Our community’s canvas is becoming more and more victim to the colorful, illegal eyesore know as graffiti. Although many consider the spray-painted pieces a nuisance, graffiti has been gaining recognition from the art world more and more as a legitimate form of art.
Although it’s artistic merits can be quite lovely graffiti is still in fact a form of vandalism. Artists tag both public and private property, which becomes costly for tax payers and business and property owners.

Hate graffiti is motivated by hate, bias or prejudice, based on race, nationality, ethnic origin, language, colour, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, or any similar factor. Hate graffiti is considered very serious and should be report to York Regional Police.

Vandalism based graffiti includes writing, painting or tagging of public property. Graffiti can be prevented if it is reported and removed as soon as possible. Removing graffiti within 24 to 48 hours makes it easier to clean and reduces the notoriety for graffiti vandals from having their work on display.

Here are some tips via the Town of Newmarket to help prevent / reduce graffiti:

•   Remove graffiti quickly
•   Use anti-graffiti coatings
•   Reduce access to walls (e.g. fencing, landscaping)
•   Restrict access during high-risk times (e.g. lock gates at night)
•   Increase lighting.
•   Increase surveillance (e.g. plan activities during high-risk times, situate staff at high-risk locations, arrange security patrols, involve neighbours, install CCTVs, use alarms or movement-activated lighting)
•   Use materials and coatings to deter graffiti
•   Reduce the size and number of walls through landscaping, colour, texture, art or design

If you notice graffiti on public or private property in Newmarket, please contact our Customer Service department at 905-895-5193, online here, or through the Newmarket 'my-waste' app using the ‘report a problem’ feature.

If you see graffiti or vandalism in progress, please call 911. Graffiti is a crime and should be reported to the York Regional Police. View Newmarket's Anti-Graffiti bylaw 2011-67 for more information.

By working together, sharing information, ideas and being engaged in our community we can achieve results for Ward 6 together.

Graffiti the art of Vandalism the Town of Newmarket