Heritage; Re: Plaque
Wording - 10-12 Spruce Street
Staff provided an overview of the memorandum and proposed wording for
a commemorative heritage plaque to be installed on the property at 10-12
Spruce Street, located within the Northeast Old Aurora Heritage
Conservation District.
The Committee and staff discussed the location options and proposed
plaque wording. The Committee expressed support for the draft wording
with the exception of a minor grammatical revision.
Moved by Chris Polsinelli
Seconded by Rocco Morsillo
1. That the memorandum regarding Plaque Wording - 10-12 Spruce
Street be received; and
2. That the Heritage Advisory Committee comments regarding Plaque
Wording - 10-12 Spruce Street be received and referred to staff for
consideration and further action as appropriate.
Carried
8. Informational Items
None.
9. New Business
The Committee referred to the Victoria Hall refurbishment item on the February
10, 2026 Committee of the Whole agenda and inquired about why the matter had
not been first considered by the Heritage Advisory Committee. Staff provided a
response, noting that the Committee would become involved through the
heritage permit process. The Committee expressed its concerns and preference
for the potential use of Victoria Hall.
Page 32 of 243
Heritage Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
February 9, 2026 6
The Committee and staff discussed the ongoing efforts to improve building
façades and identify properties in the downtown core noting that, while some
changes have been compliant with the rules, others have been unsympathetic.
There was further discussion on sign permit issues and efforts to enforce the
Sign By-law. Staff agreed to provide an update at a future Committee meeting.
The Committee provided a status update on the planning and preparations
completed for Heritage Week, being celebrated from February 16 to 22, 2026.
Staff expressed appreciation for the efforts of the working group.
The Committee expressed support for the earlier delegation and efforts of David
Heard, and encouraged their further presentation to Council.
Staff advised that Parks Canada has shut down its Canadian Register of Historic
Places website, indicating the searchable database had become technologically
outdated. It was noted that staff had saved the Aurora property portfolio and that
various groups have made an effort to protect and share the information further.
10. Adjournment
Moved by Linda Duringer
Seconded by Cynthia Bettio
That the meeting be adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
Carried
Page 33 of 243
Town of Aurora
Community Recognition Review Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes
Date:
Time:
Location:
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
10 a.m.
Holland Room, Aurora Town Hall
Committee Members: Mayor Tom Mrakas* (Chair) (arrived 10:08 a.m.)
Diane Buchanan
Phiona Durrant*
Elaine Martini
Jo-anne Spitzer*
Patricia Wallace (Vice Chair)
Members Absent: Arif Faheem Khan
Other Attendees: Shelley Ware, Supervisor, Special Events
Linda Bottos, Council/Committee Coordinator
*Attended electronically
_____________________________________________________________________
1. Call to Order
The Vice Chair called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.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
Mississaugas and Chippewas, recognized through Treaty #13 and the Williams
Treaties of 1923.
Page 34 of 243
Community Recognition Review Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
February 11, 2026 2
3. Approval of the Agenda
Moved By Diane Buchanan
Seconded By Elaine Martini
That the 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 Community Recognition Review Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of
November 12, 2025
Moved By Elaine Martini
Seconded By Diane Buchanan
1. That the Community Recognition Review Advisory Committee meeting
minutes of November 12, 2025, be received for information.
Carried
6. Delegations
None.
7. Matters for Consideration
7.1 Memorandum from Cultural Services Supervisor - Special Events; Re: 2026
Community Recognition Awards - Evaluation Matrices
Staff provided an overview of the memorandum and background on the
evaluation matrices, developed in 2024 to support the Committee’s review
of the award nomination submissions and selection of award winners, and
invited the Committee’s review and comments.
The Committee and staff discussed various elements including
confirmation that all nominations received are forwarded for evaluation;
Page 35 of 243
Community Recognition Review Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
February 11, 2026 3
the intent to reduce unconscious biases; the consultant’s experience and
review of the nomination and selection process; and staff’s efforts and
approach to community outreach. The Committee expressed concerns
and made suggestions on engaging the full representation of the Town’s
growing and diverse community, and opportunities to capture relevant
data toward a system that reflects the cultural, racial, and generational
growth of Aurora.
Moved By Elaine Martini
Seconded By Phiona Durrant
1. That the memorandum regarding 2026 Community Recognition
Awards - Evaluation Matrices be received; and
2. That the Community Recognition Review Advisory Committee
comments regarding 2026 Community Recognition Awards -
Evaluation Matrices be received and referred to staff for consideration
and further action as appropriate.
Carried
7.2 Memorandum from Cultural Services Supervisor - Special Events; Re: 2026
Community Recognition Awards - Ceremony Logistics
Staff provided an overview of the memorandum and location options for
the awards ceremony, feedback from previous award recipients, and other
event logistics.
The Committee and staff discussed the pros and cons of holding the
awards ceremony in the Davide de Simone Performance Hall at Aurora
Town Square versus the customary Council Chambers at Aurora Town
Hall, including the seating arrangements and capacity, pre- and post-
ceremony reception rooms, accessibility, parking, and live streaming. The
Committee expressed a marginal preference for maintaining the 2026
awards ceremony at Town Hall, and it was agreed that staff would make
the final decision on the event venue.
Moved By Phiona Durrant
Seconded By Elaine Martini
1. That the memorandum regarding 2026 Community Recognition
Awards - Ceremony Logistics be received; and
Page 36 of 243
Community Recognition Review Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
February 11, 2026 4
2. That the Community Recognition Review Advisory Committee
comments regarding 2026 Community Recognition Awards -
Ceremony Logistics 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 whether marketing of the awards nomination
process is carried out in multiple languages and suggested to include a QR code
translation link on the poster. Staff agreed to investigate and noted that
information on the Town’s website may be translated through the user’s web
browser. Staff further advised that geofencing marketing is being used in
addition to the traditional social media and one-on-one marketing.
The Committee suggested that the awards nomination package include the
opportunity for applicants to voluntarily indicate demographic information, and
that the Town’s website images be more representative of the Town’s diverse
community.
10. Adjournment
Moved By Diane Buchanan
Seconded By Elaine Martini
That the meeting be adjourned at 11 a.m.
Carried
Page 37 of 243
Town of Aurora
Accessibility Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes
Date:
Time:
Location:
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
7 p.m.
Holland Room, Aurora Town Hall
Committee Members: Councillor Wendy Gaertner (Chair)*
Lois Davies*
Alison Hughes
John Lenchak*
Elaine Martini*
Jo-anne Spitzer*
Marilyn Williams
Other Attendees: Gregory Peri, Accessibility Advisor
Julia Shipcott, 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
Mississaugas and Chippewas, recognized through Treaty #13 and the Williams
Treaties of 1923.
3. Approval of the Agenda
Page 38 of 243
Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
February 11, 2026 2
Moved by Alison Hughes
Seconded by Elaine Martini
That the 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 Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of December 10, 2025
Moved by Marilyn Williams
Seconded by Alison Hughes
1. That the Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting minutes of
December 10, 2025, be received for information.
Carried
6. Delegations
None.
7. Matters for Consideration
7.1 Memorandum from Accessibility Advisor; Re: Town Hall Parking - 30
Percent Design
Staff, with assistance of an Aurora Town Hall and Seniors Centre Parking
Lot Rehabilitation rendering, outlined the plan's 30 percent design features
and spoke to the objective of incorporating the proposed Community
Reflection Space south-west of Town Hall into the east portion of the
parking lot redesign. Staff noted the redesign will address grading issues
across the parking lot, as well as relocating and increasing the quantity of
regular parking spaces by 17 spots and ensuring all barrier-free parking is
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (A.O.D.A.) compliant,
Page 39 of 243
Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
February 11, 2026 3
providing safe cross-walk routes between the two facilities as well as to
the trail access point, incorporating accessible drop-off zones in front of
the Seniors Centre, and improving ease of navigation through the parking
lot.
The Committee inquired whether Seniors Centre programming could be
adjusted to avoid excessive use on particular days, whether covered
parking might be provided to barrier-free parking spots and suggested the
barrier-free parking spots at the Town Hall main entrance be relocated to
adjacent to the entrance.
Staff and the Committee discussed accessibility concerns with regard to
possible installation of a slope, and replacing Town Hall main entrance
steps as part of the planned grading adjustments. As the rendering
provided is unclear, staff will seek clarification.
Moved by Jo-anne Spitzer
Seconded by John Lenchak
1. That the memorandum regarding Town Hall Parking – 30 Percent
Design be received; and
2. That the Accessibility Advisory Committee comments regarding Town
Hall Parking – 30 Percent Design be received and referred to staff for
consideration and further action as appropriate.
Carried
7.2 Round Table Discussion; Re: Town of Aurora Multi-Year Accessibility Plan
2022 to 2026
Staff provided an update of the 2022-2026 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan,
specifically noting the following items completed in 2025:
115 site plans were reviewed, although not all required presenting to
the Committee.
The Town reported compliance with the A.O.D.A. and the 2025
Accessibility Compliance Report was submitted to the Ministry of
Seniors and Accessibility (M.S.A.A.).
Page 40 of 243
Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
February 11, 2026 4
The 2025 accessibility update was posted to the Town of Aurora
website as per compliance.
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategic Plan Status Report was
presented to Committee of the Whole on February 11, 2026, reflecting
some outstanding items which are expected to be completed with the
implementation of a new Training Management System rolling out this
year.
A barrier-free shuttle service and parking spaces continue to be
provided to ensure the Town's special events remain fully accessible.
Additional barrier-free parking spaces will be provided at upcoming
Municipal elections voting stations, as part of the accessibility election
plan to be reviewed with the new Clerk in the coming weeks.
25 playground assessments were completed with AccessNow with the
balance resuming in the spring. AccessNow will provide a report which
will be shared with the Parks Department for reference when
considering playground updates.
Staff continue to advise from an accessibility perspective on various
capital projects.
Additionally, staff discussed the 2027-2030 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan
including the intention to hire a consultant and preparation for National
Accessibility Week (beginning May 31) with Community Services and
various community partners. Staff provided an update on the
implementation of sensor parking currently under consideration as part of
the Town-Wide Parking Study, and its benefit to provide advance notice of
available accessible parking spots.
Moved by Alison Hughes
Seconded by Elaine Martini
1. That the Accessibility Advisory Committee comments regarding the
Town of Aurora Multi-Year Accessibility Plan 2022 to 2026 be received
and referred to staff for consideration and action as appropriate.
Carried
Page 41 of 243
Accessibility Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
February 11, 2026 5
8. Informational Items
None.
9. New Business
The Committee inquired about accessible scooter parking spots being made
available adjacent to the Victoria Street entrance of the Aurora Cultural Centre.
Staff noted the continuation of committee meetings throughout the municipal
election period and into early 2027, and provided notice of future capital projects
and the opportunity to review the 2027-2030 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan by the
Committee in the coming months.
10. Adjournment
Moved by Elaine Martini
Seconded by John Lenchak
That the meeting be adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
Carried
Page 42 of 243
Town of Aurora
Environmental Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes
Date:
Time:
Location:
Monday, February 23, 2026
7 p.m.
Holland Room, Aurora Town Hall
Committee Members: Ron Weese (Chair)
Victor Carvalho
Shun Chen*
Jason Cheng
Angela Daust
Leta Dayfoot
Denis Heng
Ken Turriff (Vice Chair)
Members Absent: Alain Godin
Other Attendees: Councillor Wendy Gaertner*
Natalie Kehle, Program Manager, Energy and Environment
Matthew Volpintesta, Manager of Parks and Fleet*
Will Stover, Analyst, Energy and Climate Change
Julia Shipcott, 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
Page 43 of 243
Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
February 23, 2026 2
Mississaugas and Chippewas, recognized through Treaty #13 and the Williams
Treaties of 1923.
3. Approval of the Agenda
Moved by Ken Turriff
Seconded by Jason Cheng
That the 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 Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of October 20, 2025
Moved by Leta Dayfoot
Seconded by Ken Turriff
1. That the Environmental Advisory Committee meeting minutes of
October 20, 2025, be received for information.
Carried
6. Delegations
None.
7. Matters for Consideration
7.1 Memorandum from Program Manager, Energy and Environment; Re: Draft
Home Energy Retrofit Program Design Study
Staff introduced Janice Ashworth, Senior Consultant, and Alex Hill,
Partner, Dunsky Energy before providing a brief overview of the evolution
of the Feasibility Study to the Draft Home Energy Retrofit Program Design
Study. Janice reviewed the study's main objectives, recapping the main
Page 44 of 243
Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
February 23, 2026 3
sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Aurora, identifying the
demographic characteristics of energy poverty and retrofit barriers, and
reviewing recent changes to various multi-level government and utility
program initiatives. Multiple short-, medium- and long-term initiatives, both
individual and in collaboration with various levels of government, were
outlined, along with funding resources to address the inadequacy of
natural gas emissions reduction efforts.
The Committee inquired about loan and grant options geared to low-
income households, marketing efforts to piggyback on existing energy-
efficiency programs and utilize local social networks to reach the target
audience.
Additionally, the Committee expressed concerns regarding the publication
of household energy ratings and their accuracy, as well as energy data
collected by the Town being shared with the Municipal Property
Assessment Corporation (M.P.A.C.), which could adversely affect home
valuation. Feedback was provided that the homeowner will maintain the
ability to opt-out or update energy ratings, as per a national energy
standard.
The Committee requested further details on the reliability and return -on-
investment of heat pumps and the optimal energy upgrade time for
homeowners, as well as alternate solutions through partner programs to
achieve the Town's retrofit targets. It was noted that knowledge barriers
will be targeted through a variety of awareness methods to incentivize
households.
The Committee further inquired on the availability of natural gas
consumption details through home energy retrofit programs pre- versus
post-retrofit, as well as historical data available from the federal
EnerGuide program.
Moved by Ken Turriff
Seconded by Leta Dayfoot
1. That the memorandum regarding Draft Home Energy Retrofit Program
Design Study be received; and
Page 45 of 243
Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
February 23, 2026 4
2. That the Environmental Advisory Committee comments regarding the
Draft Home Energy Retrofit Program Design Study be received and
referred to staff for consideration and further action as appropriate.
Carried
7.2 Memorandum from Manager, Parks and Fleet; Re: The Protection and
Commemoration of Aurora’s Oldest Trees that Hold Natural and Cultural
Significance
Staff provided an overview of the program to be presented to Council at
an upcoming meeting regarding the inventorying of Aurora's significant
heritage trees and employing preservation, commemoration and potential
lineage redistribution to continue their legacy. Staff noted that various
revenue generation opportunities are also to be considered.
The Committee provided suggestions on location of commemorative
plaques as well as providing protection to the root systems from future
development in the immediate area of identified trees. Staff noted that
setbacks will be incorporated into the new program.
The Committee inquired whether heritage tree designation would extend
to trees on privately-owned land. Staff responded that legalities limit the
Town's ability to protect those trees but current penalties are being
reviewed, and the Private Tree Protection By-law will be updated in 2027 in
order to strengthen the protection of significant trees located on privately-
owned land.
The Committee queried how invasive tree species will be managed and
how the heritage tree inventory will be generated and maintained. Staff
provided details that the current significant tree inventory is regularly
updated and will include a public call-out to provide an opportunity for the
public to add new tree locations.
Moved by Leta Dayfoot
Seconded by Ken Turriff
1. That the memorandum regarding The Protection and Commemoration
of Aurora’s Oldest Trees that Hold Natural and Cultural Significance be
received; and
Page 46 of 243
Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
February 23, 2026 5
2. That the Environmental Advisory Committee comments regarding The
Protection and Commemoration of Aurora’s Oldest Trees that Hold
Natural and Cultural Significance 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 tracking of waste diversion, and to what location
recyclables will be taken, with the province awarding the recycling contract to
Circular Materials. Additionally, concerns were shared relating to the closure of
multiple Beer Stores in Ontario and the effect it will have on recycling and waste
diversion. Staff commented that Amanda Cutler, Coordinator Waste/Recycling
will attend a future meeting.
The Committee shared concerns regarding the lack of clearing of some storm
sewers and ponds, which could lead to an increased risk of flooding, and queried
how the Town may account for climate change and new development, and how
maintenance may be affected due to the shortfall on infrastructure funds. funds.
The Committee inquired about how tree canopy projections may have changed
based on recent tree losses on private property, and staff provided a response.
10. Adjournment
Moved by Ken Turriff
Seconded by Angela Daust
That the meeting be adjourned at 8:38 p.m.
Carried
Page 47 of 243
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora
Committee of the Whole Report
No.CMS0 2 6 -0 06
Subject: Roller Skating Programming Options
Prepared by: Lisa Warth, Manager, Recreation
Department: Community Services
Date: March 10, 2026
Recommendation
1. That Report No. CMS26-006 be received; and
2. That roller skating be offered as a drop-in program.
Executive Summary
In October, 2025, Council passed a motion to direct staff to investigate and report back
to Council on potential partnerships, programming options and operational
considerations for roller skating activities in Aurora for the 2026 season.
Staff were only able to find one mobile roller skating program provider called
SUSO Skate Co. Their proposal includes equipment rentals but comes with a
financial commitment.
Staff recommend offering roller skating drop-ins as a more economical option to
the SOSU proposal.
Background
On October 28, 2025, Council passed a motion which directed staff to consult with roller
skating service providers and report back to Council on potential partnerships,
programming options, and operational considerations for introducing roller skating
activities in Aurora for the 2026 season.
Page 48 of 243
March 10, 2026 2 of 5 Report No. CMS26-006
Roller skating is a popular recreational and athletic activity that combines physical
exercise with entertainment. Roller skating is experiencing revival throughout Ontario,
as it is relatively easy to learn and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Roller skating
venues are popping up around the Greater Toronto Area, and include rinks, parks and
urban spaces.
Analysis
Staff were only able to find one mobile roller skating program provider called SUSO Skate
Co. Their proposal includes equipment rentals but comes with a financial commitment.
Suso Skate Co. (“Suso”) is a reputable, mobile roller skating company. They operate
throughout North America and partner with venues to provide roller skates, and
protective gear (helmet, wrist guards, knee pads, and elbow pads). They do not include
any music, or seating, perimeter fencing, or other venue requirements such as waste
receptacles, etc.
Suso’s business model is one where they charge a flat fee to come to a venue, set up,
and distribute equipment. This is the only business model SUSO uses, and they would
not consider a model where a venue is provided for them, and they charge a fee to
individuals to use their services and generate revenue that way.
The quotes received from SUSO are as follows:
3 hour session once per week for six weeks - $16,038 ($2,673 per week)
5 hour session once per week for six weeks - $23,760 ($3,960 per week)
A one day, 5 hour event is priced at $4,950.
SUSO recommends that each session be broken into one hour blocks, and each one
hour block accommodates no more than 30 skaters. For a 3 hour session this would be
a maximum of 90 skaters and for a 5 hour session this would be a maximum of 150
skaters.
At this time, Community Services does not have funds in the operating budget to cover
SUSO’s fees. The program would have to run as a “pay to play” model, similar to many
other programs.
In order to generate enough revenue to cover the fee charged by SUSO, the charge per
person per one hour skate would range from $26.40 - $29.70. This assumes a
Page 49 of 243
March 10, 2026 3 of 5 Report No. CMS26-006
maximum of 30 skaters per hour. This does not take into account additional costs the
Town would incur such as staff, music, set up and clean up etc.
Staff are not confident that the fees that need to be charged would resonate with the
community. A family of four would have to pay over a $100 for one hour of roller skating
and many families may find this prohibitive, thus affecting attendance.
Some communities have been able to offer the SUSO service at no charge or a lower fee
and offset the cost with sponsorships or grants. This is something staff could pursue;
however, the Town is always seeking sponsorships and grants for other initiatives.
Because of the uncertainty in generating the revenue required to partner with SUSO,
staff are recommending to not pursue this option at this time.
Staff recommend offering roller skating drop-ins as a more economical option to the
SOSU proposal.
Roller skating could be offered as a drop-in activity very similar to the Town’s other
drop-in activities such as leisure ice skating. However, equipment would not be
available for use and participants would have to bring their own roller skates or inline
skates and protective equipment. This activity could be done indoors on one of the
arena floors while the ice is out or outdoors if a suitable, safe venue could be found.
Staff would be on site to ensure safety, provide crowd control, music and set up and
clean up. A roller skating drop-in admission fee would be similar to existing fees which
range from $3.09 - $4.38 per person, per drop in time.
This model is low risk for the Town, but limits participation to those who have skates
and protective equipment to use, similar to ice skating, shinney and other drop ins
where participants need to bring their own equipment.
Advisory Committee Review
None applicable.
Page 50 of 243
March 10, 2026 4 of 5 Report No. CMS26-006
Legal Considerations
The proposed drop-in roller skating program carries a risk profile similar to the Town’s
existing drop-in activities, including leisure skating, shinny, and open gym. Participants
voluntarily assume the inherent risks of skating, such as falls and collisions.
Under the Occupiers’ Liability Act, the Town is required to take reasonable steps to
maintain a safe environment, not to eliminate all risk. As long as the skating surface is
properly maintained, hazards are addressed, and general supervision is provided, the
Town’s exposure remains consistent with other passive recreation programs.
Since participants supply and are responsible for their own skates and protective
equipment, the Town’s exposure to equipment-related liability is minimal. The activity
would fall under the Town’s existing municipal recreation liability coverage. Overall, the
legal and liability risks are not materially greater than those associated with other
approved drop-in programs.
Financial Implications
The cost for the provision of roller-skating programming through a third party provider,
such as SOSU, is prohibitive, and funds are not included in the budget for this enhanced
service level. However, this program being offered as a drop in activity is financially
feasible for the Town and can be managed within the existing budget.
Communications Considerations
There are no communications considerations as a result of this report, but
communications will inform residents of any new activities or programming at the Town
with a fulsome campaign.
Climate Change Considerations
The recommendations from this report do not impact greenhouse gas emissions or
impact climate change adaptation.
Page 51 of 243
March 10, 2026 5 of 5 Report No. CMS26-006
Link to Strategic Plan
The recommendations in this report support the Strategic Plan goal of Supporting an
exceptional quality of life for all in it’s accomplishments in satisfying requirements in the
following key objective of this goal statement:
Objective 4: Encouraging an active and healthy lifestyle
Alternative(s) to the Recommendation
1. Council may provide further direction.
Conclusions
The recommendations in this report allow staff to offer a new activity to the community
while working within the constraints of the existing operating budget. Staff will continue
to explore opportunities (such as grants or sponsorships), in order to potentially expand
roller skating activities while continuing to be fiscally responsible.
Attachments
None
Previous Reports
None
Pre-submission Review
Agenda Management Team review on February 19, 2026
Approvals
Approved by Robin McDougall, Director, Community Services
Approved by Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer
Page 52 of 243
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora
Committee of the Whole Report
No. CS26 -0 07
Subject: Implications of Implementing a Renoviction By-law
Prepared by: Alexander Wray, Manager Bylaw Services
Department: Corporate Services
Date: March 10, 2026
Recommendation
1. That Report No. CS26-007 be received; and
2. That the Town not proceed with the preparation and implementation of a renoviction
by-law and no further action be taken.
Executive Summary
In response to a request from Council for staff to investigate the implementation of a
renoviction by-law, this report explores the feasibility and implications of implementing
a regulatory framework for renovictions in the Town of Aurora. This report draws on
renovictions data from across York Region, and recent initiatives in the cities of Toronto,
Hamilton, St. Catharines, Waterloo, and Mississauga.
Proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 will give the Landlord
Tenant Board greater powers to address renovictions while also affording better
protections for tenants.
Enforcement of unlawful evictions is supported by the Residential Housing
Enforcement Unit.
Data from Tribunals Ontario indicate that renovictions are not a prominent issue
in the Town of Aurora.
The Town has different enforcement mechanisms at its disposal and would need
to consider operational implications.
Page 53 of 243
March 10, 2026 2 of 9 Report No. CS26-007
Larger municipalities have recently recommended against implementing a
renoviction by-law due to increased costs and minimal impacts.
Background
Rental housing is an important component of Aurora’s housing supply and contributes
to the Town’s overall affordability objectives. Based on the 2024 Aurora Affordable
Housing Action Plan, approximately 19 per cent of private households in Aurora are
renter households. At its meeting of November 11, 2025, Committee of the Whole
considered a member motion respecting renovictions in the Town of Aurora,
recognizing concerns related to tenant displacement and the potential loss of
affordable rental units because of renovations, repairs, or demolitions. As a result,
Council passed the motion on November 25, 2025, and directed Town staff to
investigate the feasibility of implementing a renoviction or similar by-law and to report
back to Council in Q1 of 2026.
Analysis
Proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 will give the Landlord Tenant
Board greater powers to address renovictions while also affording better protections for
tenants.
Proposed amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, introduced through the
Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, 2023, are intended to strengthen the
authority of the Landlord and Tenant Board to address renovictions by enhancing notice
requirements and reinforcing tenant protections. If proclaimed in force, landlords
issuing a notice of termination for extensive repairs or renovations would be required to
submit a report prepared by a qualified professional confirming that the proposed work
is sufficiently extensive to require both a building permit and vacant possession. Failure
to meet this requirement would render the notice void. The amendments would also
reinforce a tenant’s right of first refusal following renovations, requiring landlords to
provide timely written updates to tenants who elect to return, including estimated
completion dates, notice of any changes to those timelines, and confirmation when the
unit is ready for re-occupancy. Tenants would be afforded a minimum of 60 days to re-
occupy the unit once it is deemed ready, and rent would remain subject to applicable
lawful rent controls.
Page 54 of 243
March 10, 2026 3 of 9 Report No. CS26-007
Collectively, these measures are intended to improve transparency, reduce the misuse
of renovation-related evictions, and provide the Landlord and Tenant Board with clearer
statutory authority to assess and remedy improper renovictions.
Enforcement of unlawful evictions is supported by the Residential Housing Enforcement
Unit.
When the provisions of the Act are violated and unlawful evictions occur, enforcement
action is supported by the Residential Housing Enforcement Unit (RHEU). The RHEU is
administered by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, which is responsible for
investigating and prosecuting matters such as unlawful repossession, false notices of
termination, failure to provide compensation or alternative accommodations, and failure
to honour a tenant’s right of first refusal.
While municipalities may exercise broader authority in certain areas – such as Property
Standards and Vital Services enforcement under local by-laws, including the ability to
undertake remedial action and recover costs – in matters specifically related to
unlawful evictions and rights of first refusal, the RHEU remains the designated
provincial authority responsible for ensuring compliance with the provisions of the
Residential Tenancies Act, 2006.
Data from Tribunals Ontario indicate that renovictions are not a prominent issue in the
Town of Aurora.
Between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2025, a total of seven N-13 Notices were
filed for properties located in the Town of Aurora. An N-13 Notice is a formal notice
issued under the Residential Tenancies Act and filed with the Landlord and Tenant
Board to terminate a tenancy where a landlord intends to demolish a rental unit,
undertake repairs or renovations that require vacant possession, or convert the unit to a
non-residential use. Staff reviewed the properties associated with these notices over
the five-year period and have summarized the findings in Table 1 of this report.
Table 1: N-13 Notices Filed – Town of Aurora
Year of N-13 Notice Location/Ward of
Property
Current Status of
Property
Property #1 2021 Ward 6
Demolished –
Vacant Land
Property #2 2021 Ward 2
Demolished –
Re-Development
Page 55 of 243
March 10, 2026 4 of 9 Report No. CS26-007
Property #3 2021 Ward 2
Demolished –
Re-Development
Property #4 2022 Ward 1
Demolished –
Vacant Land
Property #5 2023 Ward 1
Repairs
Completed*
Property #6 2023 Ward 2
Repairs
Completed*
Property #7 2025 Ward 1
Illegal Basement
Apartment
*Property Standards Order Issued due to condition of property being uninhabitable.
Furthermore, changing conditions in Ontario’s rental market, combined with increased
borrowing costs, have affected landlords’ ability to complete renovations and re-lease
units at higher rental rates in a compressed timeframe. As a result, the overall rate of
renovictions is anticipated to continue moderating.
As outlined in Table 2 of this report, the post-pandemic rental supply has continued to
increase, while average monthly rental rates are showing signs of stabilization and
modest decline. It should be noted that data published by the Toronto Regional Real
Estate Board (TRREB) captures rental activity for condominium apartments and
townhouses only, as these represent the most prevalent forms of investor-owned rental
housing. Rental data associated with purpose-built apartment buildings and the Town’s
approximately 444 registered secondary and tertiary suites is not reflected and would
have a limited impact on the overall findings.
Table 2: Town of Aurora – 5 Year Average Rental Supply and Rent Costs
Page 56 of 243
March 10, 2026 5 of 9 Report No. CS26-007
Source: Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB)
The Town has different enforcement mechanisms at its disposal and would need to
consider operational implications.
At the time of preparing this report, only two Ontario municipalities—the City of
Hamilton and the City of Toronto—have implemented renovation and relocation, or
similar, by-laws intended to address renovictions. To support enforcement of its
licensing program, which came into effect on January 1, 2025, the City of Hamilton
approved 25 new positions, including management and supervisory staff, clerical and
legal support, outreach personnel, and municipal law enforcement officers. The City of
Toronto has also adopted a renovation and relocation by-law, which came into effect on
July 31, 2025, and has identified the need for 14 additional positions, consisting of eight
Toronto Building staff to manage inquiries and licensing functions, and six Building
Inspectors to conduct inspections and investigations.
The administrative and enforcement models used by Hamilton and Toronto differ
significantly. Hamilton’s program is administered through its By-law Enforcement
Division and enforced by Municipal Law Enforcement Officers, whereas Toronto’s
program is administered by the Building Department under the direction of the Chief
Building Official and enforced by Building Inspectors. Funding approaches also vary.
Toronto’s program is partially funded through building permit fees under the Ontario
76
93 95
103
110
35 33 36
46
28273330
22
36
$2,284
$2,618 $2,710 $2,802
$2,883
$2,390
$2,765
$2,955 $3,086
$2,709
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
5 Year Average Rental Supply and Rent Costs
Total MLS Listings Total Leased Apartments
Total Leased Townhomes Avg Monthly Rent $ Apartments
Avg. Monthly Rent $ Townhomes
Page 57 of 243
March 10, 2026 6 of 9 Report No. CS26-007
Building Code Act, accounting for approximately 60 per cent of the required resources,
while Hamilton’s program is primarily funded through the tax levy, with partial cost
recovery through licensing fees.
In addition to Hamilton and Toronto, the feasibility of implementing renoviction-related
by-laws has been reviewed by municipal councils in St. Catharines and Waterloo. In both
cases, staff reports did not recommend implementation, citing considerations such as
operational complexity, staffing and financial impacts, and the limited anticipated
effectiveness relative to existing provincial enforcement mechanisms. The City of
Mississauga is currently studying the issue of renovictions and related policy tools;
however, no decision regarding implementation has been made at the time of preparing
this report.
Larger municipalities have recently recommended against implementing a Renoviction
By-law due to increased costs and minimal impacts.
A review of municipal experiences indicates that some larger Ontario municipalities
with higher volumes of N-13 activity have assessed the feasibility of renoviction by-laws
and determined that implementation was not warranted. For example, St. Catharines
reviewed renoviction-related trends using data obtained from Tribunals Ontario and
reported that a total of 61 N-13 applications were filed between 2018 and 2024. Annual
filings increased following 2021, peaking at 17 applications in 2022, before declining to
10 in 2024 (2018 – 4; 2019 – 3; 2020 – 4; 2021 – 11; 2022 – 17; 2023 – 12; 2024 – 10).
While these volumes were significantly higher than those observed in many
municipalities, available data did not distinguish whether notices were issued in good
faith or bad faith. After reviewing local trends and potential regulatory responses, St.
Catharines determined that implementing a municipal renoviction by-law was not
recommended, citing anticipated staffing and financial requirements, administrative
complexity, and limited expected impact relative to existing provincial legislation and
enforcement mechanisms.
Similar findings were reported by Waterloo, which reviewed Landlord and Tenant Board
data and identified 34 N-13-related eviction applications filed over a five-year period,
averaging approximately seven annually. Compared with Waterloo’s estimated 20,400
rental units in 2024, these applications represented a very small proportion of overall
tenancies. Staff noted, however, that formal application data does not capture voluntary
tenant departures, landlord compliance with compensation or right-of-return provisions,
or informal displacement, such as requests to vacate that are not supported by formal
notices or orders. Through consultation, Waterloo also identified that lawful
Page 58 of 243
March 10, 2026 7 of 9 Report No. CS26-007
compensation agreements, voluntary buyouts, and natural tenant turnover—particularly
in markets with significant student populations—may further reduce reliance on formal
eviction processes. Waterloo also consulted with municipalities that have implemented
renovation licensing programs and reported consistently low licensing volumes paired
with substantial investigative and enforcement workloads.
Toronto reported receiving six licence applications following implementation of its
program in July 2025, while undertaking more than 600 investigations and assigning
dedicated tenant support and enforcement staff. Hamilton reported three licence
applications over the preceding year alongside more than 300 investigations and
multiple staff assigned to program operations. Similar operational pressures were
reported in London, where investigative demands substantially exceeded administrative
licensing volumes and required ongoing staffing increases. Collectively, these municipal
experiences indicate that renoviction licensing frameworks may require significant
operational resources despite relatively low program uptake, and that the incremental
regulatory impact of such programs may be limited in jurisdictions where provincial
legislation and enforcement mechanisms already apply.
Advisory Committee Review
Not Applicable.
Legal Considerations
Although the Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, 2023 received Royal Assent
in 2023, the amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act have not yet come into force.
Financial Implications
Should the Town proceed with a renoviction bylaw it will require additional staff to
administer and enforce this bylaw having an incremental tax levy impact.
Communications Considerations
To inform residents, this report will be posted on the Town’s website.
Page 59 of 243
March 10, 2026 8 of 9 Report No. CS26-007
Climate Change Considerations
The recommendations from this report does not impact greenhouse gas emissions or
impact climate change adaptation.
Link to Strategic Plan
The Implications of Implementing a Renoviction By-law report supports the Strategic
Plan goal of Strengthening the fabric of our community through its accomplishment in
satisfying requirements in the following objectives within this goal statement.
Examine the impact of increased growth and demographic diversity on municipal service
delivery. Through the review of trends, statistics, and benchmarking against other
municipalities, while also understanding the impacts on implementing a renoviction by-
law in Aurora.
Alternative(s) to the Recommendation
1. That Council direct staff to develop a proposed two (2) year pilot program that
would include a renoviction by-law and associated inspection framework, and report
back to Council with the anticipated financial, operational, and resource implications
for Council’s consideration and approval prior to implementation.
Conclusions
For the reasons outlined in this report, staff recommend that Council not proceed with
the implementation of a renoviction by-law at this time. Should Council direct staff to
proceed, a measured approach in the form of a pilot program, supported by additional
human resources, should be considered to ensure effective implementation and
evaluation of the initiative.
Attachments
None.
Previous Reports
None.
Page 60 of 243
March 10, 2026 9 of 9 Report No. CS26-007
Pre-submission Review
Agenda Management Team review on February 19, 2026
Approvals
Approved by Patricia De Sario, Director, Corporate Services/Town Solicitor
Approved by Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer
Page 61 of 243
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora
Committee of the Whole Report
No. FIN2 6 -008
Subject: Statement of Remuneration and Expenses for Members of Council,
Committees and Local Boards
Prepared by: Tracy Evans, Financial Management Advisor
Department: Finance
Date: March 10, 2026
Recommendation
1. That Report No. FIN26-008 be received for information.
Executive Summary
This report is to fulfil the statutory reporting and disclosure requirements of Section
284(1) of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25 as amended, (the Act) in respect of
the 2025 compensation and expenses paid to members of Council and its Committees
and Local Boards.
All remuneration and expenses paid were properly approved and budgeted.
Any remuneration paid by York Region to the Town of Aurora’s Regional
Councillor (Mayor) has been excluded from this report.
Background
The reporting of an annual itemized statement of remuneration and expenses paid to
each member of Council is mandatory under the Municipal Act
Under the Act, the Treasurer of each municipality must submit annually to Council an
itemized statement of the remuneration and expenses paid to each member of Council
in respect of his/her services as a member of Council. The statement should also
include all remuneration and expenses paid to any appointed member of a Committee
of Council or a Local Board in respect of his/her services as a member of the
Page 62 of 243
March 10, 2026 2 of 4 Report No. FIN26-008
Committee or Board. For Aurora, this would include all persons of appointed
committees and the Aurora Public Library Board.
Analysis
All remuneration and expenses paid were properly approved and budgeted.
Attachments #1 through #3 make the statutory disclosures for all applicable
compensation and expenses of 2025.
The statutory disclosure requires only “a statement on remuneration and expenses paid
to” the respective members. There is no prescribed or regulated format for such a
disclosure statement. These statements will vary from municipality to municipality. The
format used in this report is consistent with what has been used in the last several
years.
Remuneration, travel allowance, conference/seminar expense, and any other expense
reimbursements are paid to the Mayor and Councillors in accordance with By-law No.
5564-13 and Administrative Procedure No. 57. Additionally, the budgets for such were
included in the 2025 Operating Budget which was deemed adopted on November 28,
2024, in accordance with Part V1.1 of the Municipal Act, 2001 and its corresponding
regulation. The Committee of Adjustment members are paid a stipend per meeting
attended in accordance with their Terms of Reference approved by Council each term.
In many instances the Town of Aurora pays these expenses directly by Town credit card
on behalf of the member. Items such as airlines, hotels and conference registrations are
often, although not always, paid this way. Some of these expenses are also incurred
directly by the members personally, who are then reimbursed. To ensure that all similar
expenses are disclosed for each member, Attachment #2 outlines the payments made
to reimburse members separate from the payments made directly by the Town on their
behalf. All the payments made to reimburse members and on behalf of members are
shown on Attachment #1 for compliance with the Act.
Any remuneration paid by York Region to the Town of Aurora’s Regional Councillor
(Mayor) has been excluded from this report.
Any remuneration paid to the Town of Aurora’s Regional Councillor (Mayor) on behalf of
The Regional Municipality of York under the terms of a Joint Service Agreement is not
included in the amounts of Attachment #1, as these will be reported upon separately by
The Regional Municipality of York as the statute applies.
Page 63 of 243
March 10, 2026 3 of 4 Report No. FIN26-008
Advisory Committee Review
None
Legal Considerations
Section 284 of the Act requires the Treasurer to provide to Council, by March 31, an
annual itemized statement on remuneration and expenses paid in the previous year to
each member of council, a committee or a local board, in respect of his or her services
as a member of Council, a committee or a local board, as the case may be. The
statement shall identify the by-law under which the remuneration or expenses were
authorized to be paid. These statements are considered public records.
Financial Implications
All 2025 Council, Committee and Board members’ remuneration and expenses have
been incurred in accordance with Town bylaws and policies and have herein been
reported as required under Section 284 (1) of the Act.
Communications Considerations
The Town will make Council expenses available via the Town’s website, where prior year
reports are also available.
Climate Change Considerations
None
Link to Strategic Plan
Reporting on the compensation and expenses of members of Council, committees and
local boards meets statutory reporting requirements aimed at ensuring and supporting
the Town’s Strategic Plan principles of transparency and accountability of government.
Alternative(s) to the Recommendation
None. Information only report.
Page 64 of 243
March 10, 2026 4 of 4 Report No. FIN26-008
Conclusions
All 2025 Council, Committee and Board members’ remuneration and expenses have
been incurred in accordance with all applicable Town bylaws and policies and have
herein been reported upon as required under Section 284 (1) of the Municipal Act. This
report will be posted to the Town’s website along with previous reports.
Attachments
Attachment 1 to Report No. FIN26-008 – Statement of Remuneration and Expenses paid
to Members of Council
Attachment 2 to Report No. FIN26-008 – Disclosure of Expenditures of Members of
Council
Attachment 3 to Report No. FIN26-008 – Remuneration and Expenses paid to Appointed
Members of Committees and Boards
Previous Reports
This is an annual report. Final reports for 2011 through to 2024, are currently available
on the Members of Council page of the Town’s website.
Pre-submission Review
Agenda Management Team review on February 19, 2026
Approvals
Rachel Wainwright-van Kessel, CPA, CMA, Director of Finance/Treasurer
Approved by Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer
Page 65 of 243
Town of Aurora Attachment #1
Paid to Elected Members January to December, 2025
REMUNERATION BENEFITS
VEHICLE /
TRAVEL
ALLOWANCE
EXPENSES
REIMBURSED TOTAL
Members of Council
Tom Mrakas **$114,796 $27,839 $10,492 5,867 $158,994
Harold Kim 42,220 2,266 1,816 $46,301
Wendy Gaertner 42,220 2,266 416 $44,901
John Gallo 42,220 4,854 2,266 555 $49,894
Rachel Gilliland 42,220 780 2,266 6,744 $52,009
Michael Thompson 42,220 4,854 2,266 97 $49,436
Ron Weese 42,220 2,266 2,759 $47,244
368,114$ 38,327$ 24,085$ 18,253$ 448,779$
Rachel Wainwright-van Kessel, Director of Finance
March 10, 2026
Statement of Remuneration and Expenses
** Excludes any remuneration paid to the Regional Councillor (Mayor) by the Town of Aurora on behalf of York
Region under the Terms of a Joint Services Agreement. Such amounts are reported separately by York Region.
See
Attachment #2
All remuneration and expenses were properly documented, approved and authorized by by-laws,
and were within allocated budgets. Prepared for Council pursuant to Section 284(1) of the
Municipal Act, 2001.
Page 66 of 243
Town of Aurora
Disclosure of Expenditures of Members of Council
For the period January to December, 2025
Training/
Seminars/
Conferences **
Out of Town
mileage/ tolls/
parking
FCM Board
Meetings
(Member)
Special
Events
Meals/
Hospitality
(excl.
alcohol)
Other
Expenses
Remibursement
from Councillor Total
$6,000 $29,370
Tom Mrakas - - - - - - -
Wendy Gaertner - - - - - - -
Harold Kim - - - 419 117 324 (400) 460
John Gallo - - - - - - -
Rachel Gilliland 2,470 - - - - - 2,470
Michael Thompson - - - - - - -
Ron Weese 708 - - - - 623 (708) 623
Tom Mrakas 295 309 - 282 3,332 1,648 5,867
Wendy Gaertner - - - 353 - 63 416
Harold Kim 814 - - 504 - 38 1,356
John Gallo - - - 555 - - 555
Rachel Gilliland 4,056 - - 217 - - 4,274
Michael Thompson - - - 97 - - 97
Ron Weese 1,820 - - 278 - 38 2,136
Tom Mrakas 295 309 - 282 3,332 1,648 5,867
Wendy Gaertner - - - 353 - 63 416
Harold Kim 814 - - 923 117 362 1,816
John Gallo - - - 555 - - 555
Rachel Gilliland 6,526 - - 217 - - 6,744
Michael Thompson - - - 97 - - 97
Ron Weese 2,528 - - 278 - 661 2,759
10,164 309 - 2,705 3,450 2,734 (1,108) 18,253
** includes related travel, accommodation, and included meals
Total Expenses:
Note: This report is not intended to reconcile to line account totals, as staff and administrative items have been excluded for purpose of this
report.
Expenditure Budgets: (full year)
Unallocated Pooled Budget
Attachment #2
Total All
$23,370 -
Reimbursed to Member:
Paid by Town on Behalf of Member:
Page 67 of 243
Attachment #3
REMUNERATION
OTHER
EXPENSES
REIMBURSED
TOTAL
Appointed Members of Committees and Boards
Last Meeting Jan 2025
David Mhango Committee of Adjustment 125$ -$ 125.00$
-Chair
Jane Stevenson Committee of Adjustment 120 - 120.00$
- Vice Chair
Chris Polsinelli Committee of Adjustment 120 - 120.00$
Michael Visconti Committee of Adjustment 120 - 120.00$
Julian Yang Committee of Adjustment 120 - 120.00$
First Meeting - Feb 2025
Alida Tari Committee of Adjustment 1,375$ -$ 1,375.00$
-Chair
Michael Visconti Committee of Adjustment 1,200 - 1,200.00$
- Vice Chair
John Hartman Committee of Adjustment 1,200 - 1,200.00$
Maricella Sauceda Committee of Adjustment 1,200 - 1,200.00$
Klaudi Watts Committee of Adjustment 1,200 - 1,200.00$
Members with no payments made:
Heritage Advisory Committee Property Standards Committee
Councillor Wendy Gaertner - Chair Balpreet Grewal - Chair
Cynthia Bettio Cameron Chong - Vice Chair
Linda Duringer Wayne Hartman
Rocco Morsillo Vadym Sukhin
Chris Polsinelli Dan Winters
Bob McRoberts - Honorary Member
John Green - AHS Representative - Vice Chair
Staff Liaison - Adam Robb
- Secretary/Treasurer
and CEO
Angela Covert - Chair Councillor Wendy Gaertner - Chair
Elliott Elia Lois Davies
Robert Gaby Alison Hughes - Vice Chair
Manuel Veloso - Vice Chair John Lenchak
Ping Zhang Elaine Martini
Staff Liaisons - Michael de Rond, Jason Gaertner Jo-anne Spitzer
Marilyn Williams
Staff Liaison – Gregory Peri
Finance Advisory Committee
Councillor Ron Weese - Chair Mayor Tom Mrakas - Chair Balpreet Grewal - Chair
Jason Cheng Councillor Harold Kim - Vice Chair
Angela Daust Councillor Michael Thompson
Leta Dayfoot Staff Liaison – Doug Nadorozny
Alain Godin Staff Liaison – Rachel Wainwright-van
Denis Heng Kessel
Victor Martins Carvalho
Ken Turriff - Vice Chair
Staff Liaisons - Natalie Kehle, Nancy Fleming,
Will Stover
Wayne Hartman
Aurora Public Library Board
Lauren Hanna - Chair
Councillor Harold Kim
Aurora Appeal Tribunal
- Vice Chair
Councillor Michael Thompson
Greg Smith
John Clement
Town of Aurora
Summary of Remuneration and Expenses Paid January to December, 2025
Appointed Members of Committees and Boards
Community Recognition Review
Advisory CommitteeAccessibility Advisory CommitteeMayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee
Christina Choo-Hum - Vice Chair
Jo-anne Spitzer
Staff Liaison – Shelley Ware
Terri Watman
Staff Liaison – Jodi Marr
Mayor Tom Mrakas - Chair
Diane Buchanan
Environmental Advisory Committee
Vadym Sukhin
Dan Winters
Cameron Chong
Phiona Durrant
Elaine Martini
Arif Faheem Khan
Patricia Wallace - Vice Chair
Page 68 of 243
Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee
Councillor Wendy Gaertner - Chair Councillor Michael Thompson - Chair
Owen Heritage - Vice Chair Michelle Dakin- Vice Chair
Steve Fleck Irene Clement
Lil Kim Jessie Fraser
Gino Martino Bodgan Brkic
John David McLaughlin Lindsay Carvalho
Heidi Schellhorn Steve Hall
Staff Liaisons - Michael Bat, Michael Ha,Shannon Ippolito
Nancy Fleming Charles Legge
Sean Noble
Staff Liaisons - Matthew Volpintesta, Lisa Warth
Aurora Economic Development Corporation Board
Nima Khadem-Mohtaram - Chair
Keith Loo - Vice Chair
Mayor Tom Mrakas
Councillor Harold Kim
Sep Assadian
Owen Heritage
Bill Hogg
Tracy Smith
Sreyas Dasika - effective Feb'25
Matthew Johnson - effective Feb'25
Leslie Stuart Learmont - effective Feb'25
Anita Mukherjee - effective Feb'25
Marilee Harris - Outgoing Chair - Feb'25
Mae Khamissa - Outgoing Vice Chair - Feb'25
Richard Gong - Outgoing member - Feb'25
Tim Hammill - Outgoing member - Feb'25
Staff Liaisons: Andrew Poray, Angela Haynes, Doug Nadorozny
Rachel Wainwright-van Kessel, Director of Finance
March 10, 2026
All remuneration and expenses were properly documented, approved and authorized by by-laws, and were within
allocated budgets. Prepared for Council pursuant to Section 284(1) of the Municipal Act, 2001.
Active Transportation & Traffic Safety Advisory Committee
Page 69 of 243
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora
Committee of the Whole Report
No. OPS 2 6 -0 08
Subject: Protecting Aurora’s Oldest Trees – Heritage Tree Management Guide
Prepared by: Matthew Volpintesta, Manager, Parks & Fleet
Department: Operational Services
Date: March 10, 2026
Recommendation
1. That Report No. OPS26-008 be received; and
2. That the Heritage Tree Management Guide, and associated principles, be endorsed.
Executive Summary
Following a motion carried by Council on September 23, 2025, for the Protection of
Aurora’s Oldest Trees, staff completed a best practices review of heritage tree
management. Through extensive research and consultation staff have prepared a draft
Heritage Tree Management Guide (the Guide) which details a series of key components,
from creating a listing, through to preservation and commemoration practices:
In response to the Protection of Aurora’s Oldest Trees motion, staff conducted a
best practice review and prepared a working draft of a Heritage Tree
Management Guide.
From initial assessment and archiving through to preservation and
commemoration of Aurora’s heritage trees, several key components make up the
Heritage Tree Management Guide.
Background
In response to the Protection of Aurora’s Oldest Trees motion, staff conducted a best
practice review and prepared a working draft of a Heritage Tree Management Guide.
Page 70 of 243
March 10, 2026 2 of 9 Report No. OPS26-008
The intent of the Protection of Aurora’s Oldest Trees motion is that these trees serve as
a living testament and hold future cultivar legacies to Aurora’s ecological heritage, and
the preservation of significant natural features aligns with the Town’s ongoing
commitment to environmental stewardship, public education, and the protection of its
natural assets.
The motion included the following items to be explored:
That staff identify trees believed to be senescent or centenarian in nature,
representing important natural, cultural and historical significance, assessing the
health, species, and estimated age.
That staff investigate measures to ensure the long-term protection and
maintenance of these trees, including hazard risk assessments, long term health.
That staff report includes commemorative recognition elements such as an
interactive plaque at the site highlighting ecological, cultural, and natural
significance to the community; a neighbourhood ribbon cutting event to foster
community pride; and collaborative tours or map-based integration with the
arboretum.
That staff consult with the Town’s Museum and Archives, Heritage and
Environmental Advisory Committees for input on the design and wording of the
commemorative plaque.
That staff develop an afterlife plan should the tree perish.
That any costs associated with the plaque, assessment, and preservation
measures be considered as part of the next applicable operating or capital
budget or funded through available grants or sponsorship opportunities.
Through this report, staff provide detail of considerations made in working toward a go-
forward approach for strategizing efforts to protect, celebrate and extend the life of
Aurora’s heritage trees.
The Guide provides a structured framework to manage heritage and mature trees,
including trees approaching the end of their lifecycle, located on municipal property. The
draft Guide was formulated through a review of tree policies from municipalities across
Canada, including provincial and municipal legislation, best practices from urban
forestry organizations and innovative programs such as TreeCycle Canada. Some
examples on municipalities reviewed include Middlesex Centre (Ontario) Burnaby
(British Columbia), LaSalle (Ontario), and Whitehorse (Yukon Territories), which embed
end-of-life considerations within broader tree management policies.
Page 71 of 243
March 10, 2026 3 of 9 Report No. OPS26-008
Furthermore, building on policies from Ontario’s Forestry Act, Ontario Heritage Act,
Municipal Act, 2001 combined with best practices from urban forestry organizations
such as Tree Canada, who developed an Urban Forestry Guide that emphasize lifecycle
management, risk assessment and sustainable disposal, key components reveal
themselves as core function of a successful management guide.
Analysis
From initial assessment and archiving through to preservation and commemoration of
Aurora’s heritage trees, several key components make up the Heritage Tree Management
Guide.
Several key components around the assessment, preservation, and commemoration
form a comprehensive Heritage Tree Management Guide. The following Table details
the key components proposed within the draft guide:
Key Component Comments
Assessment and Decision
Framework, and Registry
of Trees
The first step is to establish criterion including what
characterizes a tree as having cultural or natural
heritage significance, being: age of tree, species,
geographical location, or other historical occurrences.
Once a criterion is set, the tree should be thoroughly
documented, including photographs, measurement, and
record of historical significance for archives.
As part of this assessment, risk assessment should
confirm structural decline and assess health under
existing tree inventory categorization. There is also a
public engagement component, which would seek input,
including notifying public community and stakeholders;
consider commemorative options.
Page 72 of 243
March 10, 2026 4 of 9 Report No. OPS26-008
Key Component Comments
Tree Protection or
Preservation Strategies
Dependent on risk assessment, this can involve species
and lineage preservation strategies (seed bank, nursery
reproduction). Further, additional strategies include
heavy pruning focusing on structural integrity, vertical
mulching and deep root fertilization and watering
regime. The protection and preservation component
does play a key role in achieving the Town’s endorsed
canopy cover target of 40 per cent by 2034.
Disposal and Repurposing
Recycling and re-use are excellent options should
failure/removal occur. This includes urban lumber
programs, and partnerships with local sawmills or
artisans to turn logs into park furniture, tables, public art
installations. A cited example is TreeCycle Canada who
partner with municipalities to urban wood (biomass
energy) into clean energy or wood products.
Commemorative Practices
Commemorative practices may involve a myriad of
options which include memorial plaques in situ and
heritage displays, archival and repurposed wood through
options detailed above such as public art.
Replacement and
Ecological Continuity
Plant native or climate-resilient species near the original
site or genetic duplicates through preservation methods
detailed above such as nursery reproduction. This is
also a potential consideration as a commemorative
practice and is recommended to exceed tree
replacement policies and By-law (example; multiple
young trees for one large heritage tree).
Page 73 of 243
March 10, 2026 5 of 9 Report No. OPS26-008
Key Component Comments
Policy and Program
Integration
This focuses on recommendations toward the Town’s
various tree protection by-laws and urban forestry
master plans with options to integrate practices into
other programs and municipal strategic goals, such as
canopy cover targets.
Communication and
Education
Communication and education play a pivotal role in the
process from the outset through the course of the
Guide. At the outset, engagement and education help
formulate a list and criterion for designation as having
significance. Through the management plan for a
particular tree, engagement and communication allow
for promotion of the tree, in celebrating any
commemorative practice or enlightening the public on
the process to protect or repurpose a tree.
Funding
Funding is a key component to this work and a
consideration when applying the Guide to Town trees.
Considerations around archiving, and tree
protection/preservation are likely the most significant
when accounting for budget needs, as would
repurposing. Communication and education may also
impact a need for funding, should materials be
produced. There is a possibility of revenue generation
which may contribute to funding the end-of-life program,
through sale of repurposed materials.
Following endorsement of the Guide, staff will finalize criterion for listing Town-owned
trees and create an initial registry of trees including location, significance, specimen
details and scientific data collection and photographic documentation. This work will
continue through to 2027 and will include specific planning for each specimen based on
current condition, and future risk. Once formally assessed, appropriate resources and
preservation planning will be applied.
Page 74 of 243
March 10, 2026 6 of 9 Report No. OPS26-008
Advisory Committee Review
Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting – January 15, 2026:
Staff provided a background and an overview of the memorandum and draft Heritage
Tree Management Guide. Staff and the Committee discussed various aspects including
related provincial policies and criteria (which do not include the end-of-life aspect);
scope and number of heritage trees; the program’s initial focus on municipal trees;
expansion and maintenance of the Town’s urban canopy, and associated funding;
consideration of Indigenous practices or traditions that could be incorporated within the
framework; and the potential strategy and process for expanding the program to include
the participation of privately-owned trees. Further, a suggestion was made to possibly
incorporate indigenous ceremonies or celebrations during the commemorative phase of
the management guide.
The Committee expressed support for the framework of the draft Heritage Tree
Management Guide.
Heritage Advisory Committee Meeting – February 9, 2026:
Staff provided background and an overview of the memorandum and draft Heritage
Tree Management Guide. The committee discussed the possibility of changing the
name of the Management Guide to remove the “end of life” reference and raised
questions around the legal implications of the heritage listing, and whether it protected
privately owned trees. Staff delineated the heritage listing and confirmed that this
program did not impact the Private Tree Protection By-Law and was not a means to
formally protect privately owned trees, but rather an incentivization to preserve and
celebrate heritage trees.
The Committee expressed support for the framework of the draft End-of-Life Tree
Management Guide.
Environmental Advisory Committee Meeting – February 23, 2026:
Staff provided background and an overview of the memorandum and draft Heritage
Tree Management Guide. The committee recommended setting a minimum perimeter
or protection zone for trees where adjacent to Town-managed construction projects.
Interest expressed in adding private trees and having private home-owners volunteer to
have trees listed, though staff cautioned this may not be possible to transfer within title
registration during property sales. Staff were encouraged to make the program as
impactful as possible in the interim by starting with a moderate-sized list (15-20 trees).
Page 75 of 243
March 10, 2026 7 of 9 Report No. OPS26-008
The committee shared sentiment in updating the Town’s Private Tree Protection By-Law
to help protect heritage trees on private lands, to which staff confirmed will be
presented to Council for consideration in 2027.
The Committee expressed support for the framework of the draft End-of-Life Tree
Management Guide.
Legal Considerations
This program only applies to trees that are on municipal property. It is not a legal
means of protecting heritage trees, but rather a celebratory program. Implementation of
parts of the program may require updates to the Tree Protection Bylaw and other Town
policies or plans. The Private Tree Protection By-law is a separate mechanism and
does not influence or impact this program.
Financial Implications
Preservation and commemorative practices may have a financial impact to the Parks
Operating Budget, including preservation applications, such as tree protection,
fertilization, pruning, etc. Further, commemoration will also endure a minor cost,
example; heritage plaques. Staff will seek to offset these costs through the possible
auctioning or repurposing of wood products, as well as use of funding from the Town’s
tree compensation reserve as appropriate.
Staff will commence its creation of a heritage tree registry as per the guiding principles
in 2026 and prepare an associated budget for Council’s consideration as part of the
2027 operating budget process. It is anticipated that this budget may increase
incrementally based upon the number of registered trees from year-to-year, or through
the potential expansion of program in the future.
Communications Considerations
Aurora’s public and tree enthusiasts are a significant resource in identifying historical
context of natural heritage and significant trees. As such, a public “call-out” will be
organized through the Town’s webpage and social channels to assist in building the
Heritage Tree registry. In addition to a launch campaign for the program, continuous
updates will be provided including status of listings, commemorative plans, and good
news stories.
Page 76 of 243
March 10, 2026 8 of 9 Report No. OPS26-008
Climate Change Considerations
In keeping with the recommendations of the Urban Forest Study, Climate Change
Adaptation Plan, and Green Development Standards, as well as Council’s commitment
to growing the canopy cover to 40 per cent by 2030, the Heritage Tree Management
Guide is a key action.
Link to Strategic Plan
The endorsement of the Heritage Tree Management Guide supports the Strategic Plan
Goal of Supporting an Exceptional Quality of Life for All, by encouraging an active and
healthy lifestyle.
Develop a long-term needs assessment for recreation programs, services, and
operations to match the evolving needs of the growing and changing population.
Alternative(s) to the Recommendation
None.
Conclusions
The draft Heritage Tree Management Guide represents a progressive plan of how the
Town of Aurora manages its most significant natural assets. By moving beyond simple
maintenance and incorporating lifecycle management, from initial archival
documentation to innovative repurposing and commemoration, the Town is ensuring
that its "living testaments" continue to provide value to the community even after they
perish.
The Guide successfully aligns the Town’s broader strategic goals, specifically the 40 per
cent canopy cover target and climate adaptation strategies. Supported by the Parks and
Recreation, Heritage, and Environmental Advisory Committees, this framework provides
a clear roadmap for celebrating Aurora’s ecological history while maintaining fiscal
responsibility through potential revenue-generating repurposing programs. Following
Council endorsement, the transition to creating a formal registry in 2026 will mark a
milestone in Aurora’s commitment to environmental heritage.
Page 77 of 243
March 10, 2026 9 of 9 Report No. OPS26-008
Attachments
Attachment 1: Draft Heritage Tree Management Guide (v.2)
Previous Reports
None.
Pre-submission Review
Agenda Management Team review on February 19, 2026.
Approvals
Approved by Sara Tienkamp, Director, Operational Services
Approved by Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer
Page 78 of 243
Town of Aurora – Parks Division February 24, 2026
Heritage Tree Management Guide – DRAFT v.2
1. Registry of Heritage Trees
• List: Establish criterion and list of municipal owned heritage tree registry in
Aurora
• Documentation: Photograph, measure, and record historical significance for
archives.
2. Assessment and Decision Framework
• Risk Assessment: Confirm structural decline, assess health under existing tree
inventory categorization.
• Public Engagement: Notify community and stakeholders; consider
commemorative options.
2. Tree protection or preservation strategies (dependant on Risk
Assessment)
• Species and lineage preservation strategies (seed bank, nursery reproduction)
3. Disposal and Repurposing Options
Recycling and Reuse
• Urban Lumber Programs: Partner with local sawmills or artisans to turn logs into:
o Benches, picnic tables, or park furniture.
o Sculptures or art installations for public spaces.
Example: TreeCycle Canada: Converts urban wood into clean energy or wood
products.
• Community Projects: Donate wood to schools or makerspaces for educational
use
Page 79 of 243
Town of Aurora – Parks Division February 24, 2026
Biomass and Energy
• Chipping for mulch or compost.
• Biomass energy generation through municipal or private facilities
4. Commemorative Practices
• Plaques and Memorials:
o Install plaques at the original site or on replacement trees.
o Include QR codes linking to digital archives or tree history.
• Heritage Displays:
o Use sections of trunk for interpretive signage in parks or museums.
• Public Art:
o Commission local artists to create sculptures from salvaged wood.
4. Replacement and Ecological Continuity
• Plant native or climate-resilient species near the original site.
• Follow or exceed tree replacement policies and Bylaw (e.g., multiple young trees
for one large heritage tree).
5. Policy and Program Integration
• Include end-of-life options in:
o Tree Protection Bylaws.
o Urban Forestry Master Plans.
• Offer Commemorative Tree Programs for community engagement (similar to
Toronto and Edmonton models).
6. Communication and Education
• Host farewell ceremonies or community planting events.
• Share stories via municipal websites and social media to highlight sustainability
and heritage value
7. Funding Models
• Revenue: potential with sale of commemorative items, or possible sale of
nursery pots of direct lineage
Page 80 of 243
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora
Committee of the Whole Report
No. OPS 2 6 -0 10
Subject: Waterworks By-law Update
Prepared by: Dan Naccarato, Manager of Public Works
Department: Operational Services
Date: March 10, 2026
Recommendation
1. That Report No. OPS26-010 be received; and
2. That staff bring forward the new Waterworks, Water Meter and Water Rates By-law,
and any related by-law amendments, to a future Council meeting for enactment.
Executive Summary
This report presents proposed updates to the Town of Aurora’s (the Town’s)
Waterworks By-law Number 3305-91 to modernize the existing regulatory framework
and to ensure it reflects current operational requirements, industry best practices and
legislative standards. The existing Waterworks By-law, originally enacted as By-law
3305-91, has undergone only limited amendments to “Schedule A” over time and no
longer fully supports the Town’s evolving needs:
The need to modernize the existing bylaw to address concerns with water meters
and the distribution system.
Summary and rationale for the proposed amendments to the Waterworks By-law.
Proposed updates were developed with cross‑departmental expertise and a
collaborative process strengthening the bylaw framework.
Aligning Aurora’s bylaw with proven municipal standards across Ontario and the
Greater Toronto Area to ensure current and defensible practices.
Page 81 of 243
March 10, 2026 2 of 11 Report No. OPS26-010
Introducing a modern, compliance‑focused enforcement tool through
Administrative Monetary Penalties.
Background
The need to modernize the existing bylaw to address concerns with water meters and the
distribution system.
By-law 3305-91 is the most recent bylaw governing water meters and water related
rates. While Schedule A has been periodically amended to reflect increases in the cost
of water services, the core provisions have remained largely unchanged for more than
30 years. During this time, metering technologies, construction practices, operational
procedures, and industry standards have advanced considerably.
The current bylaw lacks clarity around responsibilities for meter installation and
protection, enforcement mechanisms, requirements for access, and standards for leak
management. It also does not reflect modern development practices or the use of
advanced metering technologies. These gaps have created operational inefficiencies
and inconsistent application of standards across different property categories.
Staff have therefore initiated a comprehensive review to update the framework, broaden
its scope to ensure it reflects current operational requirements and best practices. The
attached proposed new bylaw incorporates the positive aspects of By-law 3305-91 with
modern required changes, making it more aligned with bylaws in other municipalities.
The updated bylaw has been developed through a detailed review to broaden its scope
and to introduce clearer and more consistent requirements. The proposed revisions
clarify roles and responsibilities, establish standardized metering practices, enhance
protections for the drinking water system, and strengthen compliance tools.
Page 82 of 243
March 10, 2026 3 of 11 Report No. OPS26-010
Analysis
Summary and rationale for the proposed amendments to the Waterworks By-law.
The Table below identifies the main proposed updates to the by-law:
Category Key Update(s) Rationale
Roles, Definitions &
Accountability
Clarifies and formally
distinguishes the roles,
responsibilities and
accountabilities of property
owners, occupants, tenants and
account holders and the Town.
Establishes clear assignment of
obligations that were not
differentiated in the current bylaw.
To eliminate ambiguity,
improve accountability, and
ensure obligations are clearly
assigned to the appropriate
party.
Modernize Definitions &
Property Classifications
Introduces updated terminology
and definitions to reflect current
technologies and property
classifications, including the
addition of Industrial, Commercial,
and Institutional (ICI) properties,
replacing outdated apartment-
focused language.
To align the bylaw with other
municipalities and to ensure
consistent regulatory
applications across all
property classes.
Mandatory Metering
Standards, Single Meters
and Installation
Responsibility
Establishes mandatory water
metering and standardizes
measurement through one meter
per service connection to ensure
consistent and accurate water use
measurement.
To ensure accurate
consumption measurement,
equitable billing and improved
water management/loss
control.
Resolves inconsistencies in the
current bylaw by requiring one
meter per service connection for
new construction (unless
otherwise authorized by the
Town), while permitting existing
installations to remain under a
grandfathering provision until
property changes occur.
To standardize service
delivery moving forward while
minimizing disruption and
financial burden on existing
properties.
Page 83 of 243
March 10, 2026 4 of 11 Report No. OPS26-010
Category Key Update(s) Rationale
Assigns responsibility to property
owners for meter installation,
protection, leak management and
provision of authorized Town
access for inspection and
servicing.
To clearly allocate operational
responsibilities and ensure
meters are protected and
accessible for effective
system management.
Eliminates the option for flat rates
for new properties and requires
the installation of a water meter.
Existing properties currently billed
a flat rate can continue with this
arrangement until there are any
major renovations or re-
development of the property.
To ensure all new properties
are metered, while
recognizing the potential
financial impacts to existing
property owners by providing
a phased implementation
approach.
Town Maintenance
Responsibility
Confirms that ongoing meter
maintenance remains the
responsibility of the Town.
To maintain consistent
service standards and
preserve integrity of Town-
owned infrastructure.
Owner Notification &
Inspection Requirements
Requires owners to notify the
Town when meters are installed,
arrange tagging and identification
within prescribed timelines, and
ensure properties are not
occupied until meters are
inspected and approved.
To ensure installations meet
technical standards and are
verified before water service
commencement.
Private Plumbing
Responsibility
Requires owners to maintain and
repair all private plumbing
systems, including piping, fixtures,
building control valves and leak
remediation.
To delineate public versus
private responsibilities and
reduce avoidable system
losses and service
disruptions.
System Protection & Public
Health Safeguards
Strengthens protections by
prohibiting unauthorized access,
cross-connections, tampering with
meters, breaking seals, altering
configurations or modifying
plumbing that could comprise
measurement integrity.
To protect drinking water
quality, maintain system
integrity, and ensure accurate
measurement and billing.
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March 10, 2026 5 of 11 Report No. OPS26-010
Category Key Update(s) Rationale
Administrative Monetary
Penalties (AMPs)
Introduces AMPs to enforce
compliance, subject to
development of applicable fee
schedule and legislative
requirements, including an
amendment to the AMPs By-law.
To provide an efficient,
proportional and enforceable
compliance mechanism that
supports regulatory
effectiveness.
Application and
Occupancy Controls
Establishes application processes
and timelines for new meter
installations and prohibits
occupancy without a water meter.
To ensure all active properties
are metered from the outset
and integrated into the billing
system.
Meter Installation
Standards
Provides formal requirements and
guidance for proper installation to
prevent damage, neglect, and to
ensure accessibility for
maintenance.
To reduce damage, ensure
worker safety and facilitate
ongoing maintenance and
accurate readings.
Meter Sizing
Requires meter sizing to be
determined by professional
engineers retained by the owner
based on expected flow rates to
ensure accurate measurement
and minimize under-registration or
water loss.
To optimize measurement
accuracy, prevent under-
registration, and protect
system performance.
Ownership of Metering
Equipment
Clarifies that meters, remote
readout devices and Advanced
Metering Infrastructure (AMI)
equipment are Town property.
To clarify asset ownership,
support lifecycle
management and protect
municipal investment.
Cost Responsibility for
Meters
Formally establishes that property
owners are responsible for paying
to the Town a cost-recovery fee
for the supply of a new water
meter, reflecting existing practice.
To ensure growth-related
infrastructure costs are borne
by benefiting properties rather
than the broader tax base.
Bypass Piping Prohibition
Prohibits new bypass piping
installations and authorizes the
Town to require removal of
existing bypass piping at the
owner’s expense.
To prevent unmetered
consumption and maintain
the accuracy and integrity of
billing.
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March 10, 2026 6 of 11 Report No. OPS26-010
Category Key Update(s) Rationale
Meter Chambers
Expands and clarifies
requirements for water meter
chambers, including installation
standards, responsibility and
maintenance obligations.
Maintains requirement for
chambers when meters cannot be
installed inside buildings.
To ensure safe, accessible
and compliant installations
where indoor placement is not
feasible.
Access for Inspection
Requires unobstructed access to
buildings and meters, including for
meters located in a meter room.
Permit inspection fees to be
charged where access is denied
or meters are inaccessible.
To enable efficient
operations, minimize service
delays, and recover costs
associated with non-
compliance.
Meter Testing
Establishes updated processes
for testing meters suspected of
inaccuracy, aligned with current
industry standards and
specifications.
To maintain billing accuracy
and provide a transparent,
standardized verification
process.
Meter Relocation
Provides a formal process and
authority for relocating water
meters, when required.
To allow operational flexibility
while ensuring installations
remain safe, accessible and
compliant.
Meter Replacement
Specifies that meter replacement
costs are covered by the Town
while owners must maintain
plumbing systems and comply
with Town response times.
To protect municipal assets
while ensuring private
systems do not hinder
replacement activities.
Leak Enforcement &
Service Interruption
Authorizes the Town to shut off
water service if owners fail to
address leaks within their
buildings, or as a result of non-
payment, supporting system
conservation and emergency
response.
To conserve water, prevent
system losses and protect
infrastructure during
shortages or emergencies.
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March 10, 2026 7 of 11 Report No. OPS26-010
Category Key Update(s) Rationale
Service Discontinuation
Process
Clarifies and strengthens
procedures for discontinuation of
water service, ensuring proper
disconnection of meters and
recovery of associated costs.
To ensure accurate account
closure, asset protection, and
recovery of municipal costs.
Temporary Water Use
(Construction/Contractors)
Updates provisions for temporary
construction water use by
contractors or builders, including
payment through temporary
metering or bulk water fees. Once
a permanent meter is installed, the
metered volume governs ongoing
billing.
To ensure fair and
accountable billing for
temporary consumption and
reduce untracked water use.
Private Fire Hydrants
Introduces requirements for
private fire hydrants, assigning
maintenance and repair
responsibility to property owners.
To clearly define ownership
and to ensure hydrants
remain functional and
compliant for fire protection.
Fire Hydrant Protection &
Water Use Controls
Prohibits tampering with, covering,
or obstructing hydrants and
prohibits unauthorized water
withdrawal. Requires Town
permission and appropriate
backflow prevention when access
is granted.
To protect public safety,
prevent contamination and
maintain reliable fire
protection infrastructure.
Fire Flow Testing
Formally incorporates fire flow
testing as a recognized service
consistent with existing Fees and
Charges By-law provisions.
To standardize service
delivery and ensure cost
recovery for this specialized
service.
Billing
Clarifies that where the owner of a
property is not the account holder,
the owner shall be jointly and
severally liable for the payment of
all water rates payable for their
property, and that amounts owing
may be added to the tax roll and
collected in the same manner as
taxes.
To provide a transparent,
standardized process that
ensures the Town can recover
unpaid amounts.
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March 10, 2026 8 of 11 Report No. OPS26-010
Proposed updates were developed with cross‑departmental expertise and a collaborative
process strengthening the bylaw framework.
The proposed updates were developed through collaboration across multiple Town
Departments and Divisions, including Operational Services, Legal Services, Building,
Finance, and By-Law Services.
This cross-departmental approach ensures the updated bylaw aligns with existing
billing practices, inspection and permitting processes, enforcement capabilities, and
customer service expectations.
This collaborative process supports consistent application of the bylaw, reduces the
potential for conflicting requirements, and ensures the proposed framework can be
effectively administered once implemented.
Aligning Aurora’s bylaw with proven municipal standards across Ontario and the Greater
Toronto Area to ensure current and defensible practices.
The updated bylaw reflects regulatory practices that are widely adopted by
municipalities across Ontario and within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). These include
standardized metering requirements, clear assignment of responsibilities to property
owners, access provisions for inspection and servicing, protections against
unauthorized connections, and the use of modern compliance and enforcement tools.
Aligning the Town’s bylaw with common municipal practices supports consistency for
developers, contractors, and property owners who operate across multiple jurisdictions.
It also ensures that the Town’s regulatory framework reflects current industry standards
and expectations related to water accountability, system protection, and revenue
integrity.
This alignment reduces ambiguity, strengthens the Town’s positions when addressing
non-compliance and helps ensure that Aurora’s water meter practices remain current,
defensible, and comparable to those of peer municipalities.
Introducing a modern, compliance‑focused enforcement tool through Administrative
Monetary Penalties.
The proposed bylaw introduces the authority to apply Administrative Monetary
Penalties (AMPs) as an alternative, compliance-focused enforcement mechanism.
AMPs are intended to encourage timely correction of non-compliance related to meter
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March 10, 2026 9 of 11 Report No. OPS26-010
installation and the water distribution system, protection, access, and unauthorized use,
while reducing reliance on the Provincial Offences Act process.
The use of AMPs provides the Town with a modern, proportionate enforcement tool that
is commonly used to address regulatory matters where compliance, rather than
punishment, is the primary objective. This approach supports operational efficiency by
allowing staff to address contraventions in a timely and consistent manner, minimizes
administrative burden on the court system, and improves the Town’s ability to recover
costs associated with enforcement.
The bylaw itself establishes the enabling authority only. Implementation of the AMP
Framework will be subject to further work to ensure full compliance with legislative
requirements, including the development of a fee schedule, policies and procedures,
and appropriate mechanism. Staff are proposing the introduction of AMPs, with
supporting work underway to develop the necessary fee schedule and meet all
legislative obligations. The necessary by-law amendments to the Town’s Administrative
Penalty By-law to implement applicable AMPs will be brought forward separately for
Council enactment.
Advisory Committee Review
Not applicable.
Legal Considerations
Pursuant to the Municipal Act, 2001, the Town operates and maintains the municipal
drinking water system. The Town has authority to regulate and pass bylaws with
respect to the water distribution system, including the administration of its waterworks
and water meters, charging fees for the provision of water, collection of wastewater and
storm water, and undertaking enforcement. The Town’s current bylaw governing
waterworks and distribution requires an update, and as such a new comprehensive
bylaw is being proposed to replace it. The proposed by-law also includes rates for the
distribution of water, wastewater collection and storm water services, which will be
outlined in a schedule attached to the by-law as in the previous version. Other applicable
fees will be outlined in the Town’s Fees and Charges By-law.
The attached draft Waterworks, Water Meter and Water Rates By-law is being provided
for reference and may require further updates. If this report is endorsed by Council, an
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March 10, 2026 10 of 11 Report No. OPS26-010
updated version of the bylaw will be brought forward for passage at a future Council
meeting as required.
Financial Implications
Should the proposed amendments to the bylaw be approved, its accompanying
Schedule “A” – Water, Wastewater, and Storm Sewer Rates would require updating to
include the rates effective May 1, 2026. The rates are set to recover the Town and
Regional costs of water distribution and asset management.
Communications Considerations
To inform residents this report will be posted on the Town’s website. The updated bylaw
will also be posted on the website and changes to the bylaw communicated as
appropriate.
Climate Change Considerations
The recommendations from this report does not impact greenhouse gas emissions or
impact climate change adaptation.
Link to Strategic Plan
The updates to the Waterworks By-Law support the Strategic Plan goal of Supporting an
Exceptional Quality of Life for All through its accomplishment in satisfying requirements
in the following key objective within this goal statement:
Invest in sustainable infrastructure. Maintain and expand infrastructure to support
forecasted population growth through technology, waste management, roads,
emergency services and accessibility.
Alternative(s) to the Recommendation
1. There are no alternatives to the recommendations presented in this report.
Conclusions
The need to update and modernize the Town’s Waterworks By-law has become evident.
As operational practices, service expectations, industry standards and legislative
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March 10, 2026 11 of 11 Report No. OPS26-010
requirements have evolved, the existing bylaw no longer provides the clarity,
consistency or regulatory strength needed to support the Town’s water system. The
proposed updates establish a modern, comprehensive and enforceable framework that
supports effective water metering, protects the drinking water system and aligns with
current municipal standards. Adoption of the bylaw will ensure the Town is better
equipped to manage its water infrastructure, support compliance, and provide reliable,
efficient services to residents, businesses and developers.
Attachments
Attachment 1 – Draft Waterworks, Water Meter and Water Rates By-law
Previous Reports
None.
Pre-submission Review
Agenda Management Team review on February 12, 2026.
Approvals
Approved by Sara Tienkamp, Director, Operational Services
Approved by Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer
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The Corporation of the Town of Aurora
By-law Number XXXX-25
Being a By-law to regulate waterworks, water meters and water rates.
Whereas subsection 8(1) of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25, as amended,
(the “Municipal Act”) provides that powers of a municipality shall be interpreted broadly
so as to confer broad authority on the municipality to enable the municipality to govern
its affairs as it considers appropriate and to enhance the municipality’s ability to
respond to municipal issues;
And whereas section 11 of the Municipal Act provides that The Corporation of the Town
of Aurora (the "Town") may pass by-laws relating to public utilities, including matters
affecting water distribution, relating to health, safety and well-being of persons, and
relating to services and things that the municipality is authorized to provide;
And whereas the Town operates and maintains a municipal Drinking Water System;
And whereas subsection 80(1) of the Municipal Act states that a municipality may, at
reasonable times, enter on land to which it supplies a public utility, to (a) inspect, repair,
alter, or disconnect the service pipe or wire, machinery, equipment, and other works
used to supply the public utility; or (b) inspect, install, repair, replace, or alter a public
utility meter;
And whereas subsection 391(1) of the Municipal Act states that a municipality may
pass by-laws imposing fees or charges on persons for services or activities provided or
done by or on behalf of it;
And whereas the Town deems it necessary and expedient to repeal By-law No. 3305-91
and replace it with a new by-law to establish regulations for the water distribution
system, and the installation, repair, maintenance, and access to water meters and their
appurtenances;
Now therefore the Council of The Corporation of the Town of Aurora hereby enacts as
follows:
1.Short Title
1.1 This by-law shall be known and may be cited as the “Waterworks, Water Meter
and Water Rates By-law”.
2.Definitions and Interpretation
2.1 In this by-law, the following words shall have the following meanings:
(a)“Account”means the record of water consumption and fees and charges
relating to a Property;
(b)“Account Holder”means the person(s) whose name is on an Account;
(c)“Advanced Metering Infrastructure”means all aspects related to
collection, transmission, storage, and monitoring of consumption,
diagnostic and status data from metering devices by an automatic two-
way metering infrastructure including the related equipment, software and
Attachment 1
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hardware as may be implemented by the Town for the purposes of billing,
data analyzing, and remote utility management;
(d)“Applicant”means any person who makes an application under this
by-law;
(e)“AWWA Standards”means the standards adopted by the American Water
Works Association, as amended from time to time;
(f)“Back Charges”include any charges and costs incurred by the Town to
correct deficiencies in an Account, including a stopped Water Meter, illegal
connections, Water Meter in by-pass, tampered Water Meter, open by-pass
valve, Water Meter Reversal, incorrect Water Meter conversion multiplier,
non-sewer charges, and other situations which may cause the Town to
lose water sale revenue due to an improper use of Water or the
Waterworks System;
(g)“Backflow”means the flowing back of or reversal of the normal direction
of flow of water;
(h)“Backflow Preventer”means a device that prevents Backflow in a water
distribution system;
(i)“building”shall have the same meaning as set out in Building Code Act
and includes anything constructed or built permanently or temporarily
which is connected, or where such a connection is proposed or ought to
be proposed, to the Town’s Drinking Water System;
(j)“Building Code”means the building code as enacted or adopted pursuant
to section 34 of the Building Code Act, as amended or its successor;
(k)“Building Code Act”means the Building Code Act, 1992, S.O. 1992, c. 23,
as it may be amended or replaced from time to time;
(l)“Building Control Valve”shall have the same meaning as set out in
Building Code;
(m)“Bulk Water Fee”means a fee charged for purchasing large volumes of
water directly from the Town other than through a Water Meter, at the rate
set out in the Fees and Charges By-law;
(n)“Business Day”means Monday to Friday inclusive, but excludes any
public holiday as defined in the Employment Standards Act, 2000, S.O.
2000, c. 41, as amended;
(o)“Council” means the elected Council of the Town;
(p)“CYFS”means the Central York Fire Services;
(q)"Director"the department head responsible for the Operational Services of
the Town, or their designate or successor;
(r)“Drinking Water System”means a drinking water system as defined in the
Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002, S.O. 2002, c. 32, as amended or successor
legislation thereof;
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(s)“Dwelling”means a suite in a building operated as a housekeeping unit,
used or intended to be used as a domicile by one or more persons and
usually containing cooking, eating, living, sleeping and sanitary facilities;
(t)“Fees and Charges By-law”means the Town’s Fees and Charges By-law,
as amended or its successor;
(u)“Flat Rate” means a fixed charge imposed by the Town on any person who
regularly receives water from the Town other than through a Water Meter,
for purposes other than construction and where the Bulk Water Fee does
not apply, at the rate set out in Schedule “A” of this by-Law, as amended
from time to time;
(v)“ICI”means industrial, commercial, and institutional;
(w)“Meter Room”means a dedicated space within an ICI building designed to
house utility meters (electricity, water, or gas) and related equipment;
(x)“Metered Rates”means the rates charged for water that passes through
Water Meter, as set out in Schedule “A” of this by-law, as amended from
time to time;
(y)“Occupancy Certificate”means a document issued by the Town indicating
a building to be in a condition suitable for occupancy, pursuant to
applicable law;
(z)“Occupier”includes any person residing on or in a Property, including a
tenant, leaseholder, and occupant, any person entitled to the possession
of the Property if there is no other person residing on or in the Property,
and, where that person is a corporation, shall include the officers,
directors, and shareholders of that corporation;
(aa)"Officer"includes the Director and any other individual(s) designated or
appointed by the Director to enforce this by-law, and also includes any
person appointed by the Town as a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer
and any police officer;
(bb)“Ontario Watermain Disinfection Procedure” means the Watermain
Disinfection Procedure issued by the Province of Ontario’s Ministry of the
Environment, Conservation and Parks, as amended from time to time or its
successor;
(cc)“Owner”means a person who has any right, title, estate, or interest in a
Property, other than that of only an occupant, and, where that person is a
corporation, shall include the officers, directors, and shareholders of that
corporation, and shall include any person with authority or power over or
control of that Property on the behalf of an Owner;
(dd)“person”includes an individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, limited
partnership, trust or body corporate, or an individual in their capacity as a
trustee, executor, administrator or other legal representative, as applicable
in the context;
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(ee)“Plumbing”means a drainage system, a venting system, and a water
system or parts thereof;
(ff)“Private Fire Service Main”means pipes, fittings, and appurtenances that
convey water exclusively for the purpose of fire protection or suppression;
(gg)“Private Water Service Pipe”means the pipe, fixtures, and fittings which
convey Water from the Water Service Connection to a Water Meter, or to
the point where the pipe and fittings connected to the Water Service
Connection enter a Building or structure if there is no Water Meter;
(hh)“Private Water System”means an assembly of pipes, fittings, valves, and
appurtenances that convey Water from the Private Water Service Pipe to
water supply outlets, fixtures, Plumbing appliances, devices, and
appurtenances, and all other points downstream of the Street Line or
downstream of the point where the Private Water Service Pipe enters a
Building or structure if there is no Water Meter;
(ii)“Property”means any property, lot, premise, suite or unit, including those
used for ICI purposes, which has a unique municipal address and is
adjacent to the Town’s Drinking Water System;
(jj)“Provincial Offences Act”means the Provincial Offences Act, R.S.O. 1990,
c. P.33, as amended, or any successor thereof;
(kk)“Remote Readout Unit”means any device which is used to record or
transmit the water consumption reading of a Water Meter, whether or not
it is installed at a separate location from the Water Meter, but does not
include the Water Meter register;
(ll)“Road Allowance”means any right of way or highway of the Town or The
Regional Municipality of York;
(mm)“Standards and Specifications”means the Town’s Design Criteria Manual
for Engineering Plans, as it relates to sewers and watermains, and as
amended from time to time or its successor;
(nn)“Street Line”means the boundary of a Property abutting a Road
Allowance;
(oo)“Town”means The Corporation of the Town of Aurora and, where an
authority or discretion is conferred upon an official or representative under
this by-law, means the appropriate official or representative of the Town
as designated or appointed from time to time;
(pp)“water’’means potable water supplied by the Town;
(qq)“Water Meter”means an apparatus which measures and records the
quantity of water passing through it and is read, serviced and supplied by
the Town;
(rr)“Water Meter Chamber”means an underground structure housing a Water
Meter;
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(ss)“Water Rates”means the rates charged for obtaining water from the
Town, including Metered Rates, Bulk Water Fees, and Flat Rates, and for
related services, including wastewater and storm water services, all as set
out in Schedule “A” of this by-law and/or the Fees and Charges By-law, as
applicable;
(tt)“Water Service Connection”means the pipes, fittings, and appurtenances
situated between the Street Line and the watermain which are used for the
purpose of supplying a Property with Water from the Town’s Drinking
Water System;
(uu)“Water Shutoff Valve”means the valve on the Water Service Connection,
located at a Street Line, which is used by the Town to shut off or turn on
the Water supply from the Town’s Drinking Water System to a Property;
and
(vv)“Waterworks System”means any works for the collection, production,
treatment, storage, supply, transmission, and distribution of water,
including bulk water, by the Town, or any part of any of these works,
including the Water Service Connection, but does not include Plumbing to
which the Building Code Act applies.
2.2 The provisions of this by-law shall apply to:
(a) every person, and every Owner of a Property, that uses or draws water
from the Waterworks System;
(b) all lands and Properties within the Town of Aurora.
2.3 Unless otherwise specified, references in this by-law to parts, sections,
subsections, clauses and schedules are references to parts, sections,
subsections clauses, and schedules in this by-law.
2.4 The part and section headings contained throughout this document are for
reference purposes only and do not form a part of this by-law. This by-law is to
be interpreted without reference to such headings.
2.5 References in this by-law to any statute or statutory provisions include
references to that statute or statutory provision as it may from time to time be
amended, extended, or re-enacted.
2.6 This by-law shall be read with all changes in gender or number as the context
requires.
2.7 References in this by-law to items in the plural include the singular, and
references to the singular include the plural, as applicable.
2.8 The words “include”, “includes”, “including” are not to be read or interpreted as
limiting the words, phrases, or descriptions that precede it.
2.9 If a court of competent jurisdiction declares any provision, or any part of a
provision, of this by-law to be invalid or to be of no force and effect, it is the
intention of the Town in enacting this by-law that such provision or part of a
provision shall be severable, and such a decision shall not affect the validity of
the remaining sections, subsections, clauses or phrases of this by-law.
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2.10 In the event of a conflict between the provisions of this by-law, the Building Code,
or any other by-laws of the Town, the provision that imposes the highest
standard for the protection of public health, safety, and welfare shall apply.
Where uncertainty arises in determining the highest standard, the Director shall
make the determination.
3.Water Use
3.1 No person shall sell or dispose water, or permit the sale or disposal of water,
without the prior written permission of the Town.
3.2 No Property or person shall obtain water from the Waterworks System without
prior written approval of the Town and paying the applicable Water Rates and any
other applicable charges and fees.
3.3 No person shall directly or indirectly connect, permit, cause to be connected, or
allow to be connected, a well to the Drinking Water System.
3.4 No person, except Town employees or persons authorized in writing by the Town,
shall open or close any valve, hydrant, or gate in the street mains, or operate,
alter, or otherwise interfere with the Waterworks System in any manner.
3.5 All supply of water by the Town shall be subject to restrictions that may be put in
place by the Town or the Regional Municipality of York, whether pursuant to any
by-law or otherwise.
3.6 There shall be no connection between the Waterworks System and any other
water or wastewater source, including but not limited to any cisterns, wells,
privies, privy vaults, cesspools, private pressure pumps, geothermal systems, or
internal building plumbing, regardless of whether there is a Backflow Preventer.
3.7 Any new connection to the Waterworks System must be approved by the Town in
accordance with this by-law, and meet all the requirements of the Ontario
Watermain Disinfection Procedure, the requirements of the Standards and
Specifications, and any other requirement the Director deems necessary.
4.Water Rates and Billing
4.1 All water which is registered on a Water Meter or otherwise obtained from the
Town’s Waterworks System shall be subject to the Water Rates established by
the Town and be billed based on consumption of water, unless permitted to be
charged at an unmetered rate pursuant to this by-law.
4.2 In addition to payment for water under subsection 4.1, all Properties to which
water is provided through the Waterworks System or are otherwise connected to
the Town’s water or sewage infrastructure shall be subject to the rates and fees
established by the Town under Schedule “A”, which shall form part of Property
Water Rates.
4.3 The Account Holder shall be responsible and liable for all Water Rates, and all
other fees and charges, which are charged to and associated with the Account,
including any charges associated with non-compliance of this by-law. Where the
Owner of a Property is not the Account Holder, the Owner of such Property shall
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be jointly and severally liable for the payment of all Water Rates, and any other
fees and charges, that become payable for such Property.
4.4 The Town shall be responsible for reading Water Meters as directed by the
Director.
4.5 Failure to pay for water billed by the Town, by the deadline provided in such a bill,
shall be a contravention of this by-law and entitle the Town to shut off the supply
of water to the Water Service Connection of the Property associated with the
overdue Account.
4.6 All overdue amounts under this by-law shall be subject to late fees and interest
rates as set out in the Town’s Fees and Charges By-law.
4.7 Any amounts owing to the Town pursuant to this by-law may be added to the tax
roll of the associated Property and be collected in the same manner as taxes.
4.8 If the Town has shut off the supply of water to a Property or a Water Service
Connection due to non-payment, the Town shall not accept or approve any
application for the supply of water to that Property or connection until all
outstanding amounts, including arrears, fees, interest, and related charges, have
been paid in full. A change in ownership of the Property does not eliminate,
reduce, or otherwise affect the obligation to pay such outstanding amounts,
which remain attached to the Property until satisfied.
4.9 In the event of any by-law non-compliance, the Owner of the Property associated
with the non-compliance shall be responsible for paying to the Town all
inspection-related fees for each attendance at the Property by the Town or its
authorized agents, including any fees associated with each inspection, charges
for any work or activities undertaken, and any applicable overhead costs and
taxes.
4.10 Unless otherwise indicated in this by-law, all fees payable pursuant to this by-law
shall be as set out in the Town’s Fees and Charges By-law.
4.11 The Town may, from time to time, change the Water Rates without notice to any
person.
4.12 All fees and administrative costs associated with this by-law are non-refundable.
5.Water Meters
5.1 This section 5 shall not apply to:
(a) water used by the Town, or by the CYFS or other authorized fire services
personnel carrying out fire fighting or fire prevention activities;
(b) water used for construction purposes as approved in writing by the
Town; or
(c) where the use of water without a Water Meter is otherwise permitted by
this by-law.
5.2 No person, except for authorized Town personnel acting in the course of their
duties or authorized agents or contractors expressly acting within the scope of
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authority provided by the Town, shall use, or permit the use of, water that has not
passed through a Water Meter.
5.3 All Owners shall have a Water Meter installed and in use at their Property where
such Property is supplied with water by the Town.
5.4 Notwithstanding subsections 5.2 and 5.3, any Property receiving water service
from the Town on a Flat Rate basis as of the date of the coming into force of this
by-law may continue to use water without a Water Meter, provided that the Owner
of such a Property:
(a) pays to the Town the applicable Flat Rate, or as otherwise agreed upon in
writing by the Director, until a Water Meter is installed; and
(b) ensures that a Water Meter is installed, in accordance with this by-law,
following a request for the water service at the Property to be shut off,
including for the purposes of renovation or redevelopment, unless
otherwise approved in writing by the Director.
(c) following the installation of a Water Meter pursuant to subsection (b) of
this section, any Property or Owner receiving water service from the Town
shall be subject to the requirements of subsections 5.2 and 5.3, regardless
of any previous flat-rate charges or the timing of a request for a metered
connection, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing by the Director or if
the use is not governed by this section 5.
5.5 The Plumbing on each Property shall be so arranged that all water supplied by
the Town to each Property shall be measured through one single Water Meter per
Water Service Connection and the Owner of the Property shall be liable for all
associated water charges regardless of the number of Dwellings, buildings, or
Occupiers on such Property, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Director.
5.6 Notwithstanding subsection 5.5, any Property that, as of the effective date of this
by-law, is equipped with more than one Water Meter, or is supplied by water
through a shared Water Meter with another Property, and has been receiving
water service from the Town in that manner, shall be deemed to be in compliance
with subsection 5.5, provided that:
(a) the Water Meters were installed in accordance with any applicable
regulations, Town requirements, and with the Town’s approval at the time
of installation; and
(b) the Owner of the Property on which the Water Meter is located continues
to be liable for all Water Rates and other charges associated with each
Water Meter.
Notwithstanding the above, the Town reserves the right to require consolidation
to a single Water Meter in the event of redevelopment or a change in use of the
Property.
5.7 No person, except Town employees or authorized agents of the Town, shall:
(a) reverse, tamper, un-seal, or alter a Water Meter in any way, or
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(b) permit, perform, or cause to permit or to have performed, any tampering, un-
sealing, reversal, or alteration of a Water Meter in any way,
which may interfere with the proper registration of the quantity of water that
passes through the Water Meter or ought to pass through the Water Meter.
5.8 No person shall connect any pipes or other appurtenances to direct flow from a
Private Water Service Pipe upstream of a Water Meter.
5.9 The Town may seal or re-seal any Water Meter, for any reason, if the Town
determines, at its own discretion, that the Water Meter should be sealed or re-
sealed.
5.10 In addition to and without limiting anything else, if water has been obtained from
the Town without having a Water Meter installed on a Property, unless otherwise
permitted or agreed upon in writing under this by-law or by the Director, the Town
shall charge the Account of such Property a fee for the water based on the
estimated consumption, or the applicable Flat Rate, whichever is greater, as
determined by the Director from the time of occupancy or water connection,
whichever occurs first, until the date a Water Meter is installed.
6.Application for Water Meter
6.1 Only the Owner can request a new connection to the Waterworks System.
6.2 An application for a Water Meter for a Property, or for changing a Water Meter
size, shall be provided to the Town on the form as prescribed by the Director.
6.3 For ICI Water Meter applications only, the Applicant shall provide the Town with
the calculated peak flow rate to pass through the Water Service Connection,
which is supplied and certified by a professional engineer, along with information
on the type of business and the number of occupants or employees to be
serviced at the Property.
6.4 The Applicant shall be responsible for the completeness and accuracy of all
information provided on their application and shall sign the application.
6.5 All applicable Water Meter and application fees and charges, in the amounts as
set out in the Fees and Charges By-law, must be paid to the Town by, or on behalf
of, the Applicant prior to or at the time of submission of the application. The
Town shall not process any application until such fees and charges are received.
7.Installation of Water Meters
7.1 It is the responsibility of the Owner of a Property to arrange to have a Water
Meter installed as required under this by-law.
7.2 For all Properties requiring a Water Meter, including residential and ICI Properties,
the Owner shall:
(a) submit a Water Meter Application to the Town;
(b) if approved by the Town, arrange for the installation of the new Water
Meter;
Page 100 of 243
(c) immediately notify the Town once the Water Meter is installed and the
Property is ready for the Town’s inspection;
(d) at least two (2) weeks prior to the Property being occupied by any person,
schedule with the Town the inspection, sealing, and tagging of the new
Water Meter by the Town; and
(e) ensure that the Property is not occupied by any person prior to the Water
Meter being inspected, sealed, and tagged by the Town.
7.3 All installed Water Meters must be inspected, sealed, and tagged by the Town
prior to turning on the supply of water.
7.4 In the event that water supply to a Property has been turned on prior to the
Town’s inspection, sealing, and tagging of the Water Meter, the Town reserves
the right to shut off the supply of water to the Property.
7.5 Following the issuance of an Occupancy Certificate with respect to a Property,
the Town reserves the right to shut off the supply of water to the Property if it
does not have a Water Meter installed in compliance with this by-law.
7.6 Notwithstanding the issuance of an Occupancy Certificate, no person shall
occupy or permit occupancy of any building or part thereof for which the
Occupancy Certificate was issued prior to the installation of a Water Meter. In the
event that a Building or part thereof is occupied contrary to the above, the Owner
shall pay the Town a Flat Rate as set out in this by-law from the time of issuance
of the Occupancy Certificate to the time of the Water Meter installation.
7.7 All Water Meters shall be installed as close as possible to, and within visual sight
of, the Building Control Valve.
7.8 Water Meters shall be installed in a secure location in, or on, a Property where it
is protected from freezing and where it is convenient for the Town to inspect,
test, read, repair, maintain, alter, disconnect, remove, replace, and seal the Water
Meter. The location of a Water Meter shall be accessible without the use of a
portable ladder or the necessity of climbing over or removing any obstacles.
7.9 In the case of a Property that is subject to a Water Meter installation in
accordance with the Town’s meter maintenance program or Advanced Metering
Infrastructure program, the Owner shall install the Plumbing and appurtenances
related to the Water Meter, including a conduit and wire for a Remote Readout
Unit and Advanced Metering Infrastructure equipment, all in accordance with the
Standards and Specifications, and all at the sole expense of the Owner, or as
deemed appropriate by the Director. In the event the wire no longer functions, the
Owner shall replace the wire to a Remote Readout Device, to the Town’s
satisfaction, and all at the Owner’s expense.
7.10 The Town may require an Owner of a Property to install or repair a valving
arrangement, as deemed necessary by the Director, to allow for proper flow of
water or maintenance of equipment, or both, in respect of the supply of water to
the Property, which shall be completed by the Owner in accordance with the
Standards and Specifications, at the sole expense of the Owner.
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8.Size of Water Meters
8.1 The Owner shall ensure that the Plumbing of all buildings on the Property are
designed and constructed to accommodate the installation of a Water Meter of
appropriate diameter, determined based on the anticipated minimum and
maximum flow rates at full occupancy, and in accordance with the Standards and
Specifications, and all at the sole expense of the Owner. The Owner shall provide
the Town with all information the Town requires, in the Town’s discretion, to
enable it to determine the appropriate meter size. The Town reserves the right to
reject any determination that is provided by the Owner and require that the
determination be revised to the satisfaction of the Director.
8.2 In the case where the Owner or Applicant wishes to change the size of their
Water Meter, a professional engineer must first confirm in writing to the Town
that the proposed size would meet the flow requirements for the Property being
serviced. The Owner or Applicant shall obtain a plumbing permit, and the
proposed change is subject to review and approval by the Town to ensure
compliance with standards and operational requirements.
8.3 If at any time the Town determines that a Property’s Plumbing has been modified
in a manner that may prevent the Water Meter from accurately registering water
consumption, the Town may require the Owner to reassess the Property’s flow
requirements, at the Owner’s own expense. Where deemed necessary by the
Town, the Owner shall, at its expense, install a properly sized Water Meter that
ensures accurate registration of water consumption, as determined by the Town.
9.Supply and Ownership of Water Meters
9.1 All Water Meters, including Remote Readout Units and Advanced Metering
Infrastructure equipment that register water supplied by the Town, or its
authorized agents, are and shall remain the property of the Town.
9.2 New Water Meters shall be supplied by the Town upon the Owner or Applicant
paying to the Town a cost recovery fee, as per the Fees and Charges By-law.
10.Water Meter Loss or Damage
10.1 Every Owner shall be responsible for any loss or damage to a Water Meter
located on their Property, including the full cost of any repairs or replacements,
as deemed necessary by the Town, where such damage or loss results, directly
or indirectly, from the carelessness, misuse, wilful misconduct, or neglect of any
person other than the Town, its employees, or its authorized agents. This
includes, but is not limited to, any damage caused by freezing.
10.2 Should a Water Meter become mechanically defective due to a cause for which
an Owner is not responsible pursuant to the immediately above subsection, the
cost of any necessary repair or replacement shall be the responsibility of the
Town.
11.Water Meter By-pass Piping
11.1 No person shall install, or cause to be installed, any by-pass piping that would
permit water to be used or directed, for any use or consumption, without passing
through a Water Meter.
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11.2 In addition to any other rights or remedies of the Town under this by-law, where
an Owner fails to remove a Water Meter by-pass within the time required, as
required or ordered by the Town, and pursuant to this by-law, the Town may
remove the by-pass piping and valves, as the Director considers appropriate, at
the cost of the Owner, including any associated inspection fees for each
attendance at the Property, the work plus overhead, and any applicable taxes.
12.Water Meter Chamber
12.1 If the Director is of the opinion that a Water Meter cannot be conveniently located
inside a building or structure in accordance with the Standards and
Specifications, or where the Town does not have access to the Water Meter, the
Town may order the Water Meter to be located and installed in a Water Meter
Chamber, at the sole expense of the Owner of the affected Property. In such a
case, the Owner of the affected Property shall be solely responsible for
construction, provision and maintenance of a Water Meter Chamber and the
associated costs.
12.2 Any Water Meter Chamber shall be placed in a location within three (3) metres of
the Street Line of the Owner’s Property, and as approved by the Director in writing
prior to construction.
12.3 No person shall obstruct, or permit the obstruction of, a Water Meter Chamber or
any of its associated valves.
12.4 No person shall place shrubs, trees, or other landscaping within one and one half
(1.5) metres of the outer perimeter of a Water Meter Chamber.
12.5 An Owner shall keep all landscaping on their Property cut back and clear of any
Water Meter Chamber, wiring for the Remote Redout Device, and the Remote
Readout Device.
13.Water Meter Access and Inspection
13.1 Upon receipt of a notice, the Owner or Occupier of a Property shall permit the
Town, its employees, agents, or contractors to enter into the Property and have
free, clear, and unobstructed access to the Water Meter, at a reasonable time,
within the timeframe specified in the notice, for the purpose of inspecting,
maintaining, repairing, replacing, reading, or otherwise accessing the Water Meter
or any of its related components. If access is not provided as required pursuant
to the notice, the Town shall have the right to shut off the water supply to the
Property until such time as access is provided.
13.2 Upon receipt of a notice and prior to the Town’s arrival at the Property, the Owner
or Occupier of the Property subject to the notice shall remove any insulation or
other material from, on, or around the Water Meter so as to provide the Town
with full, unobstructed access to the Water Meter. Any replacement of such
material shall be done by the Owner at their sole expense in accordance with the
Standards and Specifications and all applicable laws.
Page 103 of 243
13.3 If an Owner or Occupier in receipt of a notice fails to provide the Town with full,
unobstructed access to the Water Meter, then:
(a) the Town reserves the right to remove any materials, including insulation,
which may be blocking the Water Meter, and to perform all necessary work;
(b) the Town shall not be liable for any loss or damage to the Property or any
losses or damages otherwise suffered by the Owner or Occupant arising
from such work;
(c) the Owner shall pay all costs incurred by the Town as a result of the failure
to provide the Town with full, unobstructed access to the Water Meter; and
(d) the Owner shall pay the inspection fee, if any, for each attendance at the
Property by the Town, including any associated inspection fees for each
attendance at the Property, the work plus overhead, and any applicable
taxes.
13.4 In the event of an emergency involving the Water Meter or its related
components, the Town, its employees, agents, or contractors may enter a
Property, with the exception of a Dwelling, without prior notice, at any time
deemed necessary, for the purpose of inspecting, repairing, replacing, or
otherwise addressing the emergency. The Owner or Occupant shall not obstruct
or hinder such access, and in the case of all Properties, including Dwellings, the
Owner or Occupant shall cooperate with the Town to facilitate prompt resolution
of the emergency.
14.Maintenance of Water Meter Appurtenances and Piping
14.1 An Owner shall:
(a) ensure that on their Property all Water Meter valves are fitted with proper
handles and that all valves to, from, and around the Water Meter are
installed and properly maintained in accordance with the Standards and
Specifications;
(b) maintain any Private Water Service System and all Plumbing on their
Property, including all piping, fittings, and valves to and from and around a
Water Meter, in a good working condition and in accordance with the
Standards and Specifications;
(c) ensure that all Private Water Service Pipes are buried a minimum of 1.7
meters below the surface of the ground and protected from frost at all
locations; and
(d) ensure that there is a Building Control Valve installed immediately prior to
the Water Meter and that no other connection is made to the Private Water
Service System between the Meter and the Water Service Connection.
For clarity, an Owner is not responsible for maintaining the Water Meter.
14.2 If the Town determines that the condition of a Private Water Service Pipe, Private
Fire Service Main, or Private Water System or valves on piping adjacent to the
Water Meter is such that the Water Meter cannot be properly or conveniently
tested, calibrated, relocated, installed, replaced, or repaired in place or removed
Page 104 of 243
for the purpose of testing, replacing, or repairing, the Owner shall, at their sole
expense, repair, or, if necessary, replace the Private Water Service Pipe, Private
Fire Service Main, and/or Private Water System or valves, as the case may be, to
enable the Town to test, calibrate, relocate, install, replace, repair, or remove the
Water Meter. Failure to conduct repair or replacement as required above shall
constitute a contravention of this by-law, which will be subject to enforcement by
the Town pursuant to this by-law, and the Town shall have the right to shut off the
water supply until such time as the failure is remedied to the satisfaction of the
Director.
15.Water Meter Accuracy and Testing
15.1 Under this by-law, the testing, flow rates, and procedures used to determine
Water Meter accuracy will be in accordance with the current AWWA Standards.
15.2 The Account Holder, by written application to the Town on the prescribed form,
may request to have the Water Meter at their Property tested by the Town to
determine if the Water Meter is over-registering. In all cases where such testing is
requested, the existing Water Meter shall be replaced with a new Water Meter.
15.3 At the time an Account Holder submits a request pursuant to subsection 15.2,
the Account Holder shall pay to the Town a deposit in an amount prescribed in
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shall be held by the Town pending the results of the Water Meter testing. Where
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subsection 15.3, the Town shall return the deposit, without interest, to the
Account Holder. Where subsection 15.4 applies, the deposit shall be applied,
without interest, as a credit toward the fees and expenses payable by the
Account Holder in accordance with subsection 15.4, and the Account Holder
shall be responsible for any remaining amount.
15.4 If, following an Account Holder’s request pursuant to subsection 15.2, the Water
Meter is found to be over-registering in excess of one and one-half percent (1.5%)
in favour of the Town (registering an amount that is over 101.5% of the volume
tested), then the Town shall credit the Account with an amount based on the
average percentage of three (3) tests performed by the Town to determine the
amount of over-registration from one hundred percent (100%) accuracy. Such
credit adjustment shall be for the twelve (12) month period prior to the testing,
and the Town will pay all expenses incurred by the Town in removing, testing, and
replacing the Water Meter.
15.5 If, following an Account Holder’s request pursuant to subsection 15.2, the Water
Meter is found to be under-registering, over-registering within one and one-half
percent (1.5%), or accurate within that range (registering an amount that is 98.5%
to 101.5% the volume tested), then no credit shall be applied to the Account, and
the Account Holder shall pay to the Town all applicable fees, as set out in the
Fees and Charges By-law, relating to the testing and replacement process,
including all expenses incurred by the Town in removing, testing, and replacing
the Water Meter, plus any applicable taxes.
15.6 If a Water Meter fails to register for any reason, the Town shall issue Back
Charges to the Account based on prior consumption records or the estimated
Page 105 of 243
consumption as determined by the Town for the period during which the Water
Meter failed to register but for no more than twenty-four (24) months.
16.Relocation of the Water Meter
16.1 Once a Water Meter is installed on a Property to the satisfaction of the Town, no
person shall relocate the Water Meter without written consent of the Town, a
plumbing permit, and, if applicable, a building permit.
16.2 No person shall disconnect a Water Meter for maintenance or repair without
written consent of the Town.
16.3 An Owner may make an application to the Town for a plumbing permit to relocate
a Water Meter on a Property. If the relocation is approved by the Town, the Owner
shall pay all costs associated with any relocation of the Water Meter, as set out in
the Fees and Charges By-law, and the relocation shall be in accordance with all
other provisions of this by-law and other applicable law.
16.4 The Town shall not approve a plumbing permit application for a Water Meter
relocation if:
(a) the application is incomplete;
(b) the prescribed fee is not paid; or
(c) the proposed relocation is not in accordance with this by-law, the Building
Code Act, the Standards and Specifications, or any other applicable law.
16.5 The Town may require the relocation of an installed Water Meter at the sole cost
of the Owner if its location is not in compliance with the Standards and
Specifications. In case of such a requirement by the Town, the Owner shall
promptly apply for a plumbing permit for a Water Meter relocation in accordance
with this by-law and cause the relocation to be conducted within sixty (60) days
of the receipt of a notice from the Town requiring the relocation, unless a longer
timeline is authorized by the Director in writing. Failure to conduct the relocation
as required shall constitute a contravention of this by-law.
16.6 All Water Meter relocation work and material shall conform to the Standards and
Specifications and comply with the requirements of the Building Code.
17.Water Leaks
17.1 The Owner and any Occupants of a Property are responsible for monitoring the
Water Meter and shall immediately notify the Town if any leaks or suspected
leaks develop at a Water Meter, or its couplings, located on their Property.
17.2 The Town will repair any leaks at the Water Meter, or its couplings, and subject to
section 10, with no charge to the Owner.
17.3 The Owner of the Property shall maintain the Private Water System and private
Plumbing in proper order and repair, free from freezing and free from leaks, at
their own expense.
17.4 Every Owner shall be responsible for investigating and determining the cause of
any leak, defect, or malfunction in the Private Water System and private Plumbing
Page 106 of 243
serving the Owner’s Property. The Town is not responsible for locating any leaks
for the Owner.
17.5 Every Owner shall, at their own expense, repair any leak, defect, or malfunction in,
of, or on the Private Water System and private Plumbing located on or servicing
their Property which results in water being consumed or lost before passing
through the Water Meter, including but not limited to any leak, defect, or
malfunction related to valves, fittings, or corroded piping, as soon as possible
after becoming aware of any such leak, defect, or malfunction. Every Owner shall
pay the cost of Water consumed or lost as a result of such leak, defect, or
malfunction. Where the water loss has not been recorded by a Water Meter,
water consumption shall be estimated by the Town according to the nature of the
leak.
17.6 In the event that an Owner fails or refuses to repair any leaks, defects, or
malfunctions in, of, or on the Private Water System or private Plumbing located
on or servicing their Property, as required or ordered by the Town, then in addition
to any other rights or remedies of the Town under this by-law, the Town reserves
the right to shut off the supply of water to the Property.
17.7 The Town shall not be liable for any losses or damages to the Owner’s Property,
or any surrounding property, including but not limited to damage to structures,
fixtures, or personal property, as a result of any leaks, defects, or malfunctions at
the Water Meter or its couplings, or in, of, or on the Private Water System and
private Plumbing, except in cases of negligence or willful misconduct by the
Town.
18.Water Meter Replacement
18.1 In the case of a Property that is subject to a Water Meter replacement in
accordance with the Town’s meter maintenance program or Advanced Metering
Infrastructure program, the Owner shall ensure that the Plumbing and
appurtenances related to the Water Meter, including a conduit and wire for a
Remote Readout Unit and Advanced Metering Infrastructure equipment, have
been installed, all in accordance with the Standards and Specifications, and all at
the sole expense of the Owner, and upon such Plumbing and appurtenances
being installed as deemed appropriate by the Director, the Town may install the
replacement Water Meter at no expense to the Owner. In the event the wire to a
Remote Readout Device no longer functions, the Owner shall replace the wire, to
the Town’s satisfaction, at the Owner’s expense.
18.2 When a Water Meter is scheduled to be replaced by the Town, the Town shall
send a notice to the Owner of the Property requesting that they schedule the
replacement with the Town or a Town-authorized third-party agent. The Owner
shall respond to the notice within seven (7) days of their receipt of the notice, and
shall schedule the replacement within thirty (30) days of their receipt of the
notice, and they shall provide access to the Water Meter, in accordance with this
by-law, to allow the replacement at the scheduled time. Failure to schedule the
replacement or to provide access as required shall constitute a contravention of
this by-law.
18.3 In the event that a Water Meter requires replacement due to it being inoperative
or otherwise unable to accurately record water consumption, and the Owner fails
Page 107 of 243
to provide the Town with access to the Water Meter to complete the replacement
as required under this by-law, the Town may charge the Owner the applicable Flat
Rate until such time as the Town is provided access and the Water Meter
replacement has been completed to the satisfaction of the Town.
19.Maintenance of Chambers
19.1 This section applies to all chambers, including Water Meter Chambers.
19.2 All chambers shall be and remain the property of the Owner of the Property on
which the chamber is located.
19.3 An Owner shall be responsible for maintaining, repairing, and replacing all
chambers on their Property, and for keeping such chambers in a functional, dry,
and safe condition at all times.
19.4 An Owner shall, at its cost, remove and dispose of all solid and liquid debris,
waste, and other materials, which are non-essential to the proper functioning of
the Water Meter, including those which may be hazardous, toxic, combustible, or
explosive in nature, from both inside and above a chamber. The removal and
disposal of such material shall be done in accordance with all applicable laws.
19.5 Upon request by a notice from the Town and within the time set out in the notice,
the Owner shall provide the Town with access to any chamber on their Property
to permit the Town to inspect, maintain, repair, replace, or read the Water Meter.
If an Owner is unable to provide such access due to water, debris, material in the
chamber, or for any other reason, the Owner shall notify the Town no less than
forty-eight (48) hours before the scheduled access is required, and the Owner
shall advise the Town of a date and time, that is no more than five (5) business
days after the date that was requested by the Town, on which access will be
provided. The Owner shall be responsible, at its cost, to undertake any measures
necessary to provide a safe, dry, and unobstructed access to the chamber at the
designated time and date.
19.6 If the Owner fails to provide the Town with access to a chamber in accordance
with the above, or as required elsewhere in this this by-law, the Owner shall pay
an inspection fee to the Town, in accordance with the Fees and Charges By-law,
for each attendance at the Property subsequent to the initial attempt, or the initial
requested time, made by the Town, including the cost incurred by the Town to
perform the inspection, plus overhead and applicable taxes. Without limiting and
in addition to the above, failure to provide access to the Town to a chamber as
required above, or elsewhere in this by-law, shall constitute a contravention of
this by-law.
20.Meter Rooms
20.1 Upon request by a notice from the Town and within the time set out in the notice,
the Owner shall provide the Town with access to any Meter Room on their
Property to permit the Town to inspect, maintain, repair, replace, or read the
Water Meter. If an Owner is unable to provide such access for any reason, the
Owner shall notify the Town no less than forty-eight (48) hours before the
scheduled access is required, and the Owner shall advise the Town of a date and
time, that is no more than five (5) business days after the date that was
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requested by the Town, on which access will be provided. The Owner shall be
responsible, at its cost, to undertake any measures necessary to provide a safe
and unobstructed access to the Meter Room at the designated time and date.
20.2 If the Owner fails to provide the Town with access to a Meter Room in
accordance with the above, or as required elsewhere in this this by-law, the
Owner shall pay an inspection fee to the Town, in accordance with the Fees and
Charges By-law, for each attendance at the Property subsequent to the initial
attempt, or the initial requested time, made by the Town, including the cost
incurred by the Town to perform the inspection, plus overhead and applicable
taxes. Without limiting and in addition to the above, failure to provide access to
the Town to a Meter Room as required above, or elsewhere in this by-law, shall
constitute a contravention of this by-law.
21.Discontinuation of Water Service
21.1 Any Owner wishing to discontinue the use of water supplied by the Town must
follow requirements set out below. No person shall turn on or off the water
supply without being duly authorized to do so by the Town.
21.2 Any Owner who has received a permit to demolish a Property, or otherwise
wishes to discontinue the use of water supplied by the Town, shall provide
written notice to the Town to request disconnection of the water supply, and,
unless otherwise instructed by the Director in writing, shall:
(a) schedule an appointment with the Town to take a final Water Meter reading,
to remove the Water Meter and the Remote Readout Unit from the Property,
and to turn off the Water supply;
(b) provide access to the Town for the final Water Meter reading to be taken,
for the Water Meter to be removed, and for the water supply to be turned
off; and
(c) pay the Town the Water Meter removal fee as set out in the Fees and
Charges By-law.
21.3 In the event an Owner, or their authorized agent, fails to attend at the Property
and provide access to the Town at the appointment time established pursuant to
subsection 21.2(b), the Owner shall pay the Town’s inspection fee for the missed
appointment as set out in the Fees and Charges By-law.
21.4 No person shall demolish a Building until the final Water Meter reading is
obtained by the Town, and the Water Meter and Remote Readout Unit are
recovered by the Town.
21.5 In the event an Owner fails to provide access to a Property prior to the demolition
of a building or structure on the Property as required by this by-law, the Owner
shall pay to the Town an amount equal to the cost of a new Water Meter and
Remote Readout Unit, of the same type and size, in accordance with the Fees and
Charges By-law. The Owner shall also pay the amount of water consumption,
from the last water Meter reading date to the date of disconnection of the Private
Water Service Pipe or Water Service Connection from the Town’s Drinking Water
System, as estimated by the Town.
Page 109 of 243
22.Temporary Construction Water Use
22.1 Builders, developers, contractors, or other persons requiring water for
construction purposes where no Water Meter has yet been installed shall:
(a) make an application to the Town for temporary construction water use; and
(b) furnish the Town with all information required by the Town.
22.2 Upon receipt of an application for temporary construction water use pursuant to
subsection 22.1 to the satisfaction of the Director, the Director may, at its
discretion, permit that water be temporarily obtained from the Town:
(a) through a temporary Water Meter to be provided at the cost of the Applicant
and as prescribed by the Director, or
(b) without passing through a Water Meter for the temporary period and as
prescribed by the Director, subject to the Applicant paying to the Town a
Bulk Water Fee.
22.3 Anyone permitted to obtain water pursuant to this section shall also pay any
additional fees and security determined by the Director, or established pursuant
to any applicable development agreement, and only be permitted to take water in
accordance with the requirements specified by the Director, as may be
prescribed and altered from time to time at the Director’s discretion.
22.4 Notwithstanding the payment of a Bulk Water Fee by any person pursuant to this
by-law and the Fees and Charges By-law, in the event water is subsequently
registered on a Water Meter for the same Property that had been subject to a
Bulk Water Fee, the Owner shall pay to the Town the Water Rate for all water
registered on the Water Meter following the Water Meter’s installation, in
accordance with the Town’s By-laws.
23.Private Fire Hydrants
23.1 No person shall install a private fire hydrant unless the following requirements
have been met to the satisfaction of the Director:
(a) a complete application to install the private fire hydrant has been submitted
to the Town, which shall include any requirements as specified by the Town;
(b) the type of the private fire hydrant to be installed is approved by the
Director;
(c) the manufacturer of the private fire hydrant to be installed is approved by
the Director; and
(d) a building permit for the installation of the private fire hydrant has been
issued by the Town.
23.2 The Director may approve or reject applications for the installation of a private
fire hydrant based on compliance with the requirements set out in the Standards
and Specifications.
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23.3 An Owner with a private fire hydrant on their Property shall be responsible for
maintaining the hydrant at their own expense.
23.4 An Owner with a private fire hydrant on their Property shall be responsible for
ensuring that the private fire hydrants:
(a) are clearly visible;
(b) are free of any obstructions within a one-meter radius, including but not
limited to snow, ice, gardens, trees, fencing, and other landscaping; and
(c) have an unobstructed path from the roadway.
24.Fire Hydrants
24.1 Owners shall not place, install, deposit, or otherwise create any obstruction that
interferes with the visibility or accessibility of a fire hydrant located on Town
lands, including the Town boulevard adjacent to their Property.
24.2 No person, except as authorized by the Town or CYFS personnel in the course of
fire fighting or fire prevention activities, shall take water from any Town or private
fire hydrant, unless such person is the holder of a hydrant permit issued under
this by-law. Under no circumstance shall anyone other than the Town, its
employees, CYFS personnel, or Town-authorized agents operate a Town or
private fire hydrant.
24.3 A person may make an application on a form prescribed by the Director for a
temporary supply of water from a Town or private fire hydrant. Upon receipt of an
application and any applicable fees, to the satisfaction of the Director, the
Director may, at its discretion, permit that water be temporarily obtained through
a fire hydrant, subject to any requirements and conditions prescribed by the
Director. The permission may be suspended at any time, and for any length of
time, by the Director its discretion.
24.4 The Applicant for the supply of water through a Town or private fire hydrant shall
pay a hydrant deposit in advance, as set out in the Fees and Charges By-law, for
the use of the fire hydrant and the rental fee for a hydrant meter. Water obtained
from the hydrant shall be subject to the Town’s Fees and Charges By-law.
24.5 If an application has been approved for a temporary supply of water from a Town
or private fire hydrant, the Applicant for the supply of water through a hydrant
shall supply a Backflow Preventer, which must be tested by a certified
professional, and the test results shall be submitted to the Town for approval.
Upon the Town’s approval, the Town will install a valve and a temporary Water
Meter on the fire hydrant, and then the Owner shall promptly install the Backflow
Preventer. The Backflow Preventer, valve, and temporary Water Meter shall not
be removed or tampered with. Water will only be supplied through the Water
Meter. Connection to the fire hydrant and taking of water from the hydrant other
than through the supplied temporary Water Meter is prohibited.
25.Fire Hydrant Flow Tests
25.1 A person may submit a request to the Town to make an appointment to conduct
a fire hydrant flow test to determine the characteristics of the local Waterworks
Page 111 of 243
System. Tests shall be conducted by the Owner’s agent, who must be
accompanied by an authorized agent of the Town, between April 1 to October 31,
weather permitting.
25.2 A person requesting a fire hydrant flow test shall pay to the Town in advance of
the test, all applicable fees and charges associated with the performance of the
test in the amounts as set out in the Fees and Charges By-law.
25.3 The person requesting the fire hydrant flow test shall provide the Town with a
copy of the flow test results promptly upon the completion of the test. Such flow
test results shall include the date, time, location and duration of the fire hydrant
flow test.
26.Administration and Enforcement
26.1 The Director is responsible for and is delegated the power to administer this by-
law, including the authority to approve, issue, refuse, revoke, cancel, suspend, set
and impose conditions on, require information, and administer any applications,
permits, notices or authorisations, and to prescribe the content and form of any
permits, forms, notices or other documents required under this by-law.
26.2 Any decision or notice of the Director pursuant to this by-law shall be final
without a right to appeal to Council.
26.3 The Director and Officers are delegated the authority to enforce this by-law,
including the authority to conduct inspections and investigations under this by-
law, the Municipal Act, and any other applicable by law or legislation.
26.4 The Director is authorized to delegate responsibilities for the administration and
enforcement of this by-law to any Town staff or external third parties deemed to
be qualified and appropriate by the Director for such purposes.
26.5 For the purpose of subsection 23.2(4) of the Municipal Act, Council considers the
delegation of powers to the Director pursuant to this by-law to be of a minor
nature.
26.6 Any order or notice issued pursuant to this by-law shall be deemed to have been
received upon:
(a) personal service on the person subject to the order or notice;
(b) one day after transmission through electronic means to an email or social
media address provided by the person subject to the order or notice;
(c) one day after posting the order or notice in a conspicuous location on the
Property subject to the order or notice; or
(d) the fifth (5th) day after the order or notice is sent by registered mail or
courier to the address of the Property to which the order or notice relates, or
to the last known address of the person who is subject to the order or
notice.
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27.Powers of Entry
27.1 An Officer, or any other individual authorized to enforce this by-law on behalf of
the Town, may at any reasonable time enter upon any land for the purpose of
carrying out an inspection to determine whether the following are being complied
with:
(a) this by-law;
(b) any direction or order under this by-law;
(c) a condition of any permit issued under this by-law;
(d) an order issued under section 431 of the Municipal Act.
27.2 In addition to and without anything else in this by-law, any individual authorized to
administer or enforce this by-law may, enter upon a Property to which water is
supplied by the Town to, among other things:
(a) to inspect, repair, alter or disconnect any pipe or wire, machinery, equipment
and other works used to supply water; or
(b) to inspect, install, repair, replace or alter a Water Meter.
27.3 Where an inspection is conducted pursuant to this section, an Officer or any
other individual authorized to enforce this by-law on behalf of the Town, may:
(a) require the production for inspection of documents or things relevant to the
inspection;
(b) inspect and remove documents or things relevant to the inspection for the
purpose of making copies and extracts;
(c) require information from any person concerning a matter related to the
inspection; and
(d) alone or in conjunction with a person possessing special or expert
knowledge, make examinations or take tests, samples, or photographs
necessary for the purpose of the inspection.
27.4 No person shall hinder or obstruct or attempt to hinder or obstruct the Town, its
employees, officers or agents from carrying out any powers or duties under this
by-law.
27.5 No person shall fail to comply with, or contravene, any notice or order or other
direction issued by the Town pursuant to this by-law or the Municipal Act.
27.6 Where an Officer, or an individual authorized to enforce this by-law, has
reasonable grounds to believe that an offence has been committed by any
person, they may require the name, address and proof of identity of that person,
and the person shall supply the required information.
27.7 No person shall decline or neglect to give, produce or deliver any information,
document or other thing that is requested by the Town pursuant to this by-law.
Page 113 of 243
27.8 No person shall knowingly make, participate in, assent to or acquiesce in the
provision of false information in a statement, affidavit, application or other
document prepared, submitted or filed under this by-law.
28.Orders
28.1 Where the Director, Officer, or any other individual authorized to enforce this by-
law is satisfied that a contravention of this by-law has occurred, such Director,
Officer, or authorized individual may make an order requiring that the person who
caused or permitted such contravention, or the Owner, Account Holder, or
Occupant of the Property on which the contravention occurred, to discontinue the
contravening activity and/or to do work to correct the contravention.
28.2 An order pursuant to this section shall set out the following:
(a) reasonable particulars identifying the location of the land on which the
contravention occurred;
(b) reasonable particulars of the contravention;
(c) what is required of the person subject to the order (i.e., what activity is to be
seized and/or actions or work to be done);
(d) the date by which there must be compliance with the order and/or, if any
work is ordered, the date by which any such work must be done; and
(e) information regarding the Town's contact person.
29.Remedial Action and Cost Recovery
29.1 Wherever this by-law or an order issued under this by-law directs or requires any
matter or thing to be done by any person within a specified time period, in default
of it being done by the person directed or required to do it, the action may be
taken under the direction of the Director or an Officer at that person’s expense
and the Town may recover the costs incurred through a legal action or by
recovering the costs in the same manner as taxes.
29.2 For the purposes of taking remedial action under this section, the Town, its staff
and/or its agents may enter, at any reasonable time, upon any lands on which a
default to carry out a required thing or matter occurred.
30.Offences and Penalties
30.1 Every person who contravenes any provision of this by-law is guilty of an offence
and upon conviction is liable to a fine as provided for in the Provincial
Offences Act.
30.2 Every person who contravenes any order issued pursuant to this by-law is guilty
of an offence and upon conviction is liable to a fine as provided for in the
Provincial Offences Act.
30.3 If a corporation has contravened a provision of this by-law, including an order
issued under this by-law, every director and officer who knowingly concurred in
such a contravention is guilty of an offence.
Page 114 of 243
30.4 Pursuant to subsection 429(2) of the Municipal Act, all contraventions of this by-
law or orders issued under this by-law are designated as continuing offences. If a
contravention of any provision of this by-law has not been corrected, or an order
issued under this by-law has not been complied with, the contravention of such a
provision or an order shall be deemed to be a continuing offence for each day or
part of a day that the contravention remains uncorrected or an order not
complied with.
30.5 On conviction of an offence under this by-law, every person is liable to a fine in
accordance with the following rules pursuant to the Municipal Act:
(a) to a fine of not less than $500.00 and not more than $100,000.00;
(b) in the case of a continuing offence, for each day or part of a day that the
offence continues, the minimum fine shall be $500.00 and the maximum
fine shall be $10,000.00, despite paragraph (a), the total of all the daily fines
for an offence is not limited to $100,000;
(c) in the case of a multiple offence, for each offence included in the multiple
offence, the minimum fine shall be $500.00 and the maximum fine shall be
$10,000.00, despite paragraph (a), the total of all fines for each included
offence is not limited to $100,000.
30.6 In addition to fines under this section, a person convicted of an offence under
this by-law may be liable to a special fine in the amount of the economic
advantage or gain that such a person obtained from the contravention of this
by-law. Notwithstanding subsection 30.5 above, a special fine may
exceed $100,000.
30.7 Where a person is convicted of an offence under this by-law, the court in which
the conviction has been entered, and any court of competent jurisdiction
thereafter, may make an order prohibiting the continuation or repetition of the
offence by the person convicted.
31.Administrative Penalties
31.1 Instead of laying a charge under the Provincial Offences Act for a breach of any
provision of this by-law which is designated under the Administrative Penalty By-
law, an individual authorized to enforce this by-law on behalf of the Town may
issue an administrative penalty to the person who has contravened this by-law.
31.2 Individuals authorized to enforce this by-law on behalf of the Town have the
discretion to either proceed by way of an administrative penalty or a charge laid
under the Provincial Offences Act. If an administrative penalty is issued to a
person for a breach of a provision of this by-law, no charge shall be laid against
that same person for the same breach.
31.3 The amount of the administrative penalty for a breach of a provision of this by-
law shall be established pursuant to the Administrative Penalty By-law, and each
day on which a contravention has not been corrected shall constitute a new and
separate offence.
31.4 A person who is issued an administrative penalty shall be subject to the
procedures as provided for in the Administrative Penalty By-law.
Page 115 of 243
32.Presumption
32.1 An Owner of a property on which a non-compliance or contravention has
occurred shall be presumed to have carried out or caused or permitted to be
carried out the non-compliance or contravention, which presumption may be
rebutted by evidence to the contrary on a balance of probabilities.
33.Severability
33.1 If a court of competent jurisdiction declares any provision, or any part of a
provision, of this by-law to be invalid or to be of no force and effect, it is the
intention of the Town in enacting this by-law that such provision or part of a
provision shall be severable, and such a decision shall not affect the validity of the
remaining sections, subsections, clauses or phrases of this by-law.
34.Repeal
34.1 By-law Number 3305-91, as amended, is hereby repealed.
34.2 Applications and orders previously made pursuant to repealed by By-law
No. 3305-91 shall be deemed to apply under this by-law and will be subject to this
by-law.
35.Effective Date
35.1 This by-law comes into full force and effect on May 1, 2026.
Enacted by Town of Aurora Council this _______ day of ____________________, 2026.
___________________________________
Tom Mrakas, Mayor
___________________________________
Anne Kantharajah, Town Clerk
Page 116 of 243
SCHEDULE “A”
WATER RATES
Page 117 of 243
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora
Committee of the Whole Report
No. PDS 2 6 -0 23
Subject: Home Energy Retrofit Program Design Study
Prepared by: Natalie Kehle, Program Manager – Energy and Environment
Department: Planning and Development Services
Date: March 10, 2026
Recommendation
1. That Report No. PDS26-023 be received; and
2. That the Home Energy Retrofit Program Design Study be endorsed; and
3. That staff be directed to move forward with the implementation of the Home Energy
Retrofit Program Design Study.
Executive Summary
This report presents to Council the results of the Home Energy Retrofit Program Design
Study undertaken by Town staff together with Dunsky Energy and Climate Advisors.
The proposed program design is collaborative with our regional partners, fills existing
market gaps, while remaining flexible to the constantly changing environment of home
energy retrofits between levels of government and utility partners.
The proposed Town of Aurora Home Energy Retrofit Program is built upon the
findings of the Home Energy Retrofit Program Feasibility Study.
Market changes in the home energy retrofit field is changing quickly, impacting
outcomes on an Aurora-based program.
The engagement process is the foundation of the study and consisted of
gathering internal and external feedback from interested parties.
The proposed program is a multi-phased, collaborative approach, first focusing
on education and outreach for all Aurora households, followed by developing a
grant program to support households with low income.
Page 118 of 243
March 10, 2026 2 of 10 Report No. PDS26-023
Background
Currently, fewer than 1% of homes undergo energy retrofits each year, falling far short of
the 4% needed to achieve Council-approved climate targets (or approximately 850
households per year). Home energy retrofits include such things as attic insulation,
window replacement, solar panels and switching heating and cooling systems with heat
pumps.
Homeowners cite lack of knowledge and high upfront costs as the main barriers to
retrofits. A municipal-based home energy retrofit program has been shown in other
jurisdictions to increase the number and depth of retrofits by residents.
Council approved the Aurora Home Energy Loan Program Feasibility Study in June
2025, directing staff to continue into the detailed program design phase of a home
energy retrofit program for Aurora.
Climate Change in Aurora
The Town is committed to lowering carbon emissions and mitigating climate risk in the
community as part of its 2019 declaration of a climate emergency.
Carbon emissions from Aurora homes are the largest contributor to the Town’s total
carbon footprint, at 37%. A home energy retrofit program was identified as an essential
initiative under the Town’s Community Energy Plan (CEP) in reducing community
emissions.
Energy Poverty in Aurora
Based on 2021 Census data, approximate 2,300 households (11%) in Aurora experience
energy poverty (defined as spending more than 6% of after-tax income on home energy
needs). These households are the most exposed to utility cost increases and extreme
summer weather events, being least able to invest in energy retrofits. In general,
inefficient homes cost more to heat and cool.
The Energy Affordability Program (EAP) is a provincial initiative providing free energy-
saving upgrades to low-to-moderate-income households, helping them reduce
electricity costs and improve home comfort. Eligible homeowners or renters can receive
free energy efficient appliances. Homes heated electrically or with heat oil are eligible
for advanced retrofits like home insulation, heap pumps and smart thermostats. Aurora
homes are mostly heated with natural gas furnaces; thus, many Aurora income-
qualifying households are excluded from the full EAP offer.
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March 10, 2026 3 of 10 Report No. PDS26-023
Other Municipalities
Many municipalities across Ontario offer home energy retrofit programs for their
residents that compliment provincial and national programs, such as the City of
Toronto, City of Ottawa, City of Guelph, Durham Region and City of Mississauga. Many
early adopters are larger cities and regions, some taking advantage of previously
offered Federal Government start-up funding to offer attractive financing to their
residents for energy retrofits.
Among the municipalities in York Region, the Town of Newmarket is currently in
advanced stages of developing their program, the City of Vaughan completed a
feasibility study, and the City of Richmond Hill and City of Markham just started a
feasibility study in late 2025.
In the Fall of 2026, York Region announced that they are developing the York Region
Greener Homes Program to residents, offering energy retrofit coaching to support
residents through the complex journey of a retrofit. The York Region program is planned
to launch in spring 2026.
Cold-Climate Air Sourced Heat Pumps
Cold-climate air sourced heat pumps (ASHP) are vital for reducing home energy use.
They efficiently heat and cool homes in one unit, functioning like reversible air
conditioners. Operating effectively in temperatures as low as -30°C, they can reduce
greenhouse gas emissions by 40-60% compared to natural gas furnaces. ASHPs are
cost-effective when replacing both traditional heating and cooling systems into one
unit. They save homeowners on energy bills when used throughout the year. They are
flexible and can work together with an existing heating system as a hybrid. Access to
ASHPs is also seen as an important climate resiliency measure, as extreme heat waves
become more common, access to cooling is a matter of safety.
Analysis
The proposed Town of Aurora Home Energy Retrofit Program is built upon the findings of
the Home Energy Retrofit Program Feasibility Study.
The Aurora Home Energy Retrofit Program Feasibility Study was developed last year
and approved by Council in June 2025. It looked at the opportunities and risks of a
home energy retrofit program to determine if the Town should further explore
developing a program, including offering financing to residents.
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March 10, 2026 4 of 10 Report No. PDS26-023
Several financing models were reviewed and screened for suitability. Three loan models
were found to be the most applicable to the Town for further consideration in a detailed
design study.
Other energy retrofit market elements initiated by the Town was shown to increase the
number of home energy retrofits in Aurora, including energy coaching to support
residents through the complex retrofit journey and energy retrofit education and
outreach.
Collaboration with York Region and/ or neighbouring municipalities was also
recommended to be further developed for economies of scale and funding.
Market changes in the home energy retrofit field is changing quickly, impacting outcomes
on an Aurora-based program.
Developing a home energy retrofit program for Aurora has centered on working
collaboratively with municipal partners and filling in any existing market gaps. Several
market changes have occurred since the approval of the Home Energy Retrofit Program
Feasibility Study, impacting the design study outcomes:
- The Federal Government of Canada’s Greener Homes Loan Program has ended.
The program provided zero-interest loans to homeowners for energy retrofits. A
replacement program may be launched in the future.
- The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Community Efficiency
Financing (CEF) program is no longer accepting applications to support home
energy retrofit loan programs. Future funding programs may open.
- Discussions are occurring with municipal partners for a regional home energy
retrofit financing program.
- The York Region Greener Homes Program is under development, with
collaboration from lower tier municipalities and utility partners. The program is
expected to launch in spring 2026. The program is expected to offer the
following:
o An energy coaching service to support residents in their retrofit journey
including how to access provincial and federal incentives, if eligible.
o A Virtual Home Energy Assessment Tool (vHEAT), providing valuable
insights into each home’s existing energy performance and opportunities
for retrofits.
o York Region Greener Homes web portal, providing a secure web service
for residents to easily manage the retrofit journey, including accessing
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March 10, 2026 5 of 10 Report No. PDS26-023
important home information, utility incentives and managing energy coach
appointments
The engagement process is the foundation of the study and consisted of gathering
internal and external feedback from interested parties.
Input from interested parties provided the basis of the findings for the feasibility study
and program design study. The process included identifying relevant interested parties
and seeking input throughout the project. The proposed program incorporates feedback
from Town staff, local municipalities, York Region, local utility providers, financial
institutions, building industry representatives, and the Town’s Environmental Advisory
Committee.
The proposed program is a multi-phased, collaborative approach, first focusing on
education and outreach for all Aurora households, followed by developing a grant
program to support households with low income.
The proposed program is designed to support all Aurora residents to improve the
energy efficiency of their homes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from the
residential section. The program is designed to enhance existing retrofit programs and
fill existing market gaps. The program also aims to support households with low
income through a retrofit grant.
Short term Program (1-3 years):
- Energy Retrofit Coaching: Support the York Region Greener Homes Program
development, launch and promotion with our regional partners.
- Outreach and Education: Aurora community engagement and education activities on
energy efficiency in residential buildings, such as:
o Aurora webpages, notice board and e-newsletters
o Digital street signs and posters in Town buildings
o Exhibits at the Aurora Home Show
o Information tables at targeted locations: Library, seniors centre, farmer’s
markets and at Town-run events
o Messaging through utility partners and property tax bills
o Promotion through other Town communities, like the heritage group.
- Performance Monitoring: Collect data on the program implementation including
uptake, types of retrofits being performed and customer feedback
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March 10, 2026 6 of 10 Report No. PDS26-023
- Advocacy and Collaboration: Continue dialogue, exploration and advocacy with
municipal partners including York Region and utility partners on additional program
opportunities and improvements, such as:
o Home energy ratings: Making home energy ratings, like EnerGuide,
available to the public regionally, with consultation with interested parties.
EnerGuide demonstrates the energy performance of a home and informs
homeowners and potential home buyers.
o Heat pump cost reduction: Explore strategies to reduce the cost of heat
pumps through industry engagement and regional collaboration.
o Workforce training: Investigate ways to improve market readiness.
The proposed short term program has no additional cost to the Town. Funding is
available under the existing approved Environmental Initiatives Operating Budget,
utilizing existing Town communication channels and resources.
Medium Term Program (3-5 years):
- Aurora retrofit grant program for homeowners with low income: Staff to develop a
home energy retrofit grant program for income-qualifying Aurora homeowners. The
program may consider the following elements:
o Energy retrofit eligibility: cold climate air source heat pumps, home
insulation, and/ or smart thermostats
o Applicant eligibility: Aurora homeowners with income qualification
o Grant exclusions: renters and condominiums owners
This program would be funded through the Town’s Green Initiatives Reserve Fund, with
the goal to maintain principal balance for long-term reserve sustainability.
Long term Program (5-10 years):
- Region-wide incentive program: collaborate with York Region and partners to offer
incentives for all residents to further encourage home retrofits.
- Financing Programs: Continue to engage with York Region and regional partners
regarding the consideration of a regional cost-effective, low-risk financing program
for home retrofits.
- Emissions bylaws for existing buildings: Explore the option of a regional regulatory
tool to reduce emissions from existing buildings with a building emissions
performance standard.
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March 10, 2026 7 of 10 Report No. PDS26-023
Advisory Committee Review
Report No. PDS25-028 and consultant presentation introducing the project was brought
forth at the Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) meeting on February 24, 2025.
Report No. PDS25-055 and consultant presentation of the feasibility study update was
brought forth at the EAC meeting on May 12, 2025. Report No. PDS26-016 and
consultant presentation of the draft program design study was brought forth at the EAC
meeting on February 23, 2026.
Table 2 lists the EAC comments and considerations into the study from the February 23
meeting.
Table 2: EAC Comment Summary
Comments Response
Older homes need more improvements,
should these homes be focused on for
funding
Comment received, current program will look to promote
the program with the heritage community.
Lower income households may not have
great credit to receive loans to complete
retrofits. Also, concerns about property
liens on homes.
The Town’s Program is a grant program (in the medium
term) and does not include a loan program.
Request for stakeholder consultation on
publication of energy ratings.
Comment received. The Town plans to wait on a federal
standard to be released and consult with interested
parties on impacts of public information, before
advocating this initiative regionally.
Who is verifying the accuracy of home
upgrades / submissions into the home
rating system?
Comment received. There is a national steering
committee that has discussed this and standards will be
released. This will ensure homes across the country will
be a like to like comparison.
Request for information on what a heat
pump is and how it works.
Comment received, staff report updated to include heat
pump description.
Are we confident we can achieve our
targets with the proposed plan?
This plan will not meet the goals on its own and is
designed to create an action plan that the Town is well-
positioned to perform, while avoiding overlap of efforts.
Durham Region Greener Homes Program see an average
of 40% energy reduction through their home retrofit
program.
Do we have any existing by-laws for new
construction energy emissions?
The Town’s Green Development Standard (GDS) regulates
minimum building design that impacts emissions but
does not limit emissions directly.
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March 10, 2026 8 of 10 Report No. PDS26-023
Legal Considerations
If the Town proceeds with the proposed medium-term program of providing grants to
income-qualifying homeowners, the homeowner would be required to enter into an
agreement with the Town to ensure the requirements of the program are met.
Financial Implications
The development of an Aurora home energy retrofit program is partially being funded by
the FCM CEF program.
The proposed short and medium term Home Energy Retrofit Program Design Study
initiatives will not result in an incremental impact to the tax levy.
The proposed medium term program would be fully funded through the Green Initiatives
reserve in a financially sustainable fashion.
Program reporting deadlines to FCM are in March 2026.
Communications Considerations
Communications will support the Home Energy Retrofit Program through clear,
accessible, and coordinated public outreach that raises awareness of retrofit benefits,
promotes available supports such as energy coaching, and ensures residents
understand how the Town’s program aligns with York Region, provincial, and federal
initiatives. Messaging will be delivered through the Town’s established channels—
including the website, e newsletter, social media, digital signs, print materials, and
targeted in person engagement—to reach a broad and diverse audience.
Climate Change Considerations
Reducing home energy use was identified as an essential strategy in reducing
community energy costs and carbon emissions under the Community Energy Plan.
This program aims to educate residents and enhance climate resiliency by making
homes more robust to climate impacts and potentially reducing energy costs and
reliance on fossil fuels.
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March 10, 2026 9 of 10 Report No. PDS26-023
Link to Strategic Plan
A local home energy retrofit program supports the Strategic Plan goal of supporting
environmental stewardship and sustainability and aligns overall with the Town’s
strategic vision of “an innovative and sustainable community where neighbours care
and businesses thrive”.
Goal: Supporting environmental stewardship and sustainability
Objective 1: Encouraging the stewardship of Aurora’s natural resources
Work with community partners to promote environmental protection and build a
culture of environmentalism in the community
Objective 2: Promoting and advancing green initiatives
Investigate a program that promotes and actively supports innovative green
buildings and infrastructure
Continue to invest in green initiatives and infrastructure to promote
environmentalism locally
Alternative(s) to the Recommendation
That the Home Energy Retrofit Program Design Study not be endorsed and staff not
move forward with the study and implementation of the Home Energy Retrofit Program.
Conclusions
An Aurora local home energy retrofit program fills existing program market gaps and
increases the number and depth of energy retrofits in Aurora. Residents experience
many benefits to a home energy retrofit including thermal comfort, reduced energy bills,
increased property values and resiliency to more extreme weather events. Energy
poverty rates were assessed and equity considerations made throughout the study to
ensure Aurora’s most vulnerable are included into the program design.
Market support elements like education, outreach, energy coaching services, currently
lacking in existing programs, are foundational to the program design, and help
overcome many (non-financial) barriers to homeowners.
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March 10, 2026 10 of 10 Report No. PDS26-023
Attachments
Attachment 1 – Final Draft Home Energy Retrofit Program Design Study
Previous Reports
PDS25-059, Home Energy Retrofit Loan Program Feasibility Study, June 10, 2025
Pre-submission Review
Agenda Management Team review on February 19, 2026
Approvals
Approved by Marco Ramunno, Director, Planning and Development Services
Approved by Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer
Page 127 of 243
Home Energy Retrofit
Program
Program Design Study
Prepared for:
Town of Aurora
February 2026
Attachment 1 Page 128 of 243
Submitted to:
Town of Aurora
Natalie Kehle
Program Manager, Energy and Environment
Dunsky Project Number: 24145
Prepared by:
Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors
50 Ste-Catherine St. West, suite 420
Montreal, QC, H2X 3V4
www.dunsky.com | info@dunsky.com
+ 1 514 504 9030
This project was carried out with assistance from the Green Municipal Fund, a Fund financed by the
Government of Canada and administered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
Notwithstanding this support, the views expressed are the personal views of the authors, and the
Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Government of Canada accept no responsibility for
them.
Page 129 of 243
i
About Dunsky
Dunsky supports leading governments, utilities, corporations and others across North America
in their efforts to accelerate the clean energy transition, effectively and responsibly.
With deep expertise across the Buildings, Mobility, Industry and Energy sectors, we support
our clients in two ways: through rigorous Analysis (of technical, economic and market
opportunities) and by designing or assessing Strategies (plans, programs and policies) to
achieve success.
Dunsky is proudly Canadian, with offices and staff in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa and
Halifax. Visit dunsky.com for more information.
Page 130 of 243
Energy + Climate Advisors
buildings ∙ mobility ∙ industry ∙ energy 1
Executive Summary
In 2019, the Town of Aurora declared a climate emergency and committed to reducing
community greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 80% by 2050. With low-rise homes accounting for
37% of community emissions, residential energy retrofits are essential to meeting these goals.
However, the current pace of home retrofits—less than 1% per year—falls far short of the
estimated 4% annual rate required to remain on track. This Program Design Study presents a
comprehensive, phased approach for a home energy retrofit program that supports all residents
while providing enhanced assistance to low-income homeowners.
Building on the feasibility study, the study concludes that a program focused on market
transformation and supporting low-income residents is the most realistic and impactful solution
for Aurora. Given limited Town capacity and the closure of the Federation of Canadian
Municipalities grant program for municipalities, a local financing program was deemed not
feasible at this time. Instead, the proposed program is designed with low-cost, scalable actions
that raise awareness, strengthen the retrofit ecosystem, and reduce barriers for homeowners—
especially those with low incomes. The proposed program is designed to dovetail and stack on
top of existing programs to fill remaining market gaps.
Short Term Program Offering to Support all Aurora Residents
In the short term, the program involves education and outreach to help all Aurora residents to
benefit from the York Region Greener Homes Program, which offers energy retrofit coaching,
home energy ratings, and customized retrofit roadmaps. Over time, these activities will build
market literacy, improve retrofit quality, and enable deeper retrofits aligned with future energy
and building code evolution.
Medium Term Offering to Support Low-Income Town of Aurora Homeowners
In the medium term, the program can offer an Aurora Retrofit Grant Program, which would
dedicate annual funding to help income-qualified homeowners install cold climate heat pumps—
the most impactful technology for reducing emissions and improving comfort during both
extreme heat and cold. By offering these supports to participants of the Ontario Independent
Electricity System Operator’s (IESO) Energy Affordability Program or Enbridge’s Home
Winterproofing Program, the Town will ensure that funding flows to qualified homeowners
without requiring them to disclose sensitive financial information, while also ensuring that homes
receiving heat pumps have already undergone basic home energy upgrades from existing
programs.
Longer Term Program Components Leverage Regional Collaborations for Impact
The longer-term elements of the program are more complex to deliver and will require
partnerships to be established, funds to be allocated, and further specifics to be developed
before they can be implemented. The activities include a regional incentive and/or financing
program and building emissions performance standards. Some of these activities may be
adjusted depending on the announcements of the federal and provincial governments and
utilities.
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Program Delivery Model
The program is designed for staged implementation, enabling the Town to scale activities as
funding, staffing, and partnerships evolve. Early program elements can be implemented using
existing staff capacity. Medium term components can be implemented by the Town with
identified resources, while longer term components will require regional collaboration and new
resources.
Conclusion
This Program Design Study provides the Town with an actionable, cost-effective roadmap to work
with partners to increase awareness of home retrofit opportunities, reduce emissions, and
improve community resilience. By combining broad resident supports with targeted
programming for low-income homeowners, Aurora can reduce energy poverty, enhance comfort
and safety, build market capacity, and position itself for potential future program expansion.
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Table of Contents
Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................................... 1
Glossary of acronyms and terms .................................................................................................................... 5
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 7
1.1. Aurora’s climate change targets ................................................................................................. 7
1.2. Purpose of this study .................................................................................................................... 7
1.3. Overview of Aurora residential buildings .................................................................................. 8
1.4. Energy poverty in Aurora ............................................................................................................. 8
1.5. Feasibility study overview ............................................................................................................ 9
Loan program ........................................................................................................................................... 9
Market support elements ...................................................................................................................... 10
Changes since the feasibility study ...................................................................................................... 11
1.6. Program Design Study approach .............................................................................................. 12
2 Program Offering to Participants .......................................................................................................... 14
2.1 Short term program components ............................................................................................. 14
2.2 Medium term program component .......................................................................................... 16
2.3 Long term program components.............................................................................................. 16
3 Program Manual ..................................................................................................................................... 18
3.1 Participant eligibility ................................................................................................................... 18
3.2 Short term program components ............................................................................................. 18
Outreach and education ........................................................................................................................ 18
Energy retrofit coaching ........................................................................................................................ 20
Performance monitoring ....................................................................................................................... 21
Advocacy and collaboration ................................................................................................................. 21
3.3 Medium term program components ........................................................................................ 24
Aurora Retrofit Grant Program .............................................................................................................. 24
3.4 Longer term program components .......................................................................................... 24
Regional incentive program .................................................................................................................. 25
Financing program ................................................................................................................................. 25
Building Emissions Performance Standard ......................................................................................... 25
Implementation timeline ....................................................................................................................... 26
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4 Program Budget ..................................................................................................................................... 28
4.1 Estimated delivery costs ............................................................................................................. 28
4.2 Other funding sources for the Town ......................................................................................... 28
Appendix A: Current Provincial and Federal Funding Programs related to Home Energy Retrofits .... 1
Table of Figures
Figure 1-1 Town objectives from a home energy retrofit program ............................................................ 7
Figure 1-2 Town of Aurora properties by type of residential dwellings..................................................... 8
Figure 1-3 Energy sources used in low-rise Aurora homes ......................................................................... 8
Figure 1-5 Characteristics of Aurora households in energy poverty .......................................................... 9
Figure 1-4 Aurora households experiencing energy poverty ..................................................................... 9
Figure 1-6 Market support elements identified as important in Aurora's Feasibility Study .................. 11
Figure 2-1 Rationale for chronology of program elements ....................................................................... 14
Figure 2-2 Program components to be delivered by Aurora in the short term ...................................... 15
Figure 2-3 Short term advocacy actions to be delivered via collaboration with regional partners ...... 15
Figure 2-4 Medium term action to support the emissions reduction targets ......................................... 16
Figure 2-5 Longer term actions to complement previous efforts and further reduce GHGs from
Aurora homes. ................................................................................................................................................ 16
Figure 3-1 Timeline of program implementation activities of the Town .................................................. 26
Table of Tables
Table 1-1 Three Program Model Options identified in 2025 Aurora Feasibility Study .......................... 10
Table 4-1 Budget for Medium Term Program Components ...................................................................... 28
Table 4-2 Alternative Funding Sources ........................................................................................................ 28
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Glossary of acronyms and terms
CCAP: Climate Change Adaptation Plan
CEP: Community Energy Plan
FCM: Federation of Canadian Municipalities
GHG: Greenhouse Gas
Heat pumps: A type of heating equipment, powered by electricity, that use a compressor to efficiently
generate heat or cool, depending on the required conditions of the building. Air source heat pumps
exchange thermal energy with the outside air while ground-source heat pumps exchange thermal
energy with the sub-surface through a well or buried pipes. They can be installed in a home with or
without ductwork.
Home energy retrofits: Improvements to an existing home that improve the energy efficiency or
reduce emissions. Measures may include such things as insulation, air sealing, energy efficient heating
and cooling equipment, insulating windows and doors, solar panels, home batteries and smart
thermostats
HRAI: Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada
IESO: Independent Electric System Operator
LIC: Local Improvement Charge
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1. Introduction
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1. Introduction
1.1. Aurora’s climate change targets
The Town of Aurora’s vision, as stated in their Strategic Plan, is to be an innovative and sustainable
community where neighbours care and businesses thrive.1 In service of the sustainability portion of
this vision, the Town is committed to taking meaningful action on climate change, aiming to achieve
an 80% reduction in community emissions by 2050. The Town has launched numerous policies,
strategies, plans and initiatives to achieve this goal. Guiding much of this effort is the Town’s
Community Energy Plan (CEP),2 adopted in 2021. The CEP provides strategic direction to move the
Town towards a sustainable energy future by improving energy efficiency, reducing energy
consumption and energy costs, cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and fostering a culture of
conservation.
The residential sector is a key focus for the Town given that housing accounts for 37% of total
community emissions.3 The CEP’s primary strategy to address emissions in the existing housing stock
is to develop a voluntary program that will encourage and support homeowners with deep energy
retrofits such as improving the insulation and air tightness of homes; replacing heating and cooling
equipment with efficient and low emissions heat pumps; installing solar panels, batteries, and
electric vehicle chargers; or improving the extreme weather preparedness of a home. Note, heat
pumps are a type of heating equipment, powered by electricity, that use a compressor to efficiently
generate heat or cool, depending on the required conditions of the building. They can be installed
in a home with or without ductwork.
The Town recognizes the critical importance of enabling climate adaptation alongside emissions
reductions. Extreme climate and weather-related events are becoming more frequent, intense, and
long lasting, while slow onset changes like increasing average temperatures and precipitation levels
will have long-term impacts on the community. As such, the Town adopted a Climate Change
Adaptation Plan (CCAP)4 in 2022 to help Aurora better prepare for, respond to, and recover from the
impacts of climate change, both by reducing climate-related risks and vulnerabilities and by
improving the community’s overall climate resilience.
1.2. Purpose of this study
To support the implementation of the
CEP, the Town has pursued a study of a
home energy retrofit program. This
study was made up of two phases, a
feasibility study followed by a program
design.
The Town’s objectives from a home
energy retrofit program are to both
reduce emissions in all Aurora homes and
1 Town of Aurora. (2012). Strategic Plan Aurora 2031: Today, Tomorrow, Our Future Together.
2 Town of Aurora. (2021). Community Energy Plan
3 Town of Aurora. (2021). Community Energy Plan
4 Town of Aurora. (2022). Climate Change Adaptation Plan
Figure 1-1 Town objectives from a home energy retrofit program
Support
homeowners
with low-income
Reduce GHG
emissions in all
Aurora homes
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protect residents with low income, as shown in Figure 1-1.
The purpose of the feasibility study was to assess the opportunities available to develop a home
energy retrofit loan program for the Town of Aurora. Based on the findings of the feasibility study, the
Town opted to proceed to continue to develop a more detailed program design.
1.3. Overview of Aurora residential buildings
Low rise residential dwellings (those of 3 stories or less) were found to contribute the most
emissions. Eighty-Eight percent of the residential sector is comprised of low rise, detached and
semi-detached dwellings, townhouses, and duplexes, as shown in Figure 1-2. To achieve Aurora’s
GHG targets in the low-rise residential sector by 2050, approximately 800 homes will need
retrofitting each year, which is an annual retrofit rate of 4%. The current rate of retrofits is
approximately 1% per year (approximately 230 home energy assessments completed in 2024)5.
Moreover, reaching the targets will require that many of those retrofits focus on the electrification of
end-uses, as 67% of homes are using natural gas as their main energy source, as shown in Figure 1-3.
Figure 1-3 Energy sources used in low-rise Aurora homes
1.4. Energy poverty in Aurora
The feasibility study found that 11% of Aurora households are experiencing energy poverty (defined
as households who spend more than 6% of their income on energy bills (based on 2021 Census
data), see Figure 1-5. In Aurora, one in ten households is affected by this, which may force families to
cut spending on necessities like food, clothing, or medication to pay for energy.
5 Natural Resources Canada. EnerGuide Rating System Open Data. Accessed March 2025.
Natural
gas
67%
Electricity
21%
Wood
8%
Other
4%
Single
Family
Detached
67%
Mid to
High-rise
Dwellings
12%
Other
Low-rise
Dwellings
21%
Figure 1-2 Town of Aurora properties by type of residential
dwellings
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Based on the 2021 Census data, Aurora residents experiencing energy poverty are the Town’s most
vulnerable populations and include low-income6 households, equity-deserving groups7 seniors, and
renters. They face additional barriers to benefiting from home energy upgrades including access to
financing or capital and language barriers.
1.5. Feasibility study overview
The Town undertook a feasibility study in 20258 to assess the needs of Aurora for a home energy
retrofit program, specifically the conditions for the development of a financing program to support
Aurora residents to retrofit their homes. Two main elements were assessed from the feasibility study,
a loan program and other strategies to support home energy retrofits.
Loan program
Home energy retrofit loan programs offered by local municipalities have been found to improve
retrofit rates in the community, with high upfront costs being one of the most challenging aspects of
a retrofit. For the financing elements of the feasibility study, the three options listed in Table 1-1
were identified as options that should be carried into the next phase of assessment to determine
viability. It also found that all these solutions would benefit from a regional approach, due to the
increased economies of scale and consistency across the market.
Many municipalities have leveraged their ability to place a priority lien on a property, using a
mechanism of a Local Improvement Charge (LIC) applied to one property, to allow homeowners to
voluntarily borrow funds from the municipality and repay it on their property tax bill. This allows the
6 “Income qualified,” as noted throughout this report, is intended to reference the definitions established by
the IESO’s Energy Affordability Program and Enbridge’s Home Winterproofing Program (described in Section
Error! Reference source not found.) and is loosely used interchangeably with the term “low- to moderate-
income” (LMI).
7 Equity-deserving groups defined as individuals and groups that have been and continue to be underserved
and underrepresented, including people of different ages, races, ethnicities, abilities, etc. genders, religions,
cultures, sexual orientations and socio-economic status.
8 Dunsky Energy. (2025). Aurora Home Energy Retrofit Loan Program Feasibility Study.
0%1%2%3%4%5%6%
Live below the poverty line
Live in apartments
Are in core housing need
Homes need major repairs
Live in older homes
Speak neither English nor…
Are newcomers
Are renters
Are seniors
Are single parents 11%in
energy
poverty
89%not in
energy
poverty
Figure 1-5 Aurora households experiencing
energy poverty Figure 1-4 Characteristics of Aurora households in energy poverty
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repayment obligation to rest with the property rather than the individual during the sale of a home,
given that the upgrades and energy savings stay with the property. In a turnkey loan program model
(as per models A and B below), a private delivery agent administers the loans and involves the
municipality in the case of loan default. Municipalities can also lend to individuals not using the LIC
mechanism, as per model C below, which is less administratively heavy but lacks some of the rick-
mitigation benefits achieved by attaching the loan to the property tax bill.
Table 1-1 Three Program Model Options identified in 2025 Aurora Feasibility Study
PROGRAM MODEL KEY FEATURES RISKS
A
Turnkey Local
Improvement Charge
(LIC) Loan Program with
FCM funding
• Third-party agent delivers
program.
• Depends on receiving funding and
grants from FCM’s CEF (program
currently closed)
• A municipal services corporation is
costly.
B
Turnkey LIC Loan
Program without
FCM funding
• Third-party agent delivers
program.
• Loans at higher interest rates &
less grant funds for operations.
• Low uptake expected.
• A municipal services corporation is
costly.
• Loan conditions not competitive to
market
C
Targeted Loan
Program with
grant funding
• Targeted loans for short term
financing, seniors, net zero
retrofits.
• In-house delivery may be
possible.
• Loan terms may not be competitive.
• Delivery costs may outweigh benefits.
• No existing external grants available
currently to support the program
costs.
All three loan models, though technically feasible, were found to be cost prohibitive for a municipality
the size of Aurora due to economies of scale and being part of a two-tiered government system. The
study found that the most feasible option was to access the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’
(FCM) Community Energy Financing (CEF) program capital funds to improve the economics of the
program and / or collaborate with regional municipal partners on a regional loan program.
Market support elements
The feasibility study also identified that the market support elements shown in Figure are valuable in a
home energy retrofit program. Market support elements refer to activities that support uptake of home
energy retrofits but do not include loans. Each element is described briefly below and in more detail in
Section 2.
• Outreach, education, and training involve educating the public and the workforce about the
benefits and concepts of deep energy retrofits.
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• Energy retrofit coaches are neutral experts, available to provide advice and support throughout
the retrofit journey.
• Home energy ratings are labels given to homes based on their energy efficiency and emissions.
They can be visible to just the homeowner or to the public. They are often accompanied with a
retrofit roadmap, typically only visible only to the homeowner. That outlines the steps to reduce
energy use and emissions from a home.
• Equipment cost reduction includes engaging with industry and supply chains to reduce the
costs of impactful but costly equipment such as heat pumps to make them more attractive to
more homeowners.
• Incentives and rebates are funds given to homeowners to take desired actions.
• Emissions performance standards are typically implemented as municipal bylaws that set an
annual cap on annual emissions from existing buildings based on their archetype and age.
Figure 1-6 Market support elements identified as important in Aurora's Feasibility Study
Efforts of the federal and provincial governments to date have been primarily incentives and rebates.
A list of ongoing funding programs related to home retrofits is available in Appendix A.
Changes since the feasibility study
There have been many changes to the landscape since the feasibility study was completed, namely:
• The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) is no longer funding the municipal loan
programs through their Community Efficiency Financing initiative, as of the Fall 2025.
• The Canada Greener Homes Loan and Grant program has ended, which offered rebates for
specific energy efficient upgrades and 10-year loans up to $40,000 at 0% interest.
• York Region announced the development of their Greener Homes program, which will
provide home energy ratings and retrofit roadmaps to all residents, an online one-stop-shop
Outreach, education
& training
Energy retrofit
coaching
Home energy
ratings & retrofit
roadmaps
Equipment cost
reduction
Incentives & rebates
Emissions
performance standard
for existing buildings
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information platform, and energy retrofit coaching services for all York Region residents. This
is estimated to launch in mid-2026.
• Neighbouring municipalities of Markham and Richmond Hill have embarked on feasibility
studies like Aurora’s.
• Newmarket is re-evaluating a home retrofit program approach
Given all these changes, the Town has determined that none of the three financing program options
identified in the feasibility study are possible at this time. The most feasible way forward with a loan
program would be a collaborative program approach with regional partners in the long run.
Other trends and interventions are expected to drive demand for home retrofits within the coming
years, including:
• Rising energy prices.
• Expected launch of a federal Greener Homes Affordability Program, which may provide loans
or grants to low- and moderate-income homeowners for home energy retrofits.
• Building renovation codes, such as Canada’s future Alterations to Existing Buildings, which
may define the upgrades that must be completed to a building at the time of major
renovation; and
• A national Home Energy Rating standard, which will provide a common approach for
assigning energy ratings to homes across Canada.
The program outlined in this Program Design Study is intended to dovetail with existing and future
market initiatives but not wait for all variables to align before taking action.
1.6. Program Design Study approach
For this Program Design Study, the approach involved data analysis and research, market insights,
and consultation with interested parties. Based on the findings of the feasibility study, the program
model best suited to meet the program objectives and community needs was identified, taking into
consideration opportunities and constraints. From there, key program design elements, future
considerations, and implementation steps for the short, medium, and long term were identified.
While there are significant benefits associated with energy efficiency, numerous financial,
behavioural and structural barriers remain that slow the adoption of home energy retrofits. These
barriers include high upfront costs, access to capital, difficulty managing contractors, and a general
lack of awareness and knowledge about energy efficiency and its benefits. In addition, homeowners
often face competing priorities, have limited time to make sense of the ever-changing retrofit
process to apply for rebates and financing, and are concerned about possible disruptions to their
home. There are also other support programs assessed in the feasibility study, and this program is
designed to dovetail and stack on top of existing programs to fill remaining gaps.
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2. Program Offering
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2 Program Offering to Participants
The program has multiple components which are proposed to be rolled out in phases. This
allows the Town to manage staff time and budgets, adjust the program around future
announcements from senior government and utilities, and accommodate the shifting needs
of its residents. To achieve economies of scale and market consistency, many of the
components of this program will be done in collaboration with municipal partners.
Given that a loan program not feasible at this time and given that York Region has committed
to launch the York region Greener Home Program, this program design focuses on market
support elements. It is designed to leverage existing programs in the market and fill gaps that
remain. The rationale for the chronology of the phases of the program roll out are outlined in
Figure 2-1.
Figure 2-1 Rationale for chronology of program elements
There are many existing and fluctuating programs to support homeowners with energy
upgrades or retrofits. The recommended role of the Town is to steer residents toward the York
Region program, perform outreach and education to its residents, monitor the program and
add additional supports for the homeowners with low-income. This role leverages the Town’s
close connections with residents and cost-effective communication channels to raise public
awareness.
2.1 Short term program components
The main components of the program that are to be delivered by Aurora in the short term are
outlined in Figure 2-2 and further detailed in Section 3.2. These elements, including
education and outreach, energy retrofit coaching, performance monitoring, and advocacy
and collaboration, can be delivered at no to low cost and are designed to leverage the
existing programs in the market.
1. Short Term
Initiatives
Start with low/no cost
value adds that
leverage regional and
utility programs.
Collect data and
advocate for growing
support.
Assess
impact.
Allocate
resources.
2. Medium Term
Initiatives
Make moderate
investments to
support low income
residents.
Align
partners
3. Long Term
Initiatives
Collaborate with
others to build out a
package of initiatives
that further support
Aurora's GHG targets.
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Figure 2-2 Program components to be delivered by Aurora in the short term
Figure 2-3 summarizes the activities under advocacy and collaboration, while Section 3.2
provides further details. These activities benefit from being implemented at scale and are
recommended to be delivered through collaboration with York Region and the lower tier
municipalities that constitute York Region.
Figure 2-3 Short term advocacy actions to be delivered via collaboration with regional partners
Outreach and Education
•Aurora community engagement and education
activities on energy efficiency in residential buildings.
Energy Retrofit Coaching
•Support the York Region Greener Homes Program
development, launch, and promotion with municipal
partners.
Performance Monitoring
•Collect data on the program implementation including
uptake, types of retrofits being performed, customer
feedback, etc.
Advocacy and Collaboration
•Continue dialogue, exploration, and advocacy with
municipal partners including York Region and utility
partners on additional program opportunities and
improvements.
•Make the ratings public for market alignment.
•Consult interested parties prior. Home Energy Ratings
•Explore strategies to reduce cost of heat pumps
through industry engagement.Heat Pump Cost Reduction
•Explore strategies to support worforce training.Workforce Training
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2.2 Medium term program component
The medium term element of the program, an Aurora Retrofit Grant Program, can be
delivered by Aurora independently. It is outlined in Figure 2-4 and further detailed in Section
3.3. This activity will require funds to be allocated and further specifics to be developed
before it can be implemented.
Figure 2-4 Medium term action to support the emissions reduction targets
2.3 Long term program components
The longer-term elements of the program to complement the GHG emissions reductions of
the Town, to be delivered through collaboration with others, are outlined in Figure 2-5 and
further detailed in Section 3.4.
These components can be further explored as programs of this nature continue to evolve and
mature. These activities are more complex to deliver and will require partnerships to be
established, funds to be allocated, and further specifics to be developed before they can be
implemented. Some of these activities may be adjusted depending on the announcements of
the federal and provincial governments and utilities.
Figure 2-5 Longer term actions to complement previous efforts and further reduce GHGs from Aurora homes.
•For income-qualified homeowners, offer grants
towards heat pumps and other retrofit measures.
Aurora Retrofit Grant
Program
•Collaborate with York Region and other lower tier
municipalities to secure funding for an incentive
program across York Region for all residents.
Retrofit Incentives across
York Region
•Engage with York Region regarding the feasibility of
developing a financing program.
•Follow Federal announcements regarding Greener
Homes Affordability Program and any other
incentive program.
Financing Program
•Work with York Region and municpal partners on a
building performance standard.
•Collaborate with other municipalities such as the city
of Toronto on best practices.
Building Emissions
Performance Standards
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3. Program Manual
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3 Program Manual
This program manual is designed to outline all the steps for the Town of Aurora to take to implement
the program components identified in Section 2.
3.1 Participant eligibility
All Aurora residents are eligible to benefit from the outreach and education activities to be
implemented through the short term plan. All Aurora homeowners of permanent low-
rise residential properties can access the benefits of the York Region Greener Homes Program, once
launched. This includes homeowners being able to access their home’s energy ratings (which are
visible only to the homeowner under the York program), retrofit roadmaps, one-stop-shop
information platform, and energy retrofit coaching services.
3.2 Short term program components
This section includes details on the program components that are of focus for the Town of Aurora
and the role of collaborators in those components. They have been selected to complement the
planned activities of other parties including York Region, the Province of Ontario and their agencies,
utility partners and the federal government, though those activities are not detailed here.
The main program activities are four-fold:
• Outreach and education
• Energy retrofit coaching
• Performance monitoring
• Advocacy and collaboration
Other considerations to explore for the Town of Aurora to develop by itself or in collaboration with
other partners is outlined later, in Section 3.3.
Outreach and education
Benefits
This element of the program is designed to promote the existing programs in the market to help
residents of Aurora take advantage of them. Existing programs are listed in Appendix A.
Outreach and education activities can be used to promote awareness of the York Region Greener
Homes Platform, through which residents will be able to easily navigate to access support services
and available funding.
Key Components
Using the Town’s communication channels and resources and the communications package to be
provided by York Region, develop outreach materials (posters, flyers, social media posts, newsletter
blurbs, online advertisements) and schedule activities.
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The Town can pursue the following outreach activities through low-cost channels, including:
▪ Aurora Online, which is echoed through partnering organizations
▪ Town notice board
▪ Town e-newsletter
▪ Pylon signs (digital signs on the street)
▪ Posters in recreation centres
▪ Posts on Town social media platforms
▪ Booth at Aurora Home Show
▪ Information tables at the library, Seniors Centre, and Town Square
▪ Information on building permit application webpage
The Town can leverage paid outreach channels to effectively reach more residents, such as:
▪ Social media advertisements
▪ Targeted digital advertisements
▪ Information table at the Metrolinx train station
▪ Purchase home energy testing kits (thermal camera, plug-in meters, water tap measuring
device) to educate homeowners on their home energy performance. These kits can be left at
the Aurora Library to be borrowed under the Library of Things Program and the Senior’s
Centre.
In collaboration with York Region, the Town can use the following regional outreach channels:
▪ Messaging through utilities
▪ Doors Open events
▪ Radio advertisements
▪ Messaging through industry associations including Building Industry and Land Development
Association (BILD), Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association (HRAI),
and North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA).
The Town can develop specific educational tools with expert advice including:
• Heritage Home Retrofits Information Brochure: A brochure for owners of heritage
homes explaining the ways that heritage homes can be renovated to reduce energy use and
emissions while respecting and maintaining their heritage designation.
• Landlord/Tenant Information Brochure: A brochure for landlords and tenants explaining
the home retrofit process and the respective roles and responsibilities of both parties. The
brochure should include the benefits of home energy retrofits for occupants (comfort,
reduced energy bills, climate action).
• Financing Options Cheat Sheet: A homeowner cheat sheet outlining existing financing
options for home retrofits and their respective applications, risks, and benefits.
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Role of Town
• Program Lead to work with Town communications staff to implement the communications
activities outlined above.
• Program Lead to work with York Region on collaborative activities.
• Program Lead to develop collaborations for outreach with the library, Senior’s Centre, etc.
Role of Collaborators
• York Region has committed to providing a communications package and arranging outreach
through regional channels and the energy utilities and industry associations.
• Aurora Library and Senior’s Centre as locations for information table, workshops, and
promote the Home Energy Kits.
• Local contractors to learn about the program via industry associations and promote it
through their communications with homeowners.
• Energy retrofit coaches to promote the Aurora program for outreach and education to
residents in Aurora.
Energy retrofit coaching
Benefits
A common barrier to home retrofits is the complexity of the technologies and decision making.
Another barrier is navigating the changing support programs from utilities and government. Energy
retrofit coaches are experts who are available to advise homeowners throughout the decision-
making process, ask the right questions of contractors, help them apply for the incentives available,
and maintain motivation.
Key Components
• Free, virtual access to home energy experts for neutral advice throughout the retrofit journey.
• Experts provide advice on home energy upgrades, climate risk assessments, considerations
for installing EV chargers, etc.
Role of the Town
• Continue supporting the York Region’s program development and promote the energy
retrofit coaching service to residents once launched, mid 2026.
Role of Collaborators
• York Region to hire and manage the delivery provider.
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Performance monitoring
Benefits
Performance monitoring is used to assess the impact of actions to improve effectiveness. It also
allows for program efforts to be adjusted to accommodate changes to other program offerings and
emerging needs of residents.
Key Components
• Monitor uptake of the York Region Greener Homes program and energy retrofit coaching
services.
• Monitor impact of the Town’s outreach efforts.
• Monitor developments of Toronto’s efforts regarding, home retrofit workforce training, heat
pump cost reduction strategies, and home energy and emissions bylaws.
• Monitor the development of federal policies including the Home Energy Rating Standard and
Alterations to Existing Buildings.
• Monitor the announcements of new home retrofit programs including the federal Greener
Homes Affordability program, The Atmospheric Fund’s solar support program, changes to
programs from Enbridge and the IESO.
Role of the Town
• Program Lead to collect and analyse data on program impact and follow the advancements
of related initiatives and policies.
Role of Collaborators
• York Region to provide data on uptake of the York Region Greener Homes Program and
energy retrofit coaching service from Aurora residents.
Advocacy and collaboration
This portion of the program involves Town staff engaging with York Region to add elements to their
Greener Homes Program and/ or collaborate with municipal partners that are best delivered at the
scale of a Region and would be complementary to their initial program offering. These include
making the home energy ratings public regionally as well as partnering with the City of Toronto on
their heat pump cost reduction efforts and their workforce training efforts.
Home energy ratings
Benefits
The York Region Greener Homes Program is expected to make virtual home energy ratings
available to each homeowner only, but not available to the public. To make the home energy
ratings for all homes public in York Region, there is no additional fee expected from the delivery
partner of the Greener Homes Program. This change can effectively increase the impact of the
program.
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By making all home ratings public, not just to each homeowner, public virtual home energy ratings
can contribute to market transformation by aligning interested parties toward more efficient homes.
Homeowners can easily understand their opportunities to save energy at home, and buyers and
renters can incorporate considerations of energy efficiency when purchasing a home as they also
allow for an apples-to-apples comparison.
Key Components
• Virtual home energy ratings are based on the physical attributes of a home (e.g. age, size,
and orientation) and standard operating conditions (standard number of people per
household, set thermostat temperature, etc.), not the energy usage of occupants.
• Prior to making the virtual home energy ratings public, interested party consultation is
recommended. This should include homeowners, tenants, utilities, real estate agents, and
mortgage and insurance providers.
Role of the Town
• Engage the Region and lower tier municipalities on a collaborative approach.
• Consult interested parties in Aurora.
Role of Collaborators
• Natural Resources Canada is working on a National Home Rating Standard, which is
expected to be released in 2026. The Region’s ratings should align with this standard.
• The York Region Greener Homes delivery partner can make the home ratings public on their
platform.
Heat pump cost reduction
Benefits
Given that cold-climate air source heat pumps have been identified as the most impactful measure
for emissions reductions and resiliency improvements in Aurora’s housing stock, lowering their cost
through market forces will help expedite their installation without long term dependence on costly
incentive programs. As a relatively new technology, the marketing and customer acquisition costs
on heat pumps are higher than mature technologies like gas furnaces. Through targeted education
campaigns that help customers make purchasing decisions more quickly, and industry training to
increase the supply of qualified installers who are skilled at installing heat pumps and the rebate
programs available, these costs can be reduced.
Key Components
The Town of Aurora on its own is not large enough to influence the market, but by coordinating
across the Greater Toronto Area, municipalities can have collective impact. The City of Toronto is
already leading efforts with their Furnace Replacement Program. This program is implemented with
the support of Toronto Hydro and works with installers and distributors to increase awareness of
heat pumps. If York Region, with another 1.3 million residents, were to mirror their efforts, the
influence on market forces would be multiplied.
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Role of Town
• Engage the Region and lower tier municipalities on a collaborative approach.
Role of Collaborators
• York Region and their lower tier municipalities work together on a similar program. They
could assign a liaison to collaborate with the City of Toronto’s Furnace Replacement
Program team and replicate their activities across York Region.
• Alectra, the electric utility, may also be a valuable partner to develop and implement the
approach across York Region.
Workforce training
Benefits
• Training increases the knowledge base of available contractors, improving the experience of
homeowners implementing retrofits.
• Promoting the trainings on offer also engages contractors in the program and encourages them
to promote the program to their clients.
Key Components
• The City of Toronto offers net zero courses with the Building Industry and Land Development
Association (BILD), heat pump sales courses with HRAI, and building envelope courses with
North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA). Contractors work across the
GTA, so Aurora residents are already benefiting from Toronto’s initiative.
• Aurora, in collaboration with municipal partners across York Region, can collaborate with Toronto
by promoting their series of training courses for local contractors.
• In addition to promoting these training opportunities, the Town can provide information about
the York Region Greener Homes Program to heat pump installers and directly to residents. This
will increase contractor trust in the program and encourage them to advise their clients about
it.
Role of Town
• Promote the City of Toronto net zero courses to expand their workforce training efforts.
• Promote the courses offered by industry associations (BILD, HRAI, and NAIMA) through
colleges and other networks.
Role of Collaborators
• City of Toronto to continue to organize workforce trainings.
• BILD, HRAI, and NAIMA promote their members to take the courses.
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3.3 Medium term program components
The following elements are all in service of the Town’s goals and can be reviewed and reconsidered
once the preparatory consultations, collaborations, and municipal programs and partnerships have
been further explored. These medium term program components are ordered starting with the
lowest cost and easiest to implement, to the more expensive and complex components.
Aurora Retrofit Grant Program
Preliminary Grant Program Concept
Based on a review of the current incentives available to support retrofits for Aurora’s low-
income residents, this design report recommends that the Town consider using some
available resources to fill gaps to enable more low-income homeowners to benefit from
the available Provincial programs.
The program concept description below provides a high-level grant program approach for
the Town to consider establishing over the medium term. Should the Town decide to
move ahead with this component, it is recommended that the analysis of the Provincial
programs be revisited at that time, and the program offer (measures and grant values) be
established formally at that time, along with the implementation plan and tools.
This program element targets income qualifying homeowners or tenants who heat with natural gas
and have completed either the IESO’s Energy Affordability Program9 or Enbridge’s Home
Winterproofing Program.10 Currently these programs are free, direct-install programs that provide
insulation and air sealing to income-qualified homes provide building envelope upgrades. However,
they do not cover heat pumps for those heating with natural gas. Only homes using electric or oil-
based heating systems are eligible. In addition, the Ontario Renovation Savings Program only offers
an up to $2,000 rebate for a heat pump, which is not enough to make this measure cost effective for
most Aurora homeowners with low-income.
Qualifying residents would be offered rebates for heat pumps, which are the most effective
emissions reduction measure which also improve climate resiliency and comfort during increasingly
more heat ways by supplying air conditioning.
The Town could consider allocating approximately $50,000 annually for Aurora Retrofit Grant
Program, on a first come first serve basis, utilizing the Town’s Green Initiatives Reserve Fund. The
annual available grant amount would maintain the principle of the Reserve for long term
sustainability. This fund is to support the Town’s environmental objectives.
3.4 Longer term program components
All the program components described below are best implemented in collaboration with York
Region, municipal partners or the Province. As such, to lay the groundwork for these longer-term
actions, the Town should continue dialogue with York Region, the local municipalities, and the
Province of Ontario.
9 IESO. Energy Affordability Program. Accessed January 27, 2026, from https://saveonenergy.ca/en/For-Your-
Home/Energy-Affordability-Program.
10 Home Winterproofing Program (HWP) | Ontario | Enbridge Gas
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Regional incentive program
Incentives are a popular and straightforward way to promote desired actions. Their limitation is
funding and complexity for homeowners and contractors. A Regional incentive program that takes
advantage of economies of scale for all nine local municipalities would be of greater benefit and
have one voice in roll out.
New incentive programs are expected to be announced from the federal government, The
Atmospheric Fund, Enbridge, and Alectra. The Town and Region should monitor the
announcements from these entities before determining if a gap remains. Then, the Town should
explore securing funding for an incentive program for all residents in the region, focusing on high
impact measures to reduce GHGs such as heat pumps (see Section 4.2 for more details).
Financing program
Access to low-cost financing was identified as a barrier to some residents in the feasibility study.
FCM loan program funding is no longer available to municipalities interested in developing a local
retrofit loan program, making a stand-alone program cost prohibitive. Depending on the details of
the expected federal Greener Homes Affordability Program, this barrier may be overcome for low-
and moderate-income homeowners, who are the ones typically facing the most barriers to
financing.
Following the launch of the federal Greener Homes Affordability Program, the Town should work
with the Region and local municipalities to assess the needs of residents regarding financing. If
access to financing remains a barrier, the Town should engage with York Region and lower tier
municipalities regarding a regional financing program.
Building Emissions Performance Standard
The most common regulatory tool used by municipalities to reduce emissions from existing
buildings is a Building Emissions Performance Standard, which sets a cap on annual emissions from
buildings based on their archetype and vintage. These annual caps then reduce to the target, such
as net zero by 2050.
Such regulations are found to be within the bylaw authorities of both Regional and lower-tier
municipalities in Ontario.11 To successfully implement such a regulation, significant public and
industry consultation and education would be necessary. As such, this form of regulation is most
often first initiated in large cities and typically has an initial focus on large buildings.
Toronto has been working towards implementing a building emissions performance standard for
large, existing buildings, which is the building stock often targeted first under emissions standards
and can provide a model for other Ontario municipalities to learn from.
The data gathered from the York Region Greener Homes ratings and platform will help inform a
study on the design and implementation of an appropriate building emissions performance
standard for homes. The homeowner engagement throughout the earlier phases outlined in this
study will also help raise awareness and build rapport amongst residents, facilitating future
conversations about a building emissions performance standard.
11 Canadian Environmental Law Association. October 2023. Report on Mandatory Building Performance
Standards.
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Implementation timeline
This section outlines the timelines for the various implementation activities. It focuses on preparation
and outreach activities of the Town. The Town’s activities will be complemented by activities of the
Region and other collaborators. Figure 3-1 outlines a potential high-level schedule for roll-out
based on the anticipated program schedule. It should be adjusted in response to actual program
delivery timelines.
Figure 3-1 Timeline of program implementation activities of the Town
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4. Program Budget
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4 Program Budget
4.1 Estimated delivery costs
This proposed budget is an estimate of the program’s operating and staff needs for a three-year
term, aligned with the initial phase of the York Region Greener Homes Program. By pooling
resources with other municipalities in York Region and collaborating, costs can be kept low for many
of the future program elements.
The short term program elements can be accomplished with existing staff time and budget. Medium
term actions, shown in Table 4-1, can utilize the Green Initiatives Reserve Fund as a funding source.
Table 4-1 Budget for Medium Term Program Components
Medium Term Program Components Estimated Budget ($/yr)
Aurora Retrofit Grant Program $50,000
TOTAL $50,000
4.2 Other funding sources for the Town
To support program costs, we identified potential alternative funding sources. Table 4-2 presents
each program’s funding potential, eligibility criteria and key considerations to meet the
requirements. Those avenues for alternative funding would require further analysis and may orient
some future program design decisions. They are presented from the highest potential fit to the
lowest.
Table 4-2 Alternative Funding Sources
Program Description Funding
available Eligibility Considerations
The Atmospheric
Fund
Grants for projects and
approaches that can
generate large-scale
carbon reduction in the
GTHA.
For design or
implementation of
climate policy solutions,
demonstration of new
and scalable approaches
to reduce emissions.
Maximum grant
not disclosed.
Previous grants
up to $300k.
Municipalities,
non-profits or
registered charity
are eligible.
Project must have
the potential to
scale across the
GTHA.
May require
justification about
financing programs
and services being
innovative.
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Intact Municipal
Resiliency
Grants
Initiatives that implement
proven adaptation
solutions, protecting the
community at large or
homeowners.
Up to $200k per
project.
Municipalities
eligible.
Specific adaptation
measures at the
homeowner level for
resilience to floods are
funded.
The program would
need to include home
flooding resilience
interventions.
Ontario Clean
Home Heating
Initiative
Residents in some
communities received
top-up incentives for
electric heat pumps.
$8.2M total
allocated in
2021 and 2023.
Up to $4,500 in
incentives per
applicant.
Residents are the
applicants, but
specific
municipalities
identified by the
Government of
Ontario.
Could enquire with the
government and/or
Enbridge (who
delivered the
incentives) to
understand if this
program could be
expanded/renewed.
Program Description Funding
available Eligibility Considerations
Canada
Community
Building Fund
Permanent source of
federal funding for local
infrastructure,
distributed through the
AMO.
Includes projects for
community energy
systems, resilience and
capacity-building.
Aurora receives
around $2M
yearly.
Funds already
allocated to
municipalities.
Funds are reserved for
infrastructure
investments.
If funds are not all
earmarked, it could be
explored if there is
flexibility to use it for
related initiatives that
are not strictly
municipal
infrastructure.
Greener
Neighbourhood
Pilot Program:
Sustainable
Buildings
Canada
Funds already awarded
for Market
Transformation Team,
for social housing
(including part 9 row
housing and MURBs).
$602k awarded N/A
Discussing with
Sustainable Buildings
Canada could help
understand their
funded project for part
9 row housing.
Some resources might
help with program
implementation.
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Appendices
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Appendix A: Current Provincial and Federal Funding Programs related to
Home Energy Retrofits
The following Table A-1 summarizes all the related funding programs offered by the federal and
provincial governments for home retrofits.
Table A-1 Current Provincial and Federal Funding Programs related to Home Energy Retrofits
Available programs Description
1. Home Renovation
Savings Program |
Save on Energy and
Enbridge
• Eligible measures include space and water heat pumps, smart thermostats,
solar PV and battery storage, insulation, air sealing, and energy efficient
windows and doors
• Certain rebates are only offered to projects that include two or more
upgrades
• Energy Assessments are required for two or more measures
2. Enbridge Sustain |
Enbridge
• Offers an energy-as-a-service solution with the turnkey installation, service
and maintenance of selected measures
• Eligible measures include geothermal, dual fuel systems (air source heat
pump and natural gas furnace), solar PV & EV chargers
3. Winterproofing
Program | Enbridge
• Offers income eligible homeowners and renters’ access to a home energy
assessment and the installation of energy efficient measures at no cost
• Eligible measures include wall, attic and basement insulation; draft proofing;
and smart thermostats
• Coordinates with the Energy Affordability Program (below) so selected
measures across the two programs can installed at the same time
4. Energy Affordability
Program | Save on
Energy
• Offers energy-saving products and services at no or low cost, depending on
a household’s circumstances and income
• Eligible costs the program covers may include the replacement of inefficient
appliances and the installation of insulation and draft-proofing, smart
thermostats, cold climate heat pump and free energy saving kits
• EnerGuide Assessments are required
5. Oil to Heat Pump
Affordability Program
| Natural Resources
Canada
• Offers a heat pump incentive of up to $10,000 to low to moderate income
(LMI) homeowners with oil as their primary heating fuel
• Recent changes have expanded the list of eligible heat pumps and increased
income eligibility to account for inflation
• Incentive is disbursed prior to installation
• Requires proof of purchasing heating oil (500L)
6. Canada Greener
Homes Affordability
Program | National
Resources Canada
• Expected to be announced in 2026
• Will support energy and emissions reductions in low-to-moderate income
households
Page 161 of 243
“NO DISCLAIMERS” POLICY
This report was prepared by Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors, an independent firm focused on the clean energy transition and
committed to quality, integrity and unbiased analysis and counsel. Our findings and recommendations are based on the best
information available at the time the work was conducted as well as our experts' professional judgment.
Dunsky is proud to stand by our work.
Page 162 of 243
Aurora Home Energy Retrofit Program Design StudyPresentation for Committee of the WholeMarch 2026Page 163 of 243
1.Recap the results of the Feasibility Study2.Presentthe Program Design Study3.Seek approval of the next steps from Council Today’s objectivesIntroductionHome Energy Retrofit ProgramA program to increase the rate of energy and emissions reductions through retrofits of low-rise homes. The program aims to fill gaps of existing programs and meet needs of Aurora residents. Support homeowners with low-incomeReduce GHG emissions in all Aurora homesPage 164 of 243
Energy Use in Homes in AuroraContextSpace heating60%Water heating18%Appliances13%Lighting4%Space cooling5%Natural gas67%Electricity21%Wood8%Other4%End Use of Energy in Aurora HomesFuel Type used in Aurora HomesHomes generate 37% of Aurora's emissions. Retrofit rates need to increase 4x to meet the Town's 2050 target.Page 165 of 243
Energy Poverty in AuroraContext Energy Poverty: Households spending >6% of their after-tax income on energy bills2021 Census of Population in Canada & Efficiency Canada, Community Level Energy Poverty Map | Tableau Public11%in energy poverty89% not in energy povertyRate of energy poverty in AuroraPage 166 of 243
Regional and Local Municipal Initiatives: •York Region is launching York Greener Homes online platform with home energy ratings and energy coaching services (much like Durham region). •Markham and Richmond Hill are undertaking a feasibility study. Financing for Retrofits: FCM is no longer offering municipalities funds for loan programs. Federal/Provincial Retrofit Programs: •The federal Greener Homes Loan Program ended. A low-to-moderate income program is expected imminently (which could include loans and/or incentives). Market Update since Feasibility StudyProgram Design Page 167 of 243
Program Phases RationaleProgram Design1. Short Term ActionsStart off with low-no cost value adds that leverage regional and utility programs. Collect data and advocate for growing support. Assess impact. Allocate resources.2. Medium Term InitiativesMake moderate investments to support low-income residents.Align partners3. Longer Term InitiativesCollaborate with others to build out a package of initiatives that further support Aurora's GHG targets.Page 168 of 243
Program Offering – Short Term (1-3 years)Program OfferingFocus on education and outreach to communitySupport the development and implementation of York Region Greener Homes ProgramCollaborate with municipal partners to further support the regional programAchievable through existing Town resources and budgetPage 169 of 243
Medium Term (3-5 years)•Staff to develop a retrofit grant program for income qualifying Aurora homeowners•Utilize the existing funds from the Green Initiatives Reserve Fund in a financially sustainable mannerProgram OfferingThis Photoby Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SAPage 170 of 243
Long TermContinued collaboration with municipal partners to develop:Program OfferingRetrofit incentives across York RegionFinancing programRegional building emissions performance standardsPage 171 of 243
ContactJanice AshworthSenior Consultantjanice.ashworth@dunsky.comTel: 514-504-9030 x4283Alex HillPartnerAlex.hill@dunsky.comTel: 514-504-9030 Page 172 of 243
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora
Committee of the Whole Report
No. PDS2 6 -0 20
Subject: Servicing Capacity Update
Prepared by: Lawrence Kuk, Manager of Development Planning
Department: Planning and Development Services
Date: March 10, 2026
Recommendation
1. That Report No. PDS26-020 be received; and
2. That a total of 577 persons worth of servicing capacity from developments as listed in
Appendix “A” be revoked; and
3. That a total of 855 persons worth of servicing capacity be assigned toward the list of
approved developments as shown in Appendix “B” within a three-year “use-it or lose-it”
timeframe; and
4. That staff be directed to prioritize the list of developments as listed in Appendix “C”
and provide servicing allocation should additional capacity become available.
Executive Summary
This report provides Council with an update on the Town’s available servicing capacity,
makes recommendations to revoke and assign servicing allocations towards
development proposals and prioritize future developments and provides clarification to
the York Region’s 2025 Servicing Capacity Assignment report.
There is 998 persons worth of allocation to support future developments until
York Region Infrastructure upgrades are completed in 2028-2030.
Recommendation to revoke 577 persons worth of servicing capacity to increase
the Town’s total servicing capacity from 998 to 1,575 persons.
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March 10, 2026 2 of 8 Report No. PDS26-020
Staff recommends allocating 855 persons worth of servicing towards 5
development ready projects provided they are utilized within a 3 year “use-it or
lose-it” timeframe.
Deferring servicing allocation for other approved development projects to align
with Regional Infrastructure (2028-2030).
No immediate servicing was assigned by York Region in the 2025 report
Building permits and plan registrations may be released 12 to 18 months before
the completion of Phase 1 of the North York Durham Sewage System Expansion
project.
North York Durham Sewage System Expansion Phase 2 has no development
timeframe and may require developer-financing arrangements.
Actual housing completion does not align with York Region’s servicing
assignment or Town Council approvals.
Bonusing Servicing Assignment for rental development projects are not available
for the N6 Community.
Background
As the upper-tier servicing authority, York Region manages the Water and Wastewater
capacity by delivering a lump sum amount of servicing capacity to each of the 9 local
municipalities in York Region. Through local Council approval, servicing capacity is
assigned towards individual development applications. Historically, servicing constraint
in the Town of Aurora is a result of a lack of Regional water and wastewater
infrastructure. To relieve this pressure, York Region’s Servicing Capacity Assignment
report dated December 4, 2025, confirmed that the first phase of the North York Durham
Sewage System Expansion project to upgrade existing infrastructures and new
servicing stations is approved under the Region’s long-term planning.
York Region Servicing Capacity Assignment History
The following is a summary of York Region’s water and wastewater servicing capacity
assignment from the past 5 years related to residential developments. Non-Residential
development including commercial, employment and institutional developments are not
included in this tracking.
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March 10, 2026 3 of 8 Report No. PDS26-020
2021 York Region Assignment
In 2021, the Region made a modest additional assignment for Aurora, equivalent
to 333 persons of capacity. These smaller assignments were part of incremental
capacity releases while the debate between long‑term solutions such as the
Upper York Sewage Solutions and York Durham Sewage System (YDSS)
upgrades remained unresolved.
2023 York Region Assignment
In 2023, York Region assigned 1,333 persons of capacity to the Town of Aurora,
an additional 738 persons worth of capacity is contingent on the completion of
North YDSS Expansion Phase 1 (set to be completed in 2028-2030).
2024 York Region Servicing Incentive Program (SIP)
In 2024, two approved residential subdivision Manziana Builders (BT) Corp.
(2016) and Coppervalley Estates Inc. (2017) completed the York Region Servicing
Incentive Program (SIP) which provided the Town of Aurora with an additional
139 persons worth of capacity.
2025 York Region Assignment
In 2025, York Region assigned 7,929 persons worth of capacity to the Town of
Aurora. All of which is tied to the completion of the North YDSS Expansion Phase
1 which is set to be completed in 2028–2030.
The following is a snapshot of the servicing capacity assignment in 2023 and 2025 in
comparison with local partners with similar servicing infrastructure constraints. York
Region has equally distributed servicing between the three local municipalities.
Servicing Capacity Assignment from York Region
2023
Capacity
Assignment
Pending
on
Upgrades
Actual
in 2023
2025
Capacity
Assignment
Pending
on
Upgrades
Actual
in 2025
Total
(2023 -
2025)
Aurora 2071 738 1333 7929 7929 0 10,000
East
Gwillimbury
1333 0 1333 8667 8667 0 10,000
Newmarket 7767 6433 1334 2233 2233 0 10,000
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March 10, 2026 4 of 8 Report No. PDS26-020
Definitions and Terms
Allocated
The term “Allocated” refers to development projects where municipal servicing capacity
has been formally assigned, and the development has been registered. For example,
the Plan of Subdivision has been registered with the Registry Office, the Site Plan
Agreement has been registered on title or a Consent application has received the
Certificate of Official. Typically, building permits follow closely after the registration
process, as such, for servicing tracking purposes, Planning Staff use this milestone to
consider servicing allocation to be “used”.
Committed
The term “Committed” from a servicing capacity perspective refers to situations where
servicing has been identified and reserved for a development at the time of its planning
approval. For example, at the time of Draft Plan of Subdivision, Site Plan Approval and
Consent, a condition is in place to confirm the availability of servicing. In these cases,
servicing is considered committed but not yet allocated and, according to Town’s
Official Plan policies, may be revoked if there is no action that has been taken place
within 3 years of the planning approval. However, where servicing was allocated in
minutes of settlement for developments that were approved by the Tribunal , the
servicing capacity cannot be revoked without breaching the terms of the minutes of
settlement.
Anticipated
The term “Anticipated” refers to development applications that have received planning
approval but municipal servicing capacity has not been assigned.
Analysis
There is 998 persons worth of allocation to support future developments until York
Region Infrastructure upgrades are completed in 2028-2030.
To date, the Town of Aurora has utilized the vast majority of its servicing capacity, with
5,460 persons worth of servicing firmly committed towards approved developments.
This leaves the Town with a remaining balance of 998 persons worth of servicing
capacity, which is equivalent to approximately 314 single detached dwellings. The Town
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March 10, 2026 5 of 8 Report No. PDS26-020
needs to manage the remaining 998 persons worth until the next phase of York Region
Infrastructure is completed in 2028-2030.
Recommendation to revoke 577 persons worth of servicing capacity to increase the
Town’s total servicing capacity from 998 to 1,575 persons.
To relieve some immediate servicing pressure, Staff is proposing that Town Council
revoke servicing allocations from inactive developments as detailed in Appendix “A” of
this report. In total, 3 approved developments have been identified with no significant
progress over the past 3 years and 1 development proposed to have servicing revoked
due to orderly development. If this recommendation is approved by Town Council, the
Town’s servicing capacity will increase by 577 persons for a total of 1,575 persons
worth of servicing.
Staff recommends allocating 855 persons worth of servicing towards 5 development
ready projects provided they are utilized within a 3 year “use-it or lose-it” timeframe.
To balance development progress with current capacity constraints, Staff recommend
that Town Council allocate servicing to development ready projects as listed in
Appendix “B” of this report. This represents a total allocation of 855 persons worth of
servicing across five priority projects and would be subject to a three-year “use it or lose
it” provision as per the Town’s Official Plan policy. Should a project remain incomplete
by 2029, the servicing will revert to the Town for redistribution.
Deferring servicing allocation for other approved development projects to align with
Regional Infrastructure (2028-2030)
There are remaining approved development projects anticipated for servicing allocation,
representing a total servicing need of 3,736 persons, as detailed in Appendix “C”. Due to
project inactivity and/or pending technical reviews, servicing allocation can be
considered later. This timeline aligns with the anticipated completion of required York
Region infrastructure upgrades, scheduled between 2028 and 2030.
No immediate servicing was assigned by York Region in the 2025 report
Although, the Town of Aurora has been assigned an additional 7,929 persons worth of
servicing allocation, this is subject to the completion of Phase 1 – North York Durham
Sewage System (YDSS) in 2028-2030. As such, York Region provided no new servicing
assignment towards immediate developments. This similar clause was applied in the
2023 servicing capacity assignment which is only applicable to the Town of Aurora,
Newmarket and East Gwillimbury.
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March 10, 2026 6 of 8 Report No. PDS26-020
Building permits and plan registrations may be released 12 to 18 months before the
completion of Phase 1 of the York Durham Sewage System.
A significant portion of Aurora's growth depends on the North YDSS Expansion Phase 1,
which is currently in the detailed design phase and expected to be commissioned in
2028. This expansion includes critical components such as the Aurora Sewage
Pumping Station (SPS) Gravity Sewer Twinning. For developments relying on this Phase
1 capacity, building permits and plan registrations must wait until the Region officially
releases the capacity, which is anticipated to occur roughly 12 to 18 months before the
project's completion.
North York Durham Sewage System Expansion Phase 2 has no development timeframe
and may require developer-financing arrangements.
Following Phase 1, further infrastructure investment is essential to accommodate
Aurora’s evolution to align with the Town’s population projection as dictated in the
Town’s approved Official Plan. Similar to our neighbouring municipalities, future growth
will rely on the delivery of Phase 2. As a timeline for this phase has not been
established, a future discussion at York Region and Town Council will be necessary to
determine a viable financial strategy and funding arrangement.
Actual housing completion does not align with York Region’s servicing assignment or
Town Council approvals.
While the Region has assigned capacity to help meet 2031 Provincial housing targets
and local Council has been approving development projects to meet the Provincial
Housing Targets, due to the current state of the economy, actual housing completions
across York Region in recent years (2020–2024) have been significantly lower than the
annual rates required by those targets.
Bonusing Servicing Assignment for Rental development projects are not available for the
N6 Community.
Regarding the York Region Report, it is important to clarify that servicing capacity
incentive for rental development is currently unavailable to the N6 Community due to
existing servicing constraints.
Page 178 of 243
March 10, 2026 7 of 8 Report No. PDS26-020
Advisory Committee Review
No Communication Required
Legal Considerations
As per the policies of the Town's Official Plan, Council may revoke the municipal
servicing capacity in whole or in part. Where servicing was allocated in minutes of
settlement for developments that were approved by the Tribunal, the servicing capacity
cannot be revoked without breaching the terms of the minutes of settlement.
Financial Implications
There are no financial implications as a result of this report.
Communications Considerations
No Communication Required.
Climate Change Considerations
The recommendations from this report does not impact greenhouse gas emissions or
impact climate change adaption.
Link to Strategic Plan
The recommendations from this report will support the Strategic Plan goal of
Supporting an exceptional quality of life for all through its accomplishment in the
following key objectives:
Strengthening the fabric of our community: To ensure future growth includes housing
opportunities for everyone.
Supporting an exceptional quality of life for all: Advocate for the improvement of key
Regional and Provincial infrastructure.
Alternative(s) to the Recommendation
1. Council to provide further direction.
Page 179 of 243
March 10, 2026 8 of 8 Report No. PDS26-020
Conclusions
Planning and Development Services will continue to monitor the Town’s development
approval and registration records in order to ensure the Town has sufficient amount of
servicing capacity to meet its demands. Staff will report back to Council of the next
formal servicing assignment or update from York Region to initiate further discussion
on future allocations.
Attachments
Appendix A – Proposed List of Development to Revoke Servicing Allocation
Appendix B – Proposed Servicing Allocation Assignment
Appendix C – List of Approved Developments without Servicing to Prioritize
Previous Reports
PDS23-122, Additional Information to Report PDS23-109 and Servicing Allocation
Update, September 26, 2023
Pre-submission Review
Agenda Management Team review on February 19, 2026
Approvals
Approved by Marco Ramunno, Director, Planning and Development Services
Approved by Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer
Page 180 of 243
Appendix A – Proposed List of Development to Revoke Servicing Allocation
File Numbers Applicant Name Address Unit Type Allocation
(persons)
Single Towns Apartment
SP-2021-10; ZBA-2021-05 Shimvest Investments 271 Holladay Drive 147 251
SP-2017-05; ZBA-2017-06
The Planning
Partnership (Readman
House)
15356 Yonge Street
35 60
SP-2021-07; ZBA-2021-03 Alive Developments 15296, 15306, 15314
Yonge Street 136 233
SUB-2023-01, ZBA-2023-01 1626238 Ontario Inc. 326 Old Bloomington
Road 10 0 33
577 Persons
328 Units
Page 181 of 243
Appendix B – Proposed Servicing Allocation Assignment
File Numbers Applicant Name Address Unit Type Allocation
(persons)
Single Towns Apartment
ZBA-2021-08 200 Wellington Holding Corp 200 Wellington Street West 27 73
ZBA-2025-06 Aurora - Lesile Developments
Limited
25 and 55 Addison Hall
Circle 201 541
ZBA-2024-05 Armis Holding Inc. 511 Wellington Street W 114 195
ZBA-2024-09 Totetra Meats Ltd. 14 and 18 Wellington Street
E 15 26
ZBA-2024-07 Town of Aurora 115 George Street 6 20
855 Persons
363 Units
Page 182 of 243
Appendix C –List of Approved Developments without Servicing to Prioritize
File Numbers Applicant Name Address Unit Type Allocation
(persons)
Single Towns Apartment
ZBA-2021-04 Smart Centres REIT – Phase 2 14700 – 14760 Yonge
Street 8 412 726
ZBA-2019-03 Bing Rong He & Kai Ping Shen 15385 and 15395 Bayview
Avenue 15 40
SP-2020-13 IMH 145 and 147 Wellington
Ltd.
145 and 147 Wellington
Street W 56 151
ZBA-2024-03 PARCEL Inc. 14070 Yonge Street 93 213*
ZBA-2020-06 2300485 and 2333564 Ontario
Inc. 25 and 29 George Street 25 43
ZBA-2022-02 2697331 Ontario Inc. 1289 Wellington Street E 8 40 698 1327
ZBA-2024-02 894809 Ontario Ltd. 180 Wellington Street W 948 1236**
3736 Persons
2303 Units
*Through the minutes of settlement at the Tribunal, the original development approval assigned a total of 37 persons
worth of allocation that will be transfer to the latest development. Thus, the required allocation of 250 to service the
approved 93 Townhouse units will actual only require 213 persons worth.
**Through the minutes of settlement at the Tribunal, the original development approval assigned a total of 385 persons
worth of allocation that will be transfer to the latest development. Thus, the requ ired allocation of 1621 to service 948 units
will actual only require 1236 persons worth.
Page 183 of 243
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora
Committee of the Whole Report
No. PDS2 6 -021
Subject: Request for Sign By-law Authorization for Third Party Digital Signage
– Jolt Charge Inc. – 14751 Yonge Street
Prepared by: William Jean, Manager – Building Division/CBO
Department: Planning and Development Services
Date: March 10, 2026
Recommendation
1. That Report No. PDS26-021 be received; and
2. That the request for authorization of a third party digital sign on an EV charging
station located at 14751 Yonge Street be denied.
Executive Summary
The purpose of this report is to consider the request from Jolt Charge Inc. to erect Third
Party signage on a proposed EV charging station at 14751 Yonge Street. Third Party
advertising is prohibited under the Sign By-law. If approved, it would set a precedent for
future such request.
Proposed digital signage on the proposed EV charging station with Third
Party advertising may not meet all the evaluation criteria of the Sign By-law.
The requested variance would set a community precedent for permitting
Third Party advertising in the Town if approved.
Background
The applicant is requesting permission to install a LED Digital signage on the proposed
EV charging station at 14751 Yonge Street. This type of sign is deemed to be a
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March 10, 2026 2 of 6 Report No. PDS26-021
“Dynamic Sign” and a “Third Party Sign” as defined under the Sign By-law. The following
are the definitions:
“Dynamic sign” shall mean a sign created, designed, manufactured or modified in
such way that its display message can change from time to time manually,
electronically or using other mechanism but does not include a mobile sign;
“Third Party Sign” shall mean a sign erected and maintained to advertise, market
or promote a business, product, service or activity not conducted or produced,
sold, stored or assembled within the building or upon the lot or premises on
which the sign is erected and does not include off-site residential development
sign or a sign advertising a special event.
Third Party signs are not permitted under the Sign By-law, unless authorized by Council.
Analysis
Proposed digital signage on the EV charging station with Third Party advertising may not
meet all the evaluation criteria of the Sign By-law.
Section 5.2 of the Sign By-law, states that signs shall not be illuminated in such a way
that either the sign or the method of illumination creates a hazard or a nuisance. Where
a sign is permitted to be illuminated, the method of illumination shall comply with the
provisions contained within section 6 of this by-law.
The Sign By-law sets out certain Evaluation Criteria that are to be taken into account
when providing an authorization request to Council such as
1. Physical difficulties:
2. Consistency with the architectural features of the building:
3. Consistency with the character of the neighbourhood:
4. No adverse impact to the adjacent property or general public:
5. Adherence to Corporate Branding:
6. Impact on safety, traffic, and accessibility:
7. Result in greater convenience to the public:
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March 10, 2026 3 of 6 Report No. PDS26-021
The proposed EV charge consists of two sign faces on either side of the unit with an
aggregated sign face of 4.04 square meters. The signage will be perpendicular to Yonge
Street facing north and south. The height of the unit is 2.6 meters. The sign will display
third party advertising. Each advertisement has a 10-second dwell time with
instantaneous transitions. The displays are static and do not contain movement or
animation. Attachment 1 submitted by the applicant states their position on the issue.
Prohibiting third-party signage on electric vehicle (EV) charging stations is generally
rooted in concerns regarding urban aesthetics, safety, and operational clarity. Many
municipalities restrict these advertisements to avoid visual clutter and reduce driver
distraction.
Key rationales for prohibiting third-party signage include:
Minimizing Visual Clutter and Proliferation: Municipalities often discourage the
spread of electronic advertising to maintain the aesthetic character of
surrounding areas, limiting the proliferation of digital and illuminated screens.
Preventing Driver Distraction: The primary purpose of an EV charger is to provide
service. Third-party advertising, particularly digital, animated, or flashing displays,
can distract drivers in high-traffic or public areas, raising public safety concerns.
Full LED digital signs had started in large cities in and around 2007. The Sign By-law
was approved by Council on March 21, 2017 which permits Dynamic Signs. The Sign By-
law anticipated this form of digital signage and regulations regarding digital signs were
introduced.
The applicant has provided a Planning Rational Report which is attached as Attachment
1. According to the proposal, several municipalities currently permit third-party digital
signage on EV charging stations. Currently Jolt has three units operating in Toronto
(with one under construction), two in Pickering, and two in Mississauga (with another
underway). They have also received a permit in Hamilton and secured two approvals in
Ottawa.
With regards to Jolt’s Planning criteria report, staff are in concurrence with the proposal
with respect to meeting the evaluation criteria with the exception of criteria 7, impact on
safety, traffic and accessibility. Based on staff research, studies on whether digital
billboards are a distraction to motorists yield conflicting results, with significant debate
between research supported by the advertising industry and that cited by traffic safety
advocacy groups. While some industry-funded studies suggest digital signs are "safety
Page 186 of 243
March 10, 2026 4 of 6 Report No. PDS26-021
neutral" or do not create unsafe levels of distraction, other studies indicate they do draw
driver attention away from the road for potentially risky durations.
In the past Council has denied such a request, specifically, at 15820 Bayview Avenue
where a proposed LED digital sign attached to a proposed telecommunication tower
was to be used as Third party Advertising. This proposal was denied by Council on
November 28, 2023.
Staff is of the opinion that the proposed LED Digital third party signage may not meet
the Evaluation Criteria with regards to traffic safety. Based on this evaluation criteria, it
is recommended the proposed third party sign request be denied.
The request would set a community precedent for permitting dynamic third party
advertising if approved.
If the request is approved, it would set a precedent for the community to permit
illuminated third party signs and would encourage other commercial properties to apply
using the same process. Furthermore, it would encourage large third party signs, such
as digital billboards.
Advisory Committee Review
Not applicable
Legal Considerations
Pursuant to Section 3.6 of the Sign By-law, signs are not permitted in Town unless they
advertise or provide information with respect to a use that is permitted on such
property. Subsection 3.6(c) sets out an exception for third party signs that are permitted
by Council. As the applicant is proposing a sign that will provide dynamic third party
advertisement, Council authorization is being requested. Council has the authority to
approve or deny this request, and such a decision would be final without further right to
appeal.
Financial Implications
There are no financial implications as a result of this report.
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March 10, 2026 5 of 6 Report No. PDS26-021
Communications Considerations
There are no communications considerations.
Climate Change Considerations
EV charging stations supports the transition towards sustainable options by providing
comparable accessibility for electric vehicles uses instead of conventional refueling.
Link to Strategic Plan
This report supports the Strategic Plan goal of Support an Exceptional Quality of life for
All by reviewing and identifying safety matters
Alternative(s) to the Recommendation
1. That Council approve the request for the third-party sign as set out in the report and
the provided proposal, subject to the applicant obtaining a Sign Permit and
maintaining the sign in accordance with the proposal.
Conclusions
The applicant has proposed a third party advertisement sign on the subject property,
which requires Council authorization. Staff is of the opinion that the proposed LED
Digital third party signage may not meet the Evaluation Criteria with regards to safety
and may pose a hazard. Therefore, it is recommended the proposed third party sign
request be denied. If approved, it would set a precedent for the community to permit
this type of dynamic third party signs and would encourage other commercial properties
to apply using the same process. Furthermore, it would encourage large third party
signs such as digital billboards.
Attachments
Attachment 1 – Jolt Charge Inc. Planning Rationale Report
Attachment 2 – EVA 3.0 Technical Specifications
Previous Reports
None.
Page 188 of 243
March 10, 2026 6 of 6 Report No. PDS26-021
Pre-submission Review
Agenda Management Team review on February 19, 2026
Approvals
Approved by Marco Ramunno, Director, Planning and Development Services
Approved by Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer
Page 189 of 243
JOLT Charge Inc
66 Wellington Street West,
5300, TD Bank Tower,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5K 1E6
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Building Division
100 John West Way, Box 1000
Aurora, ON
L4G 6J1
November 24, 2025
Re: JOLT Free Public EV Charging Station
Third Party Sign Variance Application – 14751 Yonge Street, Aurora, ON
Dear Town of Aurora Staff,
In support of a request seeking approvals for the installation of a fast, free, and clean electric vehicle
(“EV”) charging station at 14751 Yonge Street, Aurora, ON, we are pleased to submit this application
requesting a variance to the Town of Aurora’s Council.
Background and Project Context
JOLT was established in 2018 with a mission to accelerate the global move to electric, and we are already
leading the charge. JOLT’s vision is universal, equitable access to free, fast, and clean public charging -
charging that’s built to last, strategically positioned to be exactly where drivers need them to be.
Our world-leading Level 3 DC fast EV charging stations combine state-of-the-art, digital out-of-home
media technology with innovative urban design and free, DC fast charging for an exceptional charging
experience. We partner with local businesses, municipa lities, and regional governments across the globe
to deliver chargers that provide a best-in-class experience for our customers and our partners. We
pioneered the roadside advertising-funded, free EV charging model that resonates with like-minded
brands, commercial partners, and communities. We are proud to be powering cleaner, greener cities for
the people of today and tomorrow.
Some of the benefits of JOLT chargers include:
• Zero cost to cities and landowners. JOLT builds, operates, and maintains chargers at no cost.
• 7 kWh of free DC fast charging per day per customer, saving EV owners up to $1100 per year 1.
• 79% of all charging sessions are provided completely free of charge to customers 2
• Average yearly GHG offset of 20.04 metric tons of CO2 per charger 3
• Integrates well with existing parking policies and systems.
It is estimated that 1 million EVs will be on Ontario’s roads by the year 2030. The critical infrastructure
proposed will help to meet the demand, helping to drive the adoption of EVs, support the reduction of
greenhouse gas emissions, align with Aurora’s climate and sustainability goals, and ensure that the shift to
zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) is accessible and equitable. This represents a substantial investment and
commitment to the Town of Aurora’s community over the life of this project.
Proposed Charger and Sign
The sign that is the subject of this application is defined by the Sign By-law as a Third-Party Sign with
electronic static copy. However, the primary purpose of this unit is an EV charging station, designed to
provide the public with fast, free, and clean energy for electric vehicles. Photos of installed stations in
1 Based on 365 free charges of 7kWh at a delivered price of $0.46 per kWh
2 JOLT network data, 2023
3 Estimated 358 gm CO2/mile based off a 24 MPG gasoline burning car, estimated 3.07 miles per kWh, and JOLT 2023
network average of 18.23MW delivered per charger - Source: https://nyseg.chooseev.com/carbon/
Attachment 1 Page 190 of 243
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other jurisdictions are seen in Appendix A.
The delivery of this vital service is offset by third party advertising, and it is for this reason that this
variance application is before Town of Aurora’s Staff and Council.
Further to the Sign By-law, the subject signs’ attributes are as follows:
- EV Charger containing two sign faces on either side of the unit, each x meters in length by
1.2meters in width (5.5’ x 3.9’) for an aggregate sign face area of 4.04 square meters (individual
sign face area = 2.02 square meters);
- Sign located on Yonge Street, facing North and South;
- At a height not exceeding 2.603 meters (6.75’);
- Displaying third party, electronic static copy;
- Integrated ambient light sensor that automatically dims the screen in overcast weather and at
night.
-
Figure 1: Mock Up of Proposed Charger on Subject Site
Subject Site and Land Use Compatibility
The subject site zoned C4 is located along Yonge Street, featuring approximately 55 meters of frontage
and containing two commercial businesses—a dental clinic and a gym—making the property suitable for
commercial use and consistent with areas designated as appropriate for third -party signage. The
immediate area is characterized by similar commercial uses to the north and south along Yonge Street, as
discussed further in the rationale.
The proposed charger will be setback approximately 24 meters from the existing primary pylon sign and
will be installed in an underutilized area adjacent to the last parking space on the south side of the site.
This location was carefully selected to ensure that the charging station does not encroach upon any
existing parking spaces. Figure 2 illustrates the proposed location on the subject site is provided below.
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Figure 2: Aerial View of Subject Site and Proposed Location of EV Charging Station
The proposed JOLT EV charger is well suited to this property and the surrounding area, complementing
the existing commercial, retail and other amenity uses. The charger provides an added benefit for the
site's customers by offering convenient EV charging while they frequent the businesses on the subject
site. The free charging station will enhance the property's ability to meet regional service demands and
attract clients looking for accessible charging opportunities while visiting the property. Furthermore, the
proposed charger will act as a destination attractor with JOLT users frequenting charging hubs their daily
free charging allotment. Since the charger is proposed to be situated within a commercial area, it is
expected to contribute to local economic stimulation through incremental daily spend at local businesses
on while residents and visitors charge their vehicles.
The format is the same size as transit shelters with third party advertising, currently deployed all types
of areas throughout York Region as referenced in Figure 3 and 4. The smaller format of the proposed
digital screens makes the ancillary signage a modest and contextually appropriate addition to the site.
Figure 3: Digital Transit Shelters in York Region – Major Mackenzie Dr. W and Dufferin St.
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Figure 4: Digital Transit Shelters in York Region – Yonge St and Carville Rd, Richmond Hill
The Proposed Is Consistent with the Architectural Feature of the Site
As illustrated in Figure 5, the subject site has recently undergone significant renovation and now exhibits a
contemporary architectural character. The proposed electric vehicle (EV) charger has been designed to
maintain consistency with the architectural features of the site. Its modern, streamlined form and high-
quality materials are compatible with the existing built environment, ensuring visual coherence and
integration. As referenced in Figure 6, the proposed installation will complement the site’s design intent
without detracting from the overall streetscape. The charger’s unobtrusive profile and refined aesthetic
will prevent visual clutter, ensuring that the installation contributes positively to the public realm while
fulfilling its functional role as essential urban infrastructure.
Figure 5: Streetview Photo Of The Subject Site
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Figure 6: Design Of The Proposed Ev Charger With Display
The proposed signage is essential for clearly identifying the availability of publicly accessible electric
vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure on the site in a dynamic and effective manner. The Town of Aurora,
like many municipalities, is actively pursuing initiatives to reduce carbon emissions and promote
sustainable development practices. Electric vehicles and their associated charging infrastructure form a
critical component of this broader environmental strategy. With the increasing adoption of EVs, it is vital
that drivers can readily locate charging facilities. The inclusion of an additional ground sign on the
property will enhance the visibility of the EV charging station, improving accessibility and user
convenience. For these reasons, the proposal is considered consistent with the character of the site and
surrounding area and will not result in any adverse visual or contextual impacts.
The Proposed Is Consistent with the Character of the Neighborhood
The proposed EV charging station is to be located along the frontage of Yonge Street, a primary
commercial arterial within the Town of Aurora. This section of Yonge Street is characterized by a
continuous mix of retail, service, and commercial uses, making it an appropriate and compatible location
for the introduction of EV charging infrastructure and associated third -party display elements. Figures 5–
10 illustrate the established commercial context along this corridor.
Notably, at the northeast corner of the nearest intersection, as shown in Figure 7, an existing gas station
provides fuel services for conventional, gasoline-powered vehicles. The ready availability of such facilities
highlights the need to ensure equitable access to energy infrastructure for all vehicle types. The
installation of the proposed EV charging station in this location supports the transition toward sustainable
transportation options by providing comparable accessibility for electric vehicle users where conventional
refueling options are already present.
Directly south of the subject site is a Shoppers Drug Mart and a Gas Station, commercial in nature.
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Figure 7: Streetview Of The Property Directly South Of The Subject Site
To the west of the subject site shown in Figures 8-11 and across the street is the Aurora Shopping Centre
with large commercial businesses including No Frills, Staples, Dollarama, The Beer Store, The Source, Bulk
Barn and other businesses, commercial in nature.
Figure 8: Streetview Of The Property Directly West Of The Subject Site
Figure 9: Streetview Of The Property Directly West Of The Subject Site
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Figure 10: Streetview Of The Property Directly West Of The Subject Site
To the north of the subject site and adjacent to is another multi business building containing a Popeyes,
RBC Bank, Sushi restaurant, Life Labs and an addiction services office, commercial in nature, shown in
Figure 11.
Figure 11: Streetview Of The Property Directly North Of The Subject Site
To the east of the subject site and located behind the existing building with a buffer of dense vegetation,
is a former school property that has recently been decommissioned, as well as a building occupied by an
engineering firm, as shown in Figure 12. Both properties front onto different streets and are separated
from the subject site by intervening roads, buildings, and natural screening, which together create
effective physical and visual barriers.
While schools are typically considered sensitive land uses, the closure of the school means the property
no longer functions in that capacity. Given the existing separation, surrounding built form, and transition in
land use, Jolt submits that the properties to the east are not in close proximity to the subject site and are
instead part of a distinct area that will not be adversely affected by the proposed.
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Figure 12: Streetview Of The Properties Directly East Of The Subject Site
The character of this section of Yonge Street is distinctly commercial in nature and in zoning. The
introduction of the proposed EV charging station on the subject site will not alter this established
character; rather, it will complement it. The integrated signage component may even support local
businesses by providing opportunities for commercial visibility within a corridor already defined by such
activity.
Third-party signage will not negatively impact an area that is purely commercial, as these environments
are inherently characterized by high levels of visual communication and advertising. In commercial
districts, signage is both expected and integral to t he urban fabric, serving the needs of local enterprises
and external advertisers alike without disrupting the area’s established function or visual coherence. The
inclusion of additional third-party signs in such a context typically reinforces the existing aesthetic rather
than introducing incongruous visual elements. Moreover, commercial zones are intentionally planned and
regulated to accommodate business promotion; thus, the proposed signage aligns with the intended land
use and economic purpose of the area. Provided that all applicable regulations regarding size, placement,
and illumination are met, the proposed signage will enhance advertising opportunities while maintaining
the visual integrity and land use harmony of this commercial corridor.
The Proposed Will Not Adversely Impact To Adjacent Property Or General Public
The light shed data shown and discussed below, directly from our electronic sign manufacturer LG -MRI,
illustrates how light is horizontally dispersed from the proposed digital faces to be installed. The perimeter
of the red polygon shapes that are shown in the Figures 13 and 14 below, demonstrate that the distance of
light dispersed decreases dramatically when measuring light distance travelled laterally (when looked at
from the side edges of the digital face, examples: 20 degrees, 40 degrees, 60 degrees, 8 0 degrees)
compared to light distance travelled measured when looking at the display face dead -on (0 degrees).
Light is not dispersed equally in a perfect radial circle, rather, the cone of light emitted directionally, and
has negligible impact beyond 50 meters.
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Figure 13: LG-MRI Lux table for 75” Screen
Figure 14: Light Shed Diagram for the Proposed Charger on Yonge Street
Figure 14 demonstrates that the proposed development will have no impact on sensitive land uses in terms
of illumination or light shed. There is no residential zoning in the immediate vicinity, and the light emitted
from the displays is not expected to extend onto neighboring properties. This ensures that the proposed
development will not result in any adverse effects on adjacent land uses.
The Proposed Shall Not Adversely Impact on Safety, Traffic and Accessibility
The proposed EV charging station will be set back approximately 76 meters from the signalized
intersection at Yonge Street and Edward Street. At this distance, the setback is appropriate and ensures
the safety of both vehicular traffic and pedestrians at the intersection. For context, the City of Toronto
requires third-party signs to be set back a minimum of 30 meters from signalized intersections and stop
lines. The proposed setback is therefore more than double the distance required by these standards.
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On-site, the proposed charger will be located approximately 1 meter from the property line, within an
underutilized portion of the lot. This placement is consistent with the form and orientation of the existing
first-party sign on the property, as shown in Figure 15. From the property line to the roadway, there is a
distance of approximately 7.45 meters, providing a buffer between the roadway and the proposed
charger. This results in a total setback of roughly 10 meters from the charger to the edge of the r oadway.
The substantial distance between the property line and the roadway creates a natural buffer that
enhances both vehicular and pedestrian safety. Given the unique layout of the property, this total setback
is considered appropriate and sufficient.
Figure 15: Aerial View Of First Party Sign In Line With Proposed Charger
Figure 16: Aerial View From York Regional Land Information Indicating Property Line In Relation To
Setback To Yonge Street Roadway
The proposed electric vehicle (EV) charging station, which includes a component for third -party
messaging, has been carefully designed and positioned to ensure it does not interfere with the safe and
efficient movement of vehicles within the site. The installation will be setback approximately 16 meters
from the ingress and egress points, providing ample distance to maintain clear sightlines and unobstructed
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circulation for vehicles entering or exiting the premises. This setback ensures that the EV charging station
will not impede traffic flow or create congestion within drive aisles, parking areas, or access points.
Additionally, the proposed location allows for convenient accessibility to users while maintaining
compliance with applicable zoning, safety, and transportation design standards. The placement has been
selected to balance functionality and visibility without compromising the operational efficiency, safety, or
aesthetic quality of the surrounding commercial environment.
The Proposed Shall Result In Greater Convenience To The Public
JOLT’s EV charging stations are designed with a focus on innovation, site sensitivity, and user experience,
ensuring maximum compatibility with adjacent land uses, both existing and planned. Their compact and
aesthetically pleasing design minimizes visual impact, preserving the character of the surrounding area.
To mitigate potential adverse impacts, the stations provide highly reliable, fast charging services, including
free charging and predictive wait-time features, reducing congestion and enhancing conv enience for
users. Through state-of-the-art technology and user-friendly design, JOLT chargers demonstrate both
creativity and sensitivity, meeting community needs while promoting sustainable transportation solutions.
JOLT has taken substantial measures to minimize impacts and explore alternative solutions. The chargers
automatically dim under low-light and nighttime conditions and do not host video or animated messaging,
thereby reducing potential effects on surroundin g properties and traffic. The chargers are of the same
make, model, size, and format as existing digital transit shelter advertising installations in municipalities
such as Oakville, Toronto, Mississauga, and Vaughan. The inclusion of third -party signage is essential to
fund the provision of free charging services, which is increasingly important given the rising costs of
public EV charging and the limited availability of DC fast chargers in Aurora.
The absence of the proposed variance would create a clear hardship, as the community would remain
underserved in terms of EV charging infrastructure. JOLT’s proposal strikes a balance between delivering
a necessary public amenity and supporting the broader goals of urban development in Aurora,
demonstrating a reasonable and justified effort to address community needs while mitigating potential
impacts.
Approval of this application to install a JOLT EV charging station at the subject site will provide significant
net benefits to the community. By offering free, fast EV charging, the project addresses the current lack of
accessible EV infrastructure in Aurora, facilitating electric vehicle adoption, reducing greenhouse gas
emissions, and supporting the town’s sustainability objectives. Third-party signage is a critical component
enabling this infrastructure, as it generates the ancillary revenue needed to p rovide free public charging.
This approach delivers an essential public amenity at no cost to users or landowners, enhancing
accessibility to EV charging within the town.
As illustrated below, there are currently no publicly accessible Level 3 chargers in Aurora, according to
ChargeHub data. While the Figure below shows two Level 3 chargers under construction, they are located
significantly farther from the proposed site. This demonstrates a critical gap in Level 3 charging
infrastructure. The proposed installation will address this deficiency, providing substantia l community
benefits and encouraging broader adoption of electric vehicles.
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Figure 17: Aerial View of Aurora From Charge Hub Showing Level 3 Charging Infrastructure In Relation
To The Proposed.
Environmental Policy Context and Impact
The installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure directly supports and aligns with the Town
of Aurora’s established sustainability and climate action objectives. Transportation remains one of the
largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions within the community, and the Town has committed to an
80% reduction in emissions by 2050. Expanding access to EV charging stations is a practical and
measurable step toward achieving this target, as it enables and encourages the transition to zero -emission
vehicles. The Town’s Electric Vehicle Charging Station Policy and Energy Conservation and Demand
Management Plan both emphasize the integration of EV infrastructure into municipal operations, ensuring
that new facilities and parking areas are designed t o accommodate clean transportation options.
Furthermore, Aurora’s Green Development Standards require that new residential and commercial
developments include EV-ready parking spaces, reinforcing the community’s long-term vision for
sustainable growth. By providing accessible public charging stations, the Town not only advances its
environmental goals but also strengthens community resilience, enhances local economic activity, and
demonstrates leadership in implementing climate-conscious urban planning practices.
Official Plan Alignment
The installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure aligns closely with the goals and policies
outlined in the Town of Aurora’s Official Plan, which emphasizes sustainable growth, environmental
stewardship, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The Official Plan seeks to support a
transition toward a low-carbon community by promoting sustainable transportation options and integrating
climate resilience into all aspects of planning and development. EV charging infrastructure directly
contributes to these objectives by enabling the widespread adoption of zero-emission vehicles, thereby
reducing transportation-related emissions—one of the community’s largest sources of greenhouse gases.
Furthermore, the Official Plan encourages the develo pment of complete, connected, and sustainable
communities where residents have access to diverse, environmentally responsible mobility choices.
Integrating EV charging stations into both public and private developments supports this vision by
providing the infrastructure necessary to meet the growing demand for clean transportation. This initiative
also complements the Plan’s goals for sustainable infrastructure and urban design, ensuring that future
growth occurs in a manner that supports the Town’s long -term environmental, social, and economic
sustainability objectives.
Conclusion
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This proposal represents a critical step forward in advancing key Provincial, Regional, and Town-initiated
policies, objectives, strategies, and plans addressing one of most pressing challenges: climate change.
Approval of this request directly supports the targets and goals outlined in those policies and action plans
to reduce GHG emissions, supporting the proliferation of electric vehicles, and enabling private investment
in essential EV charging infrastructure.
The proposed displays on the charger will not have any negative social impacts. The third -party
advertisements published on the proposed sign will abide by the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards
(https://adstandards.ca/code/the-code-online/). This will help to ensure that all messaging is appropriate
and that the general public is not exposed to any offensive, explicit, or indecent forms of advertising. The
displays will have no motion or animation and have instantaneous transition of content with 10 second
dwell times. The illumination of the proposed displays shall not exceed illumination levels of 300 nits
during the period between sunset and sunrise.
Furthermore, the electricity required to operate the proposed sign shall be provided by and in conjunction
with a distributor recognized and licensed by the Ontario Energy Boards and shall be governed by an
agreement to purchase renewable energy (Distribut or: Bullfrog Power).
We thank you for taking the time to evaluate our application and we would encourage you to contact us
for further discussion should you have any questions regarding our application.
Best regards,
Jocelyn Wigley
Development Manager, JOLT Charge
Jocelyn.Wigley@joltcharge.com
416-659-8866
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Appendix A: Photos of Installed/Approved JOLT Chargers
Installed JOLT Charger at 9555 Yonge St, Richmond Hill, ON
Render of approved JOLT Charger at 3077 Mavis Rd, Mississauga, ON
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Installed JOLT Charger at 130 North Queen, Etobicoke, ON
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Installed JOLT Charger at 2515 90 Ave SW, Calgary, AB
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Technical Specifications -
EVA 3.0 Canada
Product features & Benefits
50 kW DC Fast Charging
Designed for destination EV Charging
CCS1 Compatible
JOLT chargers are compatible with most electric vehicle models
App-based Charging Experience
Real-time monitoring of charging status and record of previous
charging sessions
Vandal Glass with a Graffiti-Resistant Finish
High quality chargers maintained to industry-leading standards
IP55+ Weatherproof Rating
Designed to operate in all weather conditions
High Luminance Display
Automatic brightness adjustment in full compliance with regional
luminance regulations
24/7 Remote Monitoring
Remote monitoring via 4G connectivity with robust failover
functionality
Integrated Cable Retraction Mechanism
Long reach cables designed to keep the sidewalk clutter-free and
optimised for accessibility
Appendix 2 Page 206 of 243
*Input rating may vary in North America
SPECIFICATIONS
GENERAL
Model EVA 3.0
Screen Size 75”
Charger Power 50 kW
Region Canada
COMMUNICATION
Network interface 4G, Ethernet
Communications protocol
(charging infrastructure) Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) 1.6 J/2.0.1
Communications protocol
(vehicle) CCS1: SAE J1772; ISO 15118; CHAdeMO 1.2
ENVIRONMENTAL
Operating temperature -40ºC up to +55ºC
Humidity 0% to 95% relative humidity (non-condensing)
Ingress rating IP55+
Impact rating IK10
ELECTRICAL
AC Input Voltage* 3x 277 V (480 V) (+10%,-15%) / 60 Hz
Output DC voltage range 150 Vdc – 1000 Vdc
Wiring 3-phase Wye (grounded)
Efficiency Up to 97% under full load
Electrical Protection Class 1 (protective earth connection)
THDi (Total Harmonic
Distortion) <5% at nominal power
Power factor >0.99
DISPLAY
Screen Size 75 in.
Orientation Portrait
Resolution 3840 x 2160 (Ultra HD) / 16:9
CERTIFICATIONS
EV Charging IEC 61851-1, IEC 61851-23
Charging / Safety Standards UL2202, UL50, UL50E
IT & A/V IEC 62368-1
Electromagnetic Compatibility
(EMC) FCC 47 CFR Part 15B; ICES-003:2017 and 2016
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100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora
Committee of the Whole Report
No. PDS 2 6 -0 22
Subject: Request for Sign By-law Authorization for Third Party Digital Signage
– Hossein Goli – 14810 Yonge Street
Prepared by: William Jean, Manager – Building Division/CBO
Department: Planning and Development Services
Date: March 10, 2026
Recommendation
1. That Report No. PDS26-022 be received; and
2. That the request for authorization of a third party digital sign on an existing ground
sign located at 14810 Yonge Street be denied.
Executive Summary
The purpose of this report is to consider the request from Mr. Hossen Goli to erect Third
Party signage on an existing sign at 14810 Yonge Street. Third Party advertising is
prohibited under the Sign By-law. If approved, it would set a precedent for future such
requests.
Proposed digital signage on the existing ground sign with Third Party advertising
may not meet all the evaluation criteria of the Sign By-law.
The request would set a community precedent for permitting dynamic third party
advertising in the Town if approved.
Background
The applicant is requesting permission to use LED Digital signage on the existing sign at
14810 Yonge Street (Attachment 2). The digital sign was erected without a permit. A
Notice of Violation and Order to comply was issued to the owner on Jan 22, 2026. This
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March 10, 2026 2 of 5 Report No. PDS26-022
type of sign is deemed to be a “Dynamic Sign” and a “Third Party Sign” as defined under
the Sign By-law. The following are the definitions:
“Dynamic sign” shall mean a sign created, designed, manufactured or modified in
such way that its display message can change from time to time manually,
electronically or using other mechanism but does not include a mobile sign;
“Third Party Sign” shall mean a sign erected and maintained to advertise, market
or promote a business, product, service or activity not conducted or produced,
sold, stored or assembled within the building or upon the lot or premises on
which the sign is erected and does not include off-site residential development
sign or a sign advertising a special event.
Third Party signs are not permitted under the Sign By-law, unless authorized by Council.
Analysis
Proposed digital signage on the existing sign with Third Party advertising may not meet
all the evaluation criteria of the Sign By-law.
Section 5.2 of the Sign By-law, states that signs shall not be illuminated in such a way
that either the sign or the method of illumination creates a hazard or a nuisance. Where
a sign is permitted to be illuminated, the method of illumination shall comply with the
provisions contained within section 6 of this by-law.
The Sign By-law sets out certain Evaluation Criteria that are to be taken into account
when providing an authorization request to Council such as
1. Physical difficulties:
2. Consistency with the architectural features of the building:
3. Consistency with the character of the neighbourhood:
4. No adverse impact to the adjacent property or general public:
5. Adherence to Corporate Branding:
6. Impact on safety, traffic, and accessibility:
7. Result in greater convenience to the public:
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March 10, 2026 3 of 5 Report No. PDS26-022
The digital third party sign consists of two sign faces on either side of the unit with an
aggregated sign face of 3.9 square meters. The signage will be perpendicular to Yonge
Street facing north and south. The sign will display third party advertising (Attachment
1).
Prohibiting digital third-party signage is generally rooted in concerns regarding urban
aesthetics, safety, and operational clarity. Many municipalities restrict these
advertisements to avoid visual clutter and reduce driver distraction.
Key rationales for prohibiting third-party signage include:
Minimizing Visual Clutter and Proliferation: Municipalities often discourage the
spread of electronic advertising to maintain the aesthetic character of
surrounding areas, limiting the proliferation of digital and illuminated screens.
Preventing Driver Distraction: Third Party advertising, particularly digital,
animated, or flashing displays, can distract drivers in high-traffic or public areas,
raising public safety concerns.
Full LED digital signs had started in large cities in and around 2007. The Sign By-law
was approved by Council on March 21, 2017 which permits Dynamic Signs. The Sign By-
law anticipated this form of digital signage and regulations regarding digital signs were
introduced.
The applicant has provided a Rational Report which is attached as Attachment 3. Staff
are in concurrence with the proposal with respect to meeting the evaluation criteria with
the exception of criteria 6, impact on safety, traffic and accessibility. Based on staff
research, studies on whether digital billboards are a distraction to motorists yield
conflicting results, with significant debate between research supported by the
advertising industry and that cited by traffic safety advocacy groups. While some
industry-funded studies suggest digital signs are "safety neutral" or do not create
unsafe levels of distraction, other studies indicate they do draw driver attention away
from the road for potentially risky durations.
In the past Council has denied such a request, specifically, at 15820 Bayview Avenue
where a proposed LED digital sign attached to a proposed telecommunication tower
was to be used as Third party Advertising. This proposal was denied by Council on
November 28, 2023.
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March 10, 2026 4 of 5 Report No. PDS26-022
Staff is of the opinion that the proposed LED Digital third party signage may not meet
the Evaluation Criteria with regards to traffic safety. Based on this evaluation criteria, it
is recommended the proposed digital third party sign request be denied.
The request would set a community precedent for permitting dynamic third party
advertising if approved.
If the request is approved, it would set a precedent for the community to permit
illuminated third party signs and would encourage other commercial properties to apply
using the same process. Furthermore, it would encourage large third party signs, such
as digital billboards.
Advisory Committee Review
Not applicable
Legal Considerations
Pursuant to Section 3.6 of the Sign By-law, signs are not permitted in Town unless they
advertise or provide information with respect to a use that is permitted on such
property. Subsection 3.6(c) sets out an exception for third party signs that are permitted
by Council. As the applicant is proposing a sign that will provide dynamic third party
advertisement, Council authorization is being requested. Council has the authority to
approve or deny this request, and such a decision would be final without further right to
appeal.
Financial Implications
There are no financial implications as a result of this report.
Communications Considerations
There are no communications considerations.
Climate Change Considerations
There are no climate change considerations.
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March 10, 2026 5 of 5 Report No. PDS26-022
Link to Strategic Plan
This report supports the Strategic Plan goal of Support an Exceptional Quality of life for
All by reviewing and identifying safety matters
Alternative(s) to the Recommendation
1. That Council approve the request for the third party sign as set out in the report and
the provided proposal, subject to the applicant obtaining a Sign Permit and
maintaining the sign in accordance with the proposal.
Conclusions
The applicant has proposed a third party advertisement sign on the subject property,
which requires Council authorization. Staff is of the opinion that the proposed LED
Digital third party signage may not meet the Evaluation Criteria with regards to safety
and may pose a hazard. Therefore, it is recommended the proposed third party sign
request be denied. If approved, it would set a precedent for the community to permit
this type of dynamic third party signs and would encourage other commercial properties
to apply using the same process. Furthermore, it would encourage large third party
signs such as digital billboards.
Attachments
Attachment 1 – Signage Picture
Attachment 2 – Site Plan
Attachment 3 – Rationale Report
Previous Reports
None.
Pre-submission Review
Agenda Management Team review on February 19, 2026
Approvals
Approved by Marco Ramunno, Director, Planning and Development Services
Approved by Doug Nadorozny, Chief Administrative Officer
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Attachment 1
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Attachment 3
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100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora
Member Motion
Councillor Thompson
Re: Exemption of Golf Courses from the Clean Communities By-law for Grass
Maintenance
To: Members of Council
From: Councillor Michael Thompson
Date: March 10, 2026
Whereas the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25, authorizes municipalities to pass by-
laws respecting the health, safety, and well-being of persons and the maintenance and
regulation of property standards; and
Whereas the Town of Aurora enacted the Clean Communities By-law to establish clear,
consistent, and enforceable standards for property maintenance throughout the
municipality; and
Whereas standards for grass and yard maintenance are intended to reduce pests and
vermin, ensure consistent community appearance, and prevent selective or inconsistent
enforcement practices; and
Whereas the Town of Aurora contains several fully operational golf courses, many of
which abut and share divisional property lines with residential properties within Aurora
and neighbouring municipalities; and
Whereas golf courses are highly specialized land uses that require agronomic turf
management practices distinct from residential or general commercial properties in
order to maintain safe, functional, and environmentally managed playing surfaces; and
Whereas golf courses in Ontario are already subject to a comprehensive provincial
regulatory framework, including exemptions under the Cosmetic Pesticides Ban Act and
compliance requirements under Ontario Regulation 63/09 of the Pesticides Act; and
Whereas applying standard grass height and yard maintenance provisions of the Clean
Communities By-law to golf courses may create operational conflicts and unintended
enforcement challenges without advancing the original intent of the by-law;
1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That Town staff be directed to prepare and
bring forward a by-law amendment to the Clean Communities By-law to establish a
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Exemption of Golf Courses from the Clean Communities By-law for Grass Maintenance
March 10, 2026 Page 2 of 2
permanent exemption for fully operational golf courses, limited solely to grass and
turf maintenance standards; and
2. Be It Further Resolved That the exemption apply only to lands actively used or
maintained as part of an operational golf course, and not to vacant, surplus, or non-
golf-related lands.
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100 John West Way
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L4G 6J1
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aurora.ca
Town of Aurora
Member Motion
Councillor Gilliland
Re: Feasibility of an Opt-In Municipal Alert System for Emergencies, Weather
and Service Disruptions
To: Members of Council
From: Councillor Rachel Gilliland
Date: March 10, 2026
Whereas the Municipality has a responsibility to support public safety, emergency
preparedness, and timely communication with residents during significant weather
events; and
Whereas severe weather events, including snowstorms, freezing rain, high winds,
flooding, and extreme heat, are increasing in frequency and intensity due to changing
climate patterns; and
Whereas timely and direct communication to residents can improve public safety
outcomes by providing advance notice of road closures, service disruptions, warming or
cooling centre availability, parking restrictions, and other emergency measures; and
Whereas utility providers, including hydro companies, successfully operate opt-in text,
app-based alert systems to notify customers of outages and restoration updates,
demonstrating the effectiveness and public acceptance of such platforms; and
Whereas a municipal alert system could reduce pressure on staff resources by
decreasing inbound inquiries during significant events and improve coordination
between municipal departments, emergency services, and the public; and
Whereas many municipalities across Ontario have implemented digital alert systems
that integrate with existing emergency management frameworks;
1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That Council direct staff to report back on
the feasibility of implementing an opt-in municipal alert system, including text
message, and/or mobile application notifications, for significant weather events
and related municipal service disruptions; and
2. Be It Further Resolved That the report include analysis of implementation costs,
ongoing operational requirements, privacy and data security considerations,
integration with existing emergency management systems, and examples of
comparable municipal models.
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100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
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aurora.ca
Town of Aurora
Member Motion
Councillor Gilliland
Re: Improving Accessibility and Public Record Integration of Live and
Archived Council Meeting Video
To: Members of Council
From: Councillor Rachel Gilliland
Date: March 10, 2026
Whereas the Town of Aurora is committed to the principles of transparency,
accountability, and open government; and
Whereas the Town live streams Council and Committee meetings to allow residents to
observe local government in real time; and
Whereas the Town’s website serves as the primary and official source for meeting
agendas, minutes, and public records; and
Whereas the integration of video recordings alongside written agendas and minutes
strengthens the completeness and integrity of the public record by providing context,
clarity, and accuracy of Council proceedings; and
Whereas the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) and its
Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR) emphasize the importance of
providing accessible formats and communication supports to the public; and
Whereas improving the visibility and accessibility of livestream and archived meeting
video supports these accessibility objectives and enhances equitable public access to
municipal governance; and
Whereas many Ontario municipalities, including Guelph, Vaughan, and Burlington,
integrate direct links to live and archived meeting video within their meeting calendar
pages as a standard best practice; and
1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That staff be directed to update the Town’s
meeting calendar webpage to:
a. Prominently display a direct link to the active livestream video on the meeting
page while the meeting is in progress; and
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Improving Accessibility and Public Record Integration of Live and Archived Council
Meeting Video
March 10, 2026 Page 2 of 2
b. Add a direct link to the archived video recording to each individual meeting page,
adjacent to the published agenda and minutes, once the video becomes
available; and
2. Be It Further Resolved That staff report back to Council on the implementation of
these improvements, including timelines and any associated costs, if applicable.
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100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora
Member Motion
Councillor Gallo
Re: Establishment of a Joint Task Force and Funding Support to Combat
Antisemitic Hate and Violence and Protect Vulnerable Communities in
Aurora
To: Members of Council
From: Councillor John Gallo
Date: March 10, 2026
Whereas the Town of Aurora is a diverse and inclusive community where residents of all
faiths, cultures, and backgrounds should feel safe, respected, and protected; and
Whereas there has been a documented and deeply concerning rise in antisemitic
incidents, hate-motivated acts, and violence across Canada, including within York
Region and surrounding municipalities; and
Whereas hate-motivated incidents directed at the Jewish community and other
vulnerable communities undermine public safety, community cohesion, and the
fundamental values of tolerance and inclusion; and
Whereas municipal governments rely on strong partnerships with federal, provincial,
and regional law enforcement agencies to effectively prevent, investigate, and respond
to hate-motivated incidents; and
Whereas the Town of Aurora is served by the York Regional Police, and benefits from
coordination with provincial and federal partners including the Ontario Provincial Police,
Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Canadian Security Intelligence Service; and
Whereas municipalities face increasing financial and operational pressures in
responding to rising incidents of hate, including the need for enhanced policing
coordination, prevention programs, and community safety initiatives; and
1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That the Town of Aurora Council formally
request the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario to work in
partnership with York Region and the Town of Aurora to establish a combined
Federal, Provincial, Regional, and Municipal law enforcement joint task force,
composed of but not limited to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canadian
Security Intelligence Service, Ontario Provincial Police, and York Regional Police, to
Page 225 of 243
Establishment of a Joint Task Force and Funding Support to Combat Antisemitic Hate
and Violence and Protect Vulnerable Communities in Aurora
March 10, 2026 Page 2 of 2
coordinate intelligence, prevention, and enforcement efforts to combat and prevent
antisemitic hate and violence, and to protect vulnerable communities.
2. Be It Further Resolved That Council request the Federal and Provincial governments
to provide dedicated and sustainable funding to support these coordinated
enforcement and prevention efforts, and to provide financial assistance to
municipalities and regional police services, including York Regional Police, to
address the increased operational demands resulting from the rise in hate-motivated
incidents.
3. Be It Further Resolved That Council calls upon all municipalities in York Region to
join Town of Aurora in support of this resolution.
4. Be It Further Resolved That Council direct that this resolution be forwarded to:
• The Right Honourable Prime Minister of Canada
• The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
• The Minister of Public Safety Canada
• The Premier of Ontario
• The Solicitor General of Ontario
• The Attorney General of Ontario
• The Regional Municipality of York
• The York Regional Police Services Board
• Local Members of Parliament and Members of Provincial Parliament
representing Aurora
• All municipalities within York Region
Page 226 of 243
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora
Member Motion
Councillor Gallo
Re: Financial Reporting for the Aurora Economic Development Corporation
(AEDC)
To: Members of Council
From: Councillor John Gallo
Date: March 10, 2026
Whereas the Aurora Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) is a corporation
governed by the Municipal Act, 2001 and the Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010; and
Whereas the AEDC plays an important advisory role in supporting economic
development initiatives, business attraction, and strategic economic priorities within the
Town of Aurora; and
Whereas Council funds economic-related activities through the Planning and
Development budget, specifically the Economic Development Division's operating
budget, and the economic development reserve; and
Whereas the AEDC's board recommends to the Economic Development division
economic-related activities and initiatives, which may have a cost; and
Whereas expenditures related to recommended AEDC initiatives are administered
through the Town’s financial systems and approval processes, and the AEDC itself does
not independently approve expenditures or produce standalone audited financial
statements; and
Whereas, as a result, there is currently no consolidated annual financial summary
specific to AEDC activities presented to Council or the public; and
Whereas Council has a fiduciary responsibility to ensure transparency, accountability,
and proper oversight of the Town's economic development incentive budgets; and
Whereas providing clear, consistent, and detailed financial reporting enhances
transparency and ensures the community and Council have a complete understanding
of how public funds are being utilized in support of economic development initiatives;
1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That Council direct staff to prepare and
present a report outlining the Town's economic development incentive financials for
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Financial Reporting for the Aurora Economic Development Corporation (AEDC)
March 10, 2026 Page 2 of 2
the 2025 fiscal year to which the Aurora Economic Development Corporation (AEDC)
provides input, including but not limited to:
a. The total Town budget allocated in support of AEDC-related initiatives;
b. A detailed breakdown of all expenditures, including administrative costs,
consulting services, marketing, events, and any other operational expenses;
c. Any revenues, sponsorships, grants, or external funding received;
d. Any reserve funds held or utilized, if applicable; and
e. A comparison of the approved budget versus actual expenditures; and
2. Be It Further Resolved That staff be directed to provide an annual report to Council
outlining the financial details of the Town budget that has been allocated in support
of AEDC-related initiatives for the preceding fiscal year, beginning with the 2026
fiscal year and continuing annually thereafter.
Page 228 of 243
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora
Member Motion
Mayor Mrakas
Re: Review and Release of Certain Closed Session Materials
To: Members of Council
From: Mayor Tom Mrakas
Date: March 10, 2026
Whereas Council has previously discussed matters in Closed Session relating to:
• The purchase of lands commonly referred to as Henderson Forest;
• Discussions concerning Hilary House National Historic Site; and
• Matters relating to the property municipally known as 1289 Wellington Street East;
and
Whereas transparency and public trust are fundamental principles of good governance;
and
Whereas the Municipal Act permits the public release of Closed Session materials once
the need for confidentiality has lapsed;
1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That staff be directed to conduct a review of
all Closed Session reports, minutes, presentations, and related materials
concerning:
a. Henderson Forest (672 and 682 Henderson Drive);
b. Hilary House; and
c. 1289 Wellington Street East; and
2. Be It Further Resolved That Council authorize the release of the documents
described above in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and
Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.56 and only to the extent without
prejudice to the Town’s legal, security, financial, or negotiating position; and
3. Be It Further Resolved That a public report be brought forward to Council outlining:
a. What information can be released;
b. What must remain confidential and the legislative reason why; and
c. A proposed timeline for disclosure; and
4. Be It Further Resolved That any materials deemed appropriate for release be made
publicly available through the Town’s website.
Page 229 of 243
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora
Member Motion
Councillor Gallo
Re: Disclosure of Documents Related to Victoria Hall Refurbishment
To: Members of Council
From: Councillor John Gallo
Date: March 10, 2026
Whereas Council recently approved an increase to the capital budget for the Victoria
Hall Refurbishment project from $500,000 to approximately $2.18 million; and
Whereas the increase was based on structural findings, engineering reports, design
work, and updated cost estimates that significantly expanded the scope and financial
implications of the project; and
Whereas certain documents related to the project were not shared publicly; and
Whereas residents have expressed significant interest in understanding the basis for
the increased project costs and the information that informed Council’s decision; and
Whereas transparency and public confidence in municipal decision-making are
strengthened when supporting documentation for major capital expenditures is made
available to the public; and
Whereas, while certain information related to procurement, legal matters, or third-party
commercial interests cannot be disclosed by the municipality, the majority of
documentation supporting this decision should be publicly accessible;
1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That staff be directed to compile and release
publicly all documentation related to the Victoria Hall Refurbishment budget
increase, including but not limited to:
a. Engineering and structural reports;
b. Architectural and design consultant reports;
c. The Class D cost estimate dated December 1, 2025, and any subsequent cost
estimates;
d. Project scope documents and supporting technical studies;
e. Internal staff reports or memoranda that informed the revised project scope or
cost estimates;
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Disclosure of Documents Related to Victoria Hall Refurbishment
March 10, 2026 Page 2 of 2
f. Any additional documentation relied upon in preparing the report recommending
the budget increase; and
2. Be It Further Resolved That such release does not contravene the Municipal Freedom
of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, procurement integrity requirements,
contractual confidentiality obligations, or legal privilege; and
3. Be It Further Resolved That staff report back to Council by May 2026 confirming the
documents being released and listing any unreleased documents with an
explanation of the applicable reasons for requiring continued nondisclosure.
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100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora
Member Motion
Councillor Gallo
Re: Traffic Calming Measures on Limeridge Street
To: Members of Council
From: Councillor John Gallo
Date: March 10, 2026
Whereas residents on Limeridge Street have raised ongoing concerns regarding traffic
speeds, roadway safety, and sightline limitations along the street; and
Whereas a petition meeting the requirements of the Town’s Traffic Calming Policy was
submitted by residents on Limeridge Street requesting traffic calming measures; and
Whereas the Active Transportation and Traffic Safety Advisory Committee reviewed the
matter at its meeting on January 28, 2026, and provided comments supporting potential
safety improvements including traffic calming measures and improved sightlines; and
Whereas Limeridge Street includes a bend in the roadway where vegetation and foliage
may obstruct sightlines, creating potential safety concerns for motorists, cyclists, and
pedestrians; and
Whereas Council has the authority under the Municipal Act and the Highway Traffic Act
to regulate traffic and speed limits on municipal roads in the interest of public safety;
1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That Council direct staff to implement traffic
calming measures on Limeridge Street between Gateway Drive and Kirkvalley
Crescent, including the installation of one set of speed cushions on the west leg of
Limeridge Street at a location deemed appropriate by staff; and
2. Be It Further Resolved That Council direct staff to bring forward the necessary by-
law amendment to reduce the speed limit on Limeridge Street to 30 km/h; and
3. Be It Further Resolved That Council direct staff to install flashing speed display
boards on Limeridge Street on a rotational basis as operationally appropriate to
improve driver awareness of vehicle speeds; and
4. Be It Further Resolved That Council direct the appropriate department to investigate
and address vegetation and foliage obstruction affecting sightlines near 55
Limeridge Street, including trimming or pruning as required.
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100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora
Member Motion
Mayor Mrakas
Re: Protecting Vulnerable Social Infrastructure in the Town of Aurora
To: Members of Council
From: Mayor Tom Mrakas
Date: March 10, 2026
Whereas safeguarding the quality of life for all Aurora residents requires a firm
commitment to combating all forms of hate, intimidation, intolerance, discrimination,
and the incitement of violence; and
Whereas acts of intimidation and violence targeting communities, places of worship,
schools, and community institutions across the Greater Toronto Area have created fear
and distress among residents; and
Whereas the Town of Aurora is a diverse and welcoming community where residents of
all faiths, cultures, and backgrounds must feel safe attending religious services,
schools, childcare facilities, hospitals, and congregate care facilities; and
Whereas all levels of government share a responsibility to ensure vulnerable social
infrastructure remains safe and accessible for the people who rely on these essential
services; and
Whereas legislative measures have been introduced in Canada to address intimidation
near critical services, including amendments to the Criminal Code of Canada through
Bill C-3 which created an offence for intimidating health care workers or those seeking
health care services; and
Whereas other municipalities in Canada have implemented access or safety zones to
ensure safe and inclusive access to public and community facilities; and
Whereas any measures taken to protect vulnerable social infrastructure must respect
and preserve the fundamental right to lawful and peaceful protest;
1. Now Therefore Be It Hereby Resolved That Council direct staff to report back to
Council at the earliest opportunity with options for a bylaw or policy framework that
would prohibit demonstrations or activities that intimidate, incite hatred, violence,
intolerance, or discrimination within a defined distance of vulnerable social
infrastructure, including places of worship, schools, childcare centres, hospitals, and
congregate care facilities within the Town of Aurora; and
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Protecting Vulnerable Social Infrastructure in the Town of Aurora
March 10, 2026 Page 2 of 2
2. Be It Further Resolved That Council request that staff review best practices from
other municipalities and relevant provincial and federal legislation in developing any
recommended framework; and
3. Be It Further Resolved That any proposed bylaw ensure penalties are consistent with
applicable legislation and municipal authority under the Municipal Act; and
4. Be It Further Resolved That nothing in any proposed bylaw restrict the right to lawful
and peaceful protest or demonstrations, including lawful labour activity; and
5. Be It Further Resolved That staff consult with York Regional Police regarding
enforcement considerations and coordination should such measures be
implemented; and
6. Be It Further Resolved That this resolution be circulated to the Government of
Ontario, York Region, York Regional Police, and York Region municipalities for their
information.
Page 234 of 243
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora
Memorandum
Mayor’s Office
Re: York Regional Council Highlights of January 29, 2026
To: Members of Council
From: Mayor Mrakas
Date: March 10, 2026
Recommendation
1. That the York Regional Council Highlights of January 29, 2026, be received for
information.
Attachments
1. York Regional Council Highlights of January 29, 2026
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1
Thursday, February 12, 2026
York Regional Council – Thursday, January 29, 2026
Live streaming of the public session of Council and Committee of the Whole meetings is available on
the day of the meeting from 9 a.m. until the close of the meeting. Past sessions are available at
york.ca/CouncilAndCommittee
York Region advancing community safety and well-being through collaborative actions
York Regional Council received a progress update on the Community Safety and Well-being Plan,
which continues to strengthen safety, improve access to services and support residents across York
Region. Guided by a provincial framework and local priorities, this plan uses a placed-based approach
to address risks and deliver community-driven solutions in collaboration with York Regional Police, local
municipalities and community partners.
In 2025, initiatives supported by Community Action Tables and the Building Safer Communities Fund
reached more than 24,900 residents, with 99% of initiatives completed or in progress. Building on these
successes, York Region will continue expanding programs, gathering targeted feedback and updating
the plan for Council consideration in early 2027.
For more information on the Community Safety and Well-being Plan, visit york.ca/CommunityAction
Ontario’s 2026 Budget consultation process
Regional Council received an update on York Region’s participation in the Province of Ontario’s 2026
Budget consultation process. As in previous years, the Ontario Minister of Finance invited stakeholders,
including York Region, to provide input into the provincial budget process, which ran from December 4,
2025, to January 30, 2026.
As part of the Regional Council-endorsed 2026 capital plan, $2.2 billion in critical investments from
senior levels of government is needed to support housing and transit initiatives, including $216 million
to meet the Province’s one-third share toward approximately 1,345 community housing units and $1.9
billion for two new bus rapid transit projects along Jane Street in the City of Vaughan and Highway 7
East in the City of Markham.
York Region is committed to ongoing advocacy efforts to advance Regional priorities and will continue
to monitor provincial budget announcements, expected in spring 2026.
York Region establishes municipal insurance pool
Regional Council approved the establishment of the York Region Municipalities Insurance
Pool program.
Implementing an insurance pool increases purchasing ability and lowers overall cost of insurance for
participating cities and towns by offering greater premium stability than if coverage
was purchased directly from an insurance provider individually. Analysis of financial viability and
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sustainability indicates potential insurance cost savings of approximately 20% or $5.5 million
annually for York Region and participating municipalities.
An Insurance Pool Board will be established to direct future decisions and oversee management of
the insurance pool. York Region has been selected as host and will provide management and
administrative functions needed to support the pool. This includes implementing proactive risk-
management practices, standardized claims handling, contract reviews, accounting services and
consistent operating procedures across all participating municipalities.
The pool is set to launch on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, with interested municipalities
seeking prior approval from their respective municipal councils to participate.
Audit Committee and Audit Services Charter updates
Regional Council approved revisions to the Audit Committee Charter and the Audit Services Branch
Charter to clarify roles, responsibilities and authority and to align with the Institute of Auditor’s Global
Internal Audit Standards. These updates strength oversight of financial reporting, internal controls and
audit functions, ensuring York Region continues to uphold best practices in governance and
accountability.
York Region recognized as an Age-Friendly Community
Regional Council celebrated York Region’s formal recognition by the Government of Ontario as an Age-
Friendly Community, marking an important milestone in the Region’s ongoing commitment to
supporting older adults through the 2024 to 2027 Plan to Support Seniors. The designation reflects
strong leadership and collaboration across the Seniors Services team, Regional Seniors Core Team,
community partners and seniors themselves.
The recognition highlights York Region’s shared commitment to fostering inclusive, accessible and age-
friendly communities where older adults can thrive.
With the older adult population expected to double over the next 30 years, the plan continues to guide
actions that promote healthy aging, support aging in the right place and strengthen coordination of
services across the community.
York Region response to extreme winter weather
Regional Council thanked staff who worked throughout the holidays and during recent extreme cold
and significant snowfall to ensure essential services continued without interruption. Council recognized
Public Works, Paramedic Services, Transit, Social Services, street outreach teams and community
partners for their professionalism, compassion and commitment in keeping roads safe, communities
moving and vulnerable residents supported during challenging winter conditions.
Black History Month
Regional Council recognized February as Black History Month, celebrating the achievements,
contributions and lived experiences of Black residents and communities. Council also acknowledged
the importance of advancing equity, inclusion and belonging across York Region and called on staff
and residents to help address systemic barriers and build a more inclusive community for all.
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January Observances
Regional Council recognized the following observances in January 2026:
•Alzheimer’s Awareness Month
•Tamil Heritage Month
•Crime Stoppers Awareness Month
•National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Air Disasters – January 8, 2026
•Orthodox New Year – January 14, 2026
•Holocaust Remembrance Day – January 27, 2026
•National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack – January 29, 2026
Next meeting of York Regional Council
The next Meeting of York Regional Council will be held on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 9 a.m. in
the York Region Administrative Centre Council Chambers, located at 17250 Yonge Street in the Town
of Newmarket. The Council meeting will be streamed on york.ca/Live
The Regional Municipality of York consists of nine local cities and towns and provides a variety of
programs and services to over 1.25 million residents and 57,000 businesses with more than 629,000
employees. More information about York Region’s key service areas is available
at york.ca/RegionalServices
-30-
Media Contact:
Kylie-Anne Doerner, Corporate Communications, The Regional Municipality of York
Cell: 905-806-7138
Email: kylie-anne.doerner@york.ca
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100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora
Memorandum
Mayor’s Office
Re: York Regional Council Highlights of February 26, 2026
To: Members of Council
From: Mayor Mrakas
Date: March 10, 2026
Recommendation
1. That the York Regional Council Highlights of February 26, 2026, be received for
information.
Attachments
1. York Regional Council Highlights of February 26, 2026
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1
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
York Regional Council – Thursday, February 26, 2026
Live streaming of the public session of Council and Committee of the Whole meetings is available on
the day of the meeting from 9 a.m. until the close of the meeting. Past sessions are available at
york.ca/CouncilAndCommittee
York Region Police Chief Jim MacSween announces retirement
York Regional Council extended appreciation and thanks to York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween,
who will retire on June 26, 2026, after 37 years of dedicated service, including six as Chief.
Since taking the role in May 2020, Chief MacSween has led York Regional Police through extraordinary
challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, while modernizing services to meet the needs of a
growing York Region. He has strengthened community trust, championed the well-being of members
and fostered a people-first culture.
Chairman Jolliffe and Regional Council congratulated Chief MacSween on his remarkable career and
extended best wishes for continued health, happiness and success in retirement.
York Region tables proposed 2026 Development Charges Bylaw update to
support future growth
Regional Council received an update on two proposed development charges bylaws, the 2026 Region-
wide Development Charges Background Study and Bylaw and the 2026 Nobleton Area-Specific
Wastewater Development Charges Background Study and Bylaw.
This update outlined growth supported by the bylaws to 2051, required infrastructure costs and new
development charges (DC) rates. The update also met the public meeting requirement under
the Development Charges Act, 1997, beginning a minimum 60-day public consultation process during
which feedback on the proposed bylaws can be submitted for consideration.
The Region’s current DC Bylaw is set to expire in June 2027. Since the current bylaw came into effect
in June 2022, the Province of Ontario has introduced several pieces of legislation that have driven the
need for additional or accelerated infrastructure. In December 2023, Regional Council directed an
advanced update of the Region’s Development Charges Bylaw to help support funding challenges
associated with municipal housing targets.
Regional Council will consider approval of the proposed Region-Wide and Area-Specific DC bylaws on
Thursday, May 21, 2026.
More information is available at york.ca/DevelopmentCharges
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Regional Council calls for fair and consistent blue box recycling across Ontario
Regional Council passed a resolution calling on the Province of Ontario to ensure fair, consistent and
equitable recycling collection service levels under the Blue Box Extended Producer Responsibility
framework. Under the new system, municipalities in York Region and across Ontario have experienced
inconsistencies in collection frequency, accepted materials, missed-collection recovery and customer
service standards. The resolution urges the Province to establish and enforce clear, province-wide
standards and require prompt action from Circular Materials Ontario to address service inequities
impacting York Region residents.
York Region remains committed to work with Province to address poverty and impacts on
communities
Regional Council received an update on York Region’s submission to the Ministry of Children,
Community and Social Services in support of Ontario’s assessment of their current poverty reduction
strategy and development of a new strategy.
The submission included information about Regional Council-approved programs, population trends,
insights, current pressures and recommendations. The submission calls on the Province to take
decisive action in the following areas:
• Strengthen income supports through living wage and basic income policies, increasing Ontario
Works rates and making the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit a permanent program
• Provide increased and sustainable funding for programs and services keeping pace with
population growth and inflation
• Increase municipal financial resilience by covering revenue shortfalls from Development
Charges Act, 1997 changes
• Invest in community partners to build capacity and reinforce social infrastructure as essential
collaborators in meeting resident needs
York Region will continue working with the Province and community partners to address the root
causes of poverty and its impacts on communities.
Transfer of Yonge Street Watermain to Town of Aurora
Regional Council authorized transferring ownership of the Yonge Street Watermain to the Town of
Aurora and paying $114,000 to the Town for replacement of the existing valve chamber on Industrial
Parkway South. Under the Water and Wastewater Infrastructure, Regional Jurisdiction Policy (2019),
the watermain meets the criteria for local town infrastructure.
The Region replaced and rehabilitated the watermain in 2024 to bring infrastructure to a good state of
repair and ensure reliable water servicing.
York Region’s Asset Management Program reviews legacy ownership arrangements with municipalities
and brings those inconsistent with the policy to Regional Council for recommendation.
Constructed in 1983 between Ridge Road and Edward Street to provide bulk water to the Town of
Aurora, the watermain now serves local distribution as surrounding lands have developed and private
services connect directly to it.
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York Region and York University strengthen partnership
On February 5, 2026, York Regional Council and York University signed a five-year Memorandum of
Understanding to formalize the long-standing partnership between the organizations. The agreement
supports innovation, entrepreneurship, experiential learning and workforce development, including
initiatives tied to York University’s new medical school in the City of Vaughan, for which Council
previously approved $25 million in capital funding.
The MOU also fosters collaboration with local municipalities, drives talent development and advances
economic growth and community well-being across the Region. Regional Council acknowledged this
partnership as a key step in building a stronger, more sustainable and inclusive York Region.
York Region receives EDOC Award of Excellence
Regional Council extended congratulations to the Agriculture and Agri-Food Advisory Committee and
Regional staff for receiving the Economic Developers Council of Ontario’s 2025 Award of Excellence.
The award recognizes the 2024 - 2027 Agriculture and Agri-Food Sector Strategy, led by Township of
King Councillor Avie Eek and Town of Georgina Regional Councillor Naomi Davison, e for its
innovative, collaborative and forward-thinking approach to economic development.
Regional Council also acknowledged the vital collaboration with all nine local municipalities and key
industry and community partners that made this achievement possible.
York Region celebrates local athletes at Milano Cortina 2026
Regional Council extended congratulations to the Canadian athletes who competed at the Milano
Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Team Canada brought home 21 medals, with York Region proudly represented on the podium in five
events. Highlights include gold and bronze for freestyle skier Megan Oldham, silver medals in men’s
and women’s hockey from Erin Ambrose, Laura Stacey, Sam Bennett, Jordan Binnington, Mitch Marner
and Connor McDavid and a bronze from ice dancer Paul Poirier.
Their dedication, perseverance and sportsmanship inspired communities across York Region and
beyond. These athletes demonstrated what is possible when talent meets opportunity, showing the
power of hard work and determination on the world stage.
Regional Council also looks forward to cheering on Team Canda at the upcoming Paralympic Games
beginning March 6, 2026.
February Observances
Regional Council recognized the following observances in February 2026:
• Black History Month
• White Cane Week – February 2 - 6, 2026
• Family Day – February 16, 2026
• Lunar New Year – February 17, 2026
• Pink Shirt Day – February 25, 2026
Next meeting of York Regional Council
The next Meeting of York Regional Council will be held on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 9 a.m. in the
York Region Administrative Centre Council Chambers, located at 17250 Yonge Street in the Town of
Newmarket. The Council meeting will be streamed on york.ca/Live
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The Regional Municipality of York consists of nine local cities and towns and provides a variety of
programs and services to over 1.29 million residents and 57,000 businesses with more than 624,000
employees. More information about York Region’s key service areas is available
at york.ca/RegionalServices
-30-
Media Contact:
Kylie-Anne Doerner, Corporate Communications, The Regional Municipality of York
Cell: 905-806-7138
Email: kylie-anne.doerner@york.ca
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