Hello 2018! Councillor Kelly Broome 2017 Year End Review
Working together building great communities North Summerhill South Summerhill and Armitage Village.
I can hardly believe it’s already 2018 (2017 was SUCH an amazing year). A new year, full of so much possibility, new memories, highlights, new friendships, and ups and downs just waiting to be experienced. I thought a reflection on our accomplishments in 2017 was in order and a quick look ahead of what is to come in 2018.
This blog is a short snapshot of the current happenings, topics, achievements, and the future of our Ward 6 neighbourhoods. More can be found on my website and social media all found at kellybroome.ca Simply enter the key word you are looking for information on or send me an email.
In 2017 we successfully completed our third outdoor ice rink built and run entirely by volunteers. The Ward 6 Community Ice Rink was one of my first projects I put forward with the support of my council colleagues and town staff to satisfy the need for more free outdoor recreation. The rink is located in the North Summerhill area on the Whipper Billy Watson baseball diamond, always in use and I am happy to say very well respected, shared and maintained by our community.
We created a close partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), along with a public information centre in order to share information to help residents living with wildlife. http://www.newmarket.ca/coyotes
This partnership led to the first Coyote sighting reporting app http://www.newmarket.ca/coyotesighting
The town took a significant step forward to have 80% of townwide sidewalks cleared, and by December 2017 to be at 100%.
There were many heart warming stories from our hospital notably Lawrence Southlakes Littlest Superhero from Southlakes Cancer Centre POGO and the opening of Margaret Bahen hospice.
We joined 187 other countries in Earth Hour #changeclimatechange.
We became the first municipality in York Region to approve voting online for the 2018 municipal election.
Newmarket skater Gabby Daleman made Canadian history on world stage and Ward 6 South Summerhill Keira Kenny brought home a gold and silver medal participating with Team Dance Canada in the World Dance Championships in Poland.
Belinda’s Place after only being in operation since December 2015 received the Character Community Hero Award.
Ward 6 Community events like tree planting thanks to our partnership with the Neighbourhood Network and the LSRCA we planted over 400 trees and shrubs at Armstrong Family Park & Emily Grove Park behind the homes and along the trail.
Ward 6 Community Clean up saw its 12th year and three more neighbourhoods and schools have joined in to help keep our parks and neighbourhoods clean. Terry Fox School Fun Fair, Mom’s on the Run Relay for life, Clearmeadow BBQ, Armitage Village Healthy Food program received their first food growing tower, Sir William Mulocks Graduating class of 2017, and celebrated their 16th Birthday, St. John Chrysostom Catholic School hosted the 3rd moonlight movies featuring Pete’s Dragon.
Natures Emporium Run Walk for Southlake surpassed their goal and raised over $100,000 and was able to run past Southlake Regional Health Centre.
Our Ward 6 Business Community members AllMed Health, CDA Dance, Bill Gosling Outsourcing, and Functions Studio’s were nominated and received best Business Awards and Achievements.
York Regional Police, Central York Fire, VIVAnext and the Ontario Safety League joined forces with me to host our community safety open house and helped with the successful launch of our three traffic calming pilot projects happening in the South Summerhill and Armitage communities.
The Trinity Glen housing community received funding and grant approvals to convert over 100 townhouse units from costly electric heating systems to Samsung ECO heating and Air conditioners. Saving hundreds off hydro bills thanks to the work by their Board of Directors, trinity also enjoyed a fun and successful garden contest.
Ward 6 saw new parks, park enhancements and safety upgrades this year at Seneca Cook, Jim Bond, Joe Persechini Park and the completion of the Tom Taylor Trail. With more in the works at Keffer Parkette, Whipper Watson Park, Foxtail Ridge Parkette and last but certainly not least ward 6 first community splash pad is approved and fully funded by our recent December 2017 approval of the 2018 budget. The Splash Pad will be located at Dr. Margaret Arkinstall Park next to Terry Fox School in the South Summerhill Community. A public information centre will be scheduled soon to obtain your input on what the Dr. Margaret Arkinstall Splash Pad could look like.
We celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday across our communities, through our Canada day, remembrance day events, Santa Claus Parades, and New Years Eve First Night. We also celebrated our many incredible volunteers through our community awards and our Canada 150 volunteer medals presented by our MP Kyle Peterson.
... and so much more. I am very proud of the engagement and the care I see coming from our community. By working together, sharing information, ideas and being engaged in our community we have achieved results for Ward 6 together. I am looking forward to so seeing and doing so much more in 2018.