With the state of emergency extended by the Province of Ontario, the Town of Newmarket continues to focus on essential work in an effort to protect the health and safety of our staff and community. Please make note of the following updates and reminders:
General Inquiries
All general inquiries will be handled by Newmarket’s Customer Service Centre. They are available by telephone (905-895-5193) or email (info@newmarket.ca) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. For municipal emergency service outside these hours, please call 905-895-5193 and press 3 to be directed to our after-hours service number.
Facilities & Programs
Facility and Building Closures
All facilities and buildings in the Town of Newmarket remain closed until further notice. As such, Fitness Centre Memberships will continue to be on hold until facilities are re-opened. Members will not be charged during this time.
Spring Programs
All spring recreation and culture programs were cancelled. Individuals who registered for spring recreation programs should have now received a credit to their account. For more information, email recreation@newmarket.ca
Summer Camps & Programs
The Town will make a final decision on whether to operate its Camps and Summer Programs prior to May 20. If we are able to continue offering Summer Programs, registration will start on May 20 for residents and May 27 for non-residents.
The Summer Guide information is available online at newmarket.ca/activityguide.
Summer events
In compliance with York Region Public Health’s current guidelines for physical distancing, the following Town events have been cancelled for 2020:
- Tim Hortons Canada Day Kanata Festival and evening Fireworks
- TD Newmarket Music Series
- Kids Downtown
- Newmarket National 10 Minute Play Festival
- Newmarket Busker Festival
- Splash of Culture
The following third-party organized events have also been cancelled:
- York Region Pride Festival
- Newmarket Lions Artisan’s Festival
- Newmarket Craft Beer Festival
Visit the Town’s virtual recreation and culture hub -
Home Sweet Home - for DIY decor, backyard games, recipes and fun activities to celebrate our nation’s birthday with your housemates while enjoying Ottawa’s first completely virtual Canada Day celebration.
The Town will continue to monitor the evolving COVID-19 landscape, along with public health advice and explore a late Summer / early Fall event to reunite the community, if and when it is safe to do so.
Spring Clean Up
Spring maintenance programs
The following spring maintenance programs have been temporarily suspended until further notice.
- Textile Recycling Program
- Curbside Giveaway Days
Street sweeping on bike lanes has been completed and limited sweeping is underway to address critical areas.
The following spring maintenance programs will continue to be provided by the Town:
- Critical road repairs including pot hole repairs
- Residents can report potholes by using the ‘report a problem’ feature on the Recycle Coach App or to email info@newmarket.ca with the specific location of the pothole.
- Garbage, green bin, blue box recycling and yard waste pick-up.
- Winter maintenance sod repairs (starting soon)
Littering hot spots
The Ministry of Environment is advising against community clean up which is why it’s more important now than ever to be mindful of your own waste.
Here’s how you can help keep our community clean during COVID-19:
- Scoop your pet’s poop when out for a walk. If there isn’t a garbage nearby, or it is full, please bring it home and place it in your green bin.
- Having a snack on the trail? Bring a bag with you to take litter home with you to properly recycle or trash.
- Take all your items from the mailbox home to sort. Flyers too please!
- Securely tie garbage bags and don’t overfill your blue box. Try placing heavier items on top to prevent materials from blowing away.
- Always place used gloves and disposable masks in the garbage.
Town staff continue to empty garbage cans at parks and are also picking up spring litter in parks and open spaces to help keep our Town clean while it isn’t advised for residents to conduct clean ups.
Safely Enjoying the Outdoors
Trails, parks and open spaces
At this time, trails that fall within Newmarket’s geographical boundaries remain open as long as residents can continue to maintain physical distancing (stay 6ft. apart). Many of the Town’s trails connect to trails in different municipalities. When you are travelling along Newmarket’s trail system, you may encounter closure signs if the trail extends into a neighbouring municipality. Please obey closure signs to avoid fines.
Walkers, cyclists and joggers are reminded to practice safe physical distancing when using the public spaces. With the trails becoming busier due to the warmer weather, it’s important for the safety of all trail users to stay at least 6ft. away from each other.
Crossing bridges
The walkways on most Newmarket bridges are too tight to safely maintain a 6 foot distance from others. Consider bridge walkways one-way. When approaching a bridge residents should:
- Stop. Yield to other people crossing the bridge.
- Wait for an opening of at least 6ft. (1.8m) before proceeding to cross the bridge.
- Stay to the right side and do not stop on the bridge.
Bylaw enforcement approach
In alignment with the Town’s top priority, Bylaw Officers are focused solely on measures to protect our collective health and safety. With the warmer weather, Newmarket Bylaw Officers will continue to patrol our streets, parks and trails to educate and remind residents about the new and existing rules to ensure all residents can safely enjoy the outdoor space available. Officers will continue to take an education-first approach; however, fines will be issued when there is a need for public health and safety (e.g. if education is ignored). To date, the Town has only issued two fines under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act and three charges for dog off-leash, an existing bylaw that is extra important now in order to maintain physical distancing.
Watch this video to learn more about how the dog-off leash bylaw relates to COVID-19
Social gatherings
As it gets nicer and the pandemic rolls on, many are eager to get together. Residents are reminded that provincial emergency orders regarding social gatherings are still in place for the benefit of community health and safety. The Town urges residents to stay vigilant and use virtual tools to connect with friends and family. The Town is receiving an increasing number of complaints about social gatherings at homes and for teenagers and small groups playing on sports fields. To report a social gathering, please call the Town at 905-895-5193 (press 3 after hours) or emailing info@newmarket.ca.
Garage & yard sales discouraged
Based on the current social gathering limits ordered by the province, the Town discourages hosting seasonal gatherings, such as garage and yard sales due to the health and safety risk to attendees and the community at large.
Spring Wildlife
It’s currently wildlife mating season which means residents may see more wildlife from now through August -- a normal seasonal trend. For issues concerning wildlife, residents can call Animal Services at 1-877-979-PAWS.
Coyotes are also out more this time of year. Residents can visit
newmarket.ca/coyotesighting to report a sighting and see where other residents are seeing them.
Support for Residents & Businesses (recap)
Financial Relief Program
On April 27th, the Town announced Newmarket's Financial Relief Program to support residents and businesses by removing penalties and interest on property tax and water/wastewater, reducing rates, and more. Go to
newmarket.ca/propertytaxes for complete program details and timing.
Local Business Support
Newmarket’s Economic Development Office continues to support the business community during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Business Assistance Concierge Program, a partnership with the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce, is a virtual business and support and recovery centre, providing assistance to local companies during COVID-19. Local businesses are assigned a dedicated case manager who will help them with immediate needs and will continue to provide business recovery support once the COVID-19 pandemic has ended. Businesses can:
Shop Local Newmarket
The Town of Newmarket and the Chamber of Commerce have partnered on the Shop Local Newmarket initiative. Community members who are looking to support their favourite local businesses can purchase gift cards at
Newmarketchamber.ca/gc to either use now or to support a business that will be re-opening after physical distancing measures are lifted. Businesses can participate in the program by emailing
shoplocal@newmarket.ca From spas, salons and stylists to pubs and cafes, wellness services to fitness and sports, there’s a special gift or personal treat for everyone!
Check out
whereworkmeetsplay.com for ideas on how to connect with mom and remind her that she’s special this Mother’s Day.
Businesses that are interested in participating, can contact the Town of Newmarket at 905-895-5193 or email
shoplocal@newmarket.ca.
Go-to Resources
The Town of Newmarket will continue to take direction from Federal and Provincial Governments and York Region Public Health to limit the spread of COVID-19 locally.