Council approves Multi-Year Accessibility Plan for 2025 to 2029
Newmarket Council wants Newmarket to be one of the most inclusive and welcoming communities in Canada, which is why it is a priority to constantly strive to meet the accessibility needs of the community. Council approved the Multi-Year Accessibility Plan for 2025 to 2029, which provides an opportunity to update the Town’s implementation strategy, demonstrate current achievements, and identify barriers and future priorities.
Accessibility planning involves many forms of consultation, including the Accessibility Advisory Committee, which encourages and facilitates accessibility for all persons with disabilities in the Town of Newmarket.
The Staff Report also included a 2023 and 2024 status update on the prior Multi-Year Accessibility Plan outlining completed actions, which included:
- The completion of the Mulock Multi-Use Path (Phase 1), which replaced 1.5 and 2-metre concrete sidewalks with a 3-metre asphalt multi-use path. The new asphalt trail provides a smoother surface and eliminates typical concrete sidewalk joints that are cumbersome for individuals who use mobility devices.
- Offering free one-on-one support for Summer Camp participants and recreation program/drop-in participants who required additional support.
- Adding an accessible seating section at the Town’s Music Series.
Learn more about Council Priorities and how we’re setting the stage for an extraordinary future at councilpriorities.newmarket.ca.
Newmarket Library celebrated a year of growth and community connection
In 2024 the Newmarket Library loaned more than 622,000 physical and digital items for the community to enjoy and discover. At Committee of the Whole earlier this month, Council received a presentation from the Newmarket Library highlighting the 2024 accomplishments outlined in their Annual Report to the Community [PDF/4.3MB].
Offering more than just books, the Library is a destination and powerful resource for the community offering a host of programs and services, along with their robust book collection.
As part of their mission to be anything and everywhere, community outreach played an important role for the Library, increasing their presence at community events, introducing more residents to the Library than ever before. This included visiting all of the high schools in Town to connect with students and sign them up for Library cards.
The Library continued to offer exciting and engaging programs and saw more than 550 children sign up for their Summer Reading Club – a 100% increase over 2023!
Watch the presentation to hear more about the Library’s successes in 2024 and learn about what’s coming this year.
Visit newmarketpl.ca to find programs or sign up for a membership!
Council discusses Detached Additional Residential Units (DARUs)
In a Council Workshop, Newmarket Council discussed what future housing options could look like in Newmarket with Detached Additional Residential Units (DARUs).
DARUs are self-contained dwelling unit with a private kitchen, bathroom facilities, and sleeping areas in a building ancillary to a house. These types of additional housing units can support unique housing needs of residents and support the Town’s housing pledge of 6,400 homes and the Provincial target of 1.5 million homes by 2031.
Provincial legislation requires municipalities to accommodate these units, and allows municipalities to regulate certain aspects like height, yard setbacks, fire and pedestrian access and maximum sizes.
Newmarket does not currently have zone provisions to regulate DARUs and at this time staff use residential accessory structure provisions when a DARU is proposed. The Town will continue to receive feedback before a recommendation report is proposed to Committee of the Whole at a future meeting. Watch the Council Workshop to learn more about DARUs.