Agenda (Appointed) - Cannabis Retail Review Task Force - 20260416
Town of Aurora
Cannabis Retail Review Task Force
Meeting Agenda
Date:Thursday, April 16, 2026
Time:7 p.m.
Location:Holland Room, 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
2.Land Acknowledgement
3.Approval of the Agenda
4.Declarations of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof
5.Receipt of the Minutes
5.1 Cannabis Retail Review Task Force Meeting Minutes of February 19,
2026
1
That the Cannabis Retail Review Task Force meeting minutes of
February 19, 2026, be received for information.
1.
6.Delegations
7.Matters for Consideration
7.1 Memorandum from Director of Corporate Services/Town Solicitor; Re:
Review of Cannabis Retail Stores
5
That the memorandum regarding Review of Cannabis Retail
Stores be received; and
1.
That the Cannabis Retail Review Task Force comments
regarding Review of Cannabis Retail Stores be received and
referred to staff for consideration and further action as
appropriate.
2.
8.Informational Items
9.New Business
10.Adjournment
Town of Aurora
Cannabis Retail Review Task Force
Meeting Minutes
Date:
Time:
Location:
Thursday, February 19, 2026
7 p.m.
Holland Room, Aurora Town Hall
Committee Members: Councillor John Gallo (Chair)
Councillor Ron Weese (Vice Chair)
Nikki Alber
Megan Bamford*
Judy Collins*
Lenard Lind
William Newton, York Regional Police Representative
Laura Schaffer*
Ian Smith
Other Attendees: Marco Ramunno, Director, Planning and Development Services
Andrew Poray, Manager, Economic Development*
Ashmeed Khan, Bylaw Enforcement/Licensing Officer
Patricia De Sario, Deputy Clerk
Linda Bottos, Council/Committee Coordinator
*Attended electronically
_____________________________________________________________________
1. Call to Order
The Deputy Clerk called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
The Deputy Clerk passed the chair to Councillor Gallo at 7:02 p.m. following the
appointment of the Chair and Vice Chair.
1.1 Appointment of Chair and Vice Chair
Moved by Nikki Alber
Seconded by Lenard Lind
Page 1 of 12
Cannabis Retail Review Task Force Meeting Minutes
February 19, 2026 2
1. That Councillor John Gallo be appointed as Chair of the Cannabis
Retail Review Task Force; and
2. That Councillor Ron Weese be appointed as Vice Chair of the Cannabis
Retail Review Task Force.
Carried
2. Land Acknowledgement
The Task Force 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
Moved by Nikki Alber
Seconded by Lenard Lind
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
None.
6. Delegations
6.1 Patricia De Sario, Director, Corporate Services/Town Solicitor, Deputy Clerk;
Re: Orientation
Page 2 of 12
Cannabis Retail Review Task Force Meeting Minutes
February 19, 2026 3
Patricia De Sario provided a brief orientation highlighting the role of the
Task Force, including its members and staff, and the procedures that
govern meetings, including the Terms of Reference for the Task Force and
the Town’s Procedure By-law.
Moved by Lenard Lind
Seconded by Nikki Alber
That the comments of the delegation be received for information.
Carried
7. Matters for Consideration
7.1 Terms of Reference for the Cannabis Retail Review Task Force
The Task Force and staff had no comments.
Moved by William Newton
Seconded by Nikki Alber
1. That the Terms of Reference for the Cannabis Retail Review Task
Force be received for information.
Carried
7.2 Member Motion - Councillor Gallo; Re: Cannabis Retail Review Task Force
Councillor Gallo provided background and proposed priorities for the Task
Force toward developing practical recommendations to Council by setting
clear expectations, establishing a structured work plan, requesting
baseline data from staff and the York Regional Police, assessing local
impacts, and identifying opportunities for improvement.
The Task Force inquired about various aspects including access to any
letters of opposition to specific locations and responses or feedback;
clarification on zoning for cannabis retail stores; the scope of engagement
with other communities and their best practices; data to be obtained from
the York Regional Police; and the possibility to gain more recent feedback
from the community on its perception and experiences of cannabis retail
stores.
Moved by Lenard Lind
Seconded by Nikki Alber
Page 3 of 12
Cannabis Retail Review Task Force Meeting Minutes
February 19, 2026 4
1. That the Member Motion - Councillor Gallo; Re: Cannabis Retail Review
Task Force be received; and
2. That the Cannabis Retail Review Task Force comments regarding
Member Motion - Councillor Gallo; Re: Cannabis Retail Review Task
Force be received and referred to staff for consideration and further
action as appropriate.
Carried
8. Informational Items
None.
9. New Business
The Task Force further inquired about the information to be collected, and the
possibility for members to receive the collected data in advance of the published
agenda to allow sufficient review time, including location requirements for
opening cannabis retail stores and review of the appropriateness of existing
locations; business occupancy trends including closures and reasons; data on
the number of rejected applications and cancelled licences; the frequency of
compliance inspections; and the possibility to implement a code of conduct.
The Task Force provided clarification on the AGCO (Alcohol and Gaming
Commission of Ontario) oversight of the cannabis industry, including evaluations
and licence approvals, compliance inspections, and compliance investigations.
Staff and the York Regional Police representative agreed to collect and provide
the required information for review at the April 16, 2026 Task Force meeting.
10. Adjournment
Moved by Judy Collins
Seconded by Megan Bamford
That the meeting be adjourned at 7:41 p.m.
Carried
Page 4 of 12
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Town of Aurora
Memorandum
Corporate Services
Re: Review of Cannabis Retail Stores
To: Cannabis Retail Review Task Force
From: Patricia De Sario, Director of Corporate Services/Town Solicitor
Date: April 16, 2026
Recommendation
1. That the memorandum regarding Review of Cannabis Retail Stores be received; and
2. That the Cannabis Retail Review Task Force comments regarding Review of Cannabis
Retail Stores be received and referred to staff for consideration and further action as
appropriate.
Background
At the February 19 meeting, the Task Force requested that staff provide further
information, such as access to any letters of opposition to specific locations and
responses or feedback; clarification on zoning for cannabis retail stores; the scope of
engagement with other communities and their best practices; data to be obtained from
the York Regional Police; complaint data, and the possibility to gain more recent
feedback from the community on its perception and experiences of cannabis retail
stores.
Information that was readily available online was sent to members of the Task Force in
advance of this meeting to allow sufficient time to review. Most of the information
requested is found in previous Council reports or on the Alcohol and Gaming
Commission of Ontario (“AGCO”) website.
This memo will summarize the publicly available information and will also address the
remaining information requested, where available.
Page 5 of 12
Review of Cannabis Retail Stores
April 16, 2026 Page 2 of 4
Analysis
Attachment 1 provides links to some of the information requested, including access to
any letters of opposition to specific locations and responses or feedback and clarification
on zoning for cannabis retail stores.
On January 19, 2019, Town Council received Report Nos. CS19-001 and CS19-004 and
moved to opt-in and permit cannabis retail stores. These reports provide background
information relating to retail cannabis stores, including the legal framework, the zoning
permissions and the added restrictions that Council requests that the AGCO consider
when reviewing retail store authorization applications.
As mentioned in these reports, the Town does not have the authority to license private
cannabis retail stores or prohibit them as a land use from any other permitted retail use
within the town. However, private cannabis retail stores are still required to comply with
zones and standards in the Town’s zoning by-law and the Official Plan that apply to all
retail stores.
Further, the AGCO is not under any obligation to take Council restrictions or public input
under consideration; instead, it is only required to follow the restrictions and
requirements set out in the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018. This legislation prohibits retail
cannabis stores within 150 metres from a school or private school, as defined in the
Education Act.
In addition, a decision to allow retail stores is final and cannot be reversed (i.e. Council
can not opt-out of permitting cannabis retail stores now that it has made the decision to
permit them).
On May 16, 2023, Town staff brought Report No. PDS23-062 to Council, which provided
an update on the locations of cannabis retail stores within the town. This update
included objection letters from the Town to the AGCO on the various retail store
authorization applications.
Attachment 2 provides a chart that shows the complaints that Bylaw Services responded
to from the date of opt-in (2019) to March 29, 2026 and a chart that shows the outcome
of proactive patrols from March 9, 2026 to March 29, 2026.
The review of complaints encompasses all registered retail cannabis businesses within
the town as in identified by ward only. The complaints that Bylaw Services received
Page 6 of 12
Review of Cannabis Retail Stores
April 16, 2026 Page 3 of 4
were either directly from the public or from a resident through the Mayor’s Office or a
Councillor. The types of complaints received are related to parking, signs or dumping
(refuse).
Parking Offences
Bylaw Services received various types of parking complaints such as parking within 15
meters of an intersection and parking for more than the posted time limit on any street.
By-law Officers have attended and documented their findings in Attachment 2
(Complaints). This chart includes all Penalty Notice(s) issued to vehicles for any parking
violation in and around the areas of the complaint property.
Sign Offences
Bylaw Services has received multiple sign complaints, for either feather banner, A-
Frame, or Flag signs erected on the properties, or on a sidewalk near the properties.
Bylaw Officers have taken necessary enforcement action, as indicated in Attachment 2
(Complaints) and have informed these properties of the Sign Bylaw requirements,
including all enforcement actions and permits required for having any sign(s) on their
respective properties.
Dumping (refuse) Offences
These offences fall under the Clean Communities By-law. Bylaw Services has received
several complaints from area residents regarding the patrons of the cannabis retail
stores. Upon exiting the property after a purchase, patrons may consume the product
and then discard the waste on the ground or street. Due to moving vehicles and wind
conditions, these items may end up on the roadway or on private properties.
There have also been complaints of individuals intentionally discarding their waste
(dumping) onto private properties not affiliated with the cannabis retail store. By-law
Services have conducted investigations into these matters, gathered the necessary
information and have issued order(s), when necessary, as indicated in Attachment 2
(Complaints). No Penalty Notices have been issued for these types of occurrences.
Noise Offences
Bylaw Services has not received any complaints relating to noise at these properties to
date. However, Bylaw Officers will continue to investigate any potential noise
Page 7 of 12
Review of Cannabis Retail Stores
April 16, 2026 Page 4 of 4
complaints received respecting these properties and will take appropriate enforcement
action, where necessary.
Enforcement Initiatives
For most of March, By-law Services did proactive enforcement (i.e. officers attended
each of the registered businesses on a daily and nightly basis to conduct inspections,
during and after operating hours absent a complaint). Attachment 2 (Proactive Patrols)
shows the number of inspections that have been conducted. Bylaw Officers did not find
any violations.
Attachment 3 provides information relating to the calls for service conducted by YRP
during the period of March 31, 2024 to March 31, 2026.
In collecting the data, the incidents that were focused on were theft-related
occurrences, robbery (commercial and street-level), assaults, mischief to property,
commercial break & enter, extortion, impaired driving investigations in proximity and
calls for service trends (if requested).
Attachments
1. Public Information
2. By-law Services Report
3. YRP Report
Page 8 of 12
Attachment 1 – Public Information
Clarification on legal
requirements, including
zoning for cannabis retail
stores
Reports CS19-001 and CS19-004
Agenda – Special Meeting of Council – Monday, January 21,
2019
Letters of opposition to
specific locations and
responses or feedback
Report PDS23-062
Agenda
Location requirements for
opening cannabis retail
stores
Reports CS19-001 and CS19-004
Agenda – Special Meeting of Council – Monday, January 21,
2019
Also see question 4 on FAQs from AGCO website
Review of the
appropriateness of
existing locations
Reports CS19-001 and CS19-004
Agenda – Special Meeting of Council – Monday, January 21,
2019
Business occupancy
trends including closures
and reasons
Status of all applications on AGCO website
Data on the number of
rejected applications and
cancelled licences
Found on the AGCO website
Location requirements for
opening cannabis retail
stores
Reports CS19-001 and CS19-004
Agenda – Special Meeting of Council – Monday, January 21,
2019
Also see question 4 on FAQs from AGCO website
Other helpful information –
FAQs from AGCO website
FAQs
Page 9 of 12
Attachment 2 – By-law Services Report
Complaints (from opt-in date to March 29, 2026):
Dispensaries Ward # Parking
Complaints
Sign
Complaints
Clean
Communities
Complaints
Noise
Complaints
1 5 0 0 0 0
2 5 1 0 0 0
3 2 0 0 0 0
4 1 0 1 0 0
5 3 0 0 0 0
6 5 0 0 0 0
7 1 4 1 0 0
8 5 0 0 0 0
9 2 4 1 2 0
10 1 0 0 0 0
11 1 0 0 0 0
12 6 0 0 0 0
13 1 0 0 0 0
14 6 0 0 0 0
Page 10 of 12
Proactive Patrols (from March 9 to March 29, 2026):
Dispensaries Ward Parking
Issue
Sign
Issue
Clean
Communities
Issue
Noise
Issue
Number of
inspections
1 5 0 0 0 0 28
2 5 0 0 0 0 35
3 2 0 0 0 0 28
4 1 0 0 0 0 34
5 3 0 0 0 0 28
6 5 0 0 0 0 31
7 1 0 0 0 0 35
8 5 0 0 0 0 30
9 2 0 0 0 0 35
10 1 0 0 0 0 29
11 1 0 0 0 0 27
12 6 0 0 0 0 30
13 1 0 0 0 0 32
14 6 0 0 0 0 31
Page 11 of 12
Number Name Address CFS Reports Remarks Complaint Area? 1 Maple Leaf Cannabis 2 Allaura Blvd Suite 7, Aurora 0 0 No criminal offences reported. No calls for service No. 2 Tokyo Smoke Aurora 14800 Yonge St, Unit 114, Aurora 0 0 No criminal offences reported. No calls for service No. 3 Ashario 15114 Yonge St, Aurora 17 4 No criminal offences reported. No calls for serviceYes. Complaint area established due to ongoing dispute with other business operator at this location. 4 Alpha Cannabis 118 Wellinton St E, Aurora 0 0 No criminal offences reported. No calls for service No. 5 Jane's Cannabis Shop 160 Wellinton St E Unit 3, Aurora 0 0 No criminal offences reported. No calls for service No. 6 CannaEra 15543 Yonge St Unit 1, Aurora 0 0 No criminal offences reported. No calls for service No. 7 Nature's Haze 15570 Yonge St, Unit 8, Aurora 1 1 Business was defrauded No. 8 Malibu Road 150 Hollidge Blvd, Unit 5, Aurora 0 0 No criminal offences reported. No calls for service No. 9 Sessions Cannabis - Aurora 15480 Bayview Ave Unit D0103, Aurora 1 1 Retail Robbery - no arrests made. No. 10 Value Buds 650 Wellington St E Unit A12, Aurora 1 1 Shoplifting - no arrests made. No. 11 Fika Local Cannabis 91 First Commerce Dr Unit 13, Aurora 3 1CFS - 3 x False Alarm, 1 Shoplifting report, no arrest No. 12 The Woods Cannabis 16015 Bayview Ave Unit B2, Aurora 0 4 FTC x 1, Retail Robbery - 3 arrested/charged, 1 shoplifting, 1 fraud No. Criminality and Calls for Service - Cannabis Dispensaries - Aurora - March 31, 2024 to March 31, 2026Attachment 3 - York Regional Police (YRP) ReportPage 12 of 12