Contacts

Municipal Office

395 Mulock Drive P.O. Box 328 Station Main, Newmarket, Ontario
L3Y 4X7
905-895-5193

Email Us

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ View all News and Notices 

  • Newmarket supports York Region’s approach to keeping our patrons safe

    Created: Thursday, September 30, 2021

    ​Newmarket will continue with its approach for 12-17-year-olds participating in organized sports, as announced on September 21, 2021, with enforcement starting November 1

     
    A Letter of Instruction has been released from York Region’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr Karim Kurji, that effective October 1, 2021, all persons aged 12 and older, including those playing, coaching, and spectating organized sports must be fully vaccinated.

    The Town of Newmarket respects and supports the Letter of Instruction by York Region as a necessary and fair approach to keep our patrons safe. The Town will comply with the new instructions and request identification and proof of vaccination, or a valid medical exemption for all facility entrants aged 12 and up; however, to ensure that users have time to comply with the new guidelines, the Town will take an education-first approach until November 1, 2021. These Instructions are being put into effect to help contain the spread of COVID-19, including the highly transmissible Delta Variant and other Variants of Concern. York Region will spend the next several weeks focused on communication and education related to this Letter of Instruction, with escalated measures, including enforcement, to follow.
     
    Activities related to organized sports have the potential to increase COVID-19 transmission. Close contact, heavy breathing, long exposure times, crowded indoor spaces and masks removed during physical activity all contribute to increased risk of COVID-19 transmission. In order to maintain opportunities for sport the Town of Newmarket must remain diligent in ensuring the safety of participants.

    Newmarket will continue with its approach for ages 12-17, and coaches/volunteers/officials participating in organized sports, which will require full vaccination starting November 1 as previously announced. The Town will continue to request compliance and check vaccination status, however, individuals in this age group and coaches/volunteers/officials currently participating in organized sports will not be turned away if they are unable to provide proof of vaccination or medical exemption until November 1, 2021, when full enforcement will begin. We recognize this requirement may cause inconvenience for some residents, businesses and sports organizations, however, it’s important to note that 75% of York Region youth aged 12 to 17 are fully vaccinated and 82% have received a first dose. In the past two months, almost all COVID-19 related deaths and hospitalizations have occurred in individuals who were not vaccinated or partially vaccinated.

    “While we appreciate the fatigue and frustration felt by everyone we must remain diligent in keeping our community safe,” says Mayor John Taylor “We are excited to get back to sports and it is important that we continue working together to ensure the safety of our participants and staff to allow up to avoid any further closures of facilities. We kindly ask community members to be respectful and understanding with staff who are in the difficult position of enforcing regulations and have no latitude to change them.”

    These requirements are in pursuant to the provincial announcement on September 1 which stated that as of September 22, 2021, those entering certain indoor public settings will be required to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of their vaccination status.
    Fully vaccinated means all participants must have proof of two doses of a Health Canada Approved Vaccine or one dose of the Jansen (Johnson and Johnson) vaccine, plus a two-week waiting period from their last dose.

    Proof of vaccination is not required for the following:
    • Children age 0-11 do not need to be vaccinated
    • Those with medical exemptions. Participants will need to provide proof of medical exemption with a medical letter from a doctor or nurse practitioner  
    All participants will be screened and asked to show the following:
    1. Proof of completion of the Town of Newmarket’s public screening survey
    2. Hard copy / digital copy of your proof of vaccination (two doses of a Heath Canada Approved Vaccine or one dose of the Jansen (Johnson and Johnson) vaccine dated at least two weeks prior to entry into a Town facility.
      1. You can obtain a copy of this medical record through the Province of Ontario’s webpage.  
    3. A piece of ID that includes your full name and date of birth. (i.e. Driver’s License, Health Card, Government-issued identification card etc.)