2022-2026 Council Term Accomplishments and Council Priorities
Over the past four years, Newmarket has made extensive progress on 2022-2026 Council Priorities. A new Community Report will soon be released, highlighting the work, priorities and achievements of the 2022-2026 Council term. From community projects and services to meaningful investments across town, the report offers a snapshot of how Newmarket continues to grow as a caring, forward-thinking community.
There were five key areas for Council Priorities this term:
- Community and economic vibrancy – We are attracting and retaining amazing people and businesses to ensure Newmarket’s long-term viability.
- Customer-first way of life – We are ensuring the community has timely access to services that enhances their quality of life.
- Extraordinary places and spaces – We are creating exceptional experiences for the community in shared and accessible public spaces.
- Environmental sustainability – We are preserving our environmental assets and addressing climate change for our future generations.
- Diverse, inclusive and welcoming – We are building a strong, healthy and equitable community where everyone feels an unwavering sense of belonging.
Once finalized, the report will live on the Town’s website and in the form of a limited print run, celebrating how Newmarket continues to become a caring, bold community committed to being a leading municipality.
Watch the presentation to hear more.
Newmarket’s Queen Street Bridge Rehabilitation Work Awarded Transportation Project of the Year
Council celebrated the Queen Street Bridge Rehabilitation Project, which recently received the Ontario Public Works Association's (OPWA) Transportation Project of the Year Award. The project was recognized for excellence in project management, administration, and collaboration among all project partners, including local businesses, residents, utility companies, consultants, contractors, and public agencies.
Completed on schedule and under the construction budget, the project was an important investment in public safety, infrastructure renewal, and connectivity for the community.
The project began in 2023 and involved the replacement of the Queen Street Bridge over the Metrolinx rail corridor (between Main Street and Prospect Street). The bridge replacement was identified through regulatory structural inspections of the bridge and was coordinated with Metrolinx to support the Future GO Transit Expansion and electrification of the GO Transit rail corridor.
Construction was completed in two phases. Phase One involved significant Bell Canada utility relocations, including directional drilling for telecommunications conduits, cable splicing, and network reconfiguration. Phase Two included the bridge replacement. Given the bridge's location over an active rail corridor, extensive coordination with Metrolinx was required throughout construction to ensure the safety of workers and uninterrupted train operations. To minimize impacts on GO Transit service, several critical construction activities were completed overnight during planned rail closures.
Learn more about the project at HeyNewmarket.ca/QueenBridge or watch the presentation.
Residential Parking Study Update: Options Presented to Council
Town staff and the project consultant presented emerging options for the Residential Parking Study to a Special Committee of the Whole, marking an important milestone in the study. This presentation builds on community engagement and data analysis to help address parking challenges across Newmarket’s low- and medium-density neighbourhoods. This phase also draws on detailed background analysis, including surveys, parking utilization data, and a review of best practices.
What We Heard and Observed
The background work highlighted several key trends:
- Hotspot areas have higher population densities than the Town average, including a higher percentage of townhouse and semi-detached dwellings.
- Resident parking practices and patterns does not always align with existing parking standards and policies, with many households seeking greater flexibility in how on-site parking can be accommodated, balanced with fair and consistent enforcement.
- Higher density residential areas and proximity to transit and medical uses appear to be driving on-street parking demand and violations in certain hot spot areas.
- Broader research shows that on-street parking supply can be underutilized or inefficiently used in some areas.
To better understand these patterns, the Town also undertook a Driveway/Walkway Pilot Study, which provided on-the-ground insight into how parking spaces are being used and where current regulations may not reflect real-world conditions.
Options Presented
Based on these findings, the project team presented a range of potential approaches to improve how off-street and on-street residential parking is managed, including:
- Three off-street front yard parking options that balance increased parking flexibility with preservation of soft landscaping.
- Potential adjustments to expand the current municipal overnight parking lot program (winter only).
- Exploring year-round overnight parking on select streets (excluding days with winter snow events).
These options were informed by best practices from other Ontario municipalities and feedback obtained through resident surveys, internal working groups, and community engagement. The discussion also recognized the need to balance convenience with broader objectives such as neighbourhood character, safety, and sustainability.
Council’s feedback will help refine the options as the study moves into its next phase. Additional engagement opportunities will be provided, ensuring residents can continue to shape the final recommendations.
A final report with recommended actions will be brought forward to Council for consideration in 2027. Learn more by visiting HeyNewmarket.ca/ResidentialParkingStudy or watch the presentation from Special Committee of the Whole.
Town earns Municipal Challenge Award from the Southlake Foundation
Newmarket’s strong commitment to caring about its people and community was evident during this year’s Nature’s Emporium Run for Southlake. Council was presented with the Municipal Challenge Award which recognizes the Town of Newmarket as the largest fundraiser of all six municipalities.
Each dollar raised helps Southlake provide leading edge care, close to home. This year, the Run for Southlake raised more than $500,000!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the walk/run and helped support one of Newmarket’s greatest assets.
Watch the presentation to see more.