Newmarket Voters to cast Electronic Ballots in 2018
(I AM SHARING THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS ARTICLE FROM THE March 27TH 2017 EDITION OF 'NEWMARKET NOW!' SEND YOUR FEEDBACK OR SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE EDITIONS BY SENDING COMMENTS TO COMMUNICATIONS@NEWMARKET.CA)
- Newmarket Voters to Cast Electronic Ballots in 2018
- Adoption of Power of Entry By-law
- Hours of operation for downtown patios extended
- Hollingsworth Arena
Here's what happened at the Council Meeting on March 27, 2017:
Newmarket Voters to Cast Electronic Ballots in 2018
Newmarket Council is the first municipality in York Region to adopt a fully electronic Municipal Election for 2018. Residents will now be able to cast their vote online or by telephone from anywhere they have an internet or telephone connection. Next year, Newmarket voters will have an opportunity to participate in a more environmentally-friendly, accessible and convenient method of voting. In addition to being able to cast their ballot remotely, voters will also have the option to attend in-person locations equipped with electronic voting stations available on certain dates and times. Stay tuned for regular updates from the Town’s Legislative Services Department on information about the new voting process. Newmarket voters - get ready to “turn your views into votes” online! For more information, please visit the Town’s website to learn more about Internet Voting.
Adoption of Power of Entry By-law
Newmarket Council adopted a Power of Entry By-law for the purposes of carrying out inspections, which will assist By-law Officers in addressing health and safety issues on properties when owners are not available.This By-law only applies to exterior property inspections and does not apply to interior property inspections. An example of a situation of where the Power of Entry provision may be used is where a pool enclosure has not been properly secured and the By-law Officer was not successful in contacting the property owner, the Officer can enter onto the property to address the safety hazard under this provision. Many of the Town’s By-laws already include a Power of Entry clause, so residents will not see a noticeable change in the way By-law Officers conduct their inspections. Officers always attempt to seek permission from property owners before entering on their property. For more information, please call the Town of Newmarket at 905-895-5193.
Hours of operation for downtown patios extended
Following positive feedback from the Downtown Patios Pilot Project, which launched in 2015, Members of Council approved a recommendation to extend the operating hours of restaurant patios participating in the Downtown Patio Program from 10 to 11 p.m. during the patio season. The extension in operating hours will only apply to the four restaurants participating in the Program.This initiative was also supported by the Newmarket Main Street District Business Improvement Area.
Hollingsworth Arena
The Hollingsworth Arena will remain a public space for the community after Council did not approve a proposed development plan in the area. The Arena is owned by the Town and designated as a mixed-use property under the Town’s Secondary Plan. Last year, Town staff underwent a public consultation process including a Public Information Centre related to the future of the property and will use the information gathered during that process to consider next steps for the land.
Minutes for the Town of Newmarket Council Meetings, outlining Council decisions, is available under Agendas, Minutes and Meetings on the Town of Newmarket website. For more information or to view the reports, visit newmarket.ca
Save the date! Mark these events in your calendar:
Marquee Theatrical Productions presents: Disney's "The Little Mermaid"
March 30 to April 9: Join us for Marquee’s adult cast production, based on one of Hans Christian Andersen's most beloved stories and the classic animated film, Disney's The Little Mermaid at the Newmarket Theatre (505 Pickering Crescent). This is a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages. With music by eight-time Academy Award winner, Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater and a compelling book by Doug Wright, this fishy fable will capture your heart with its irresistible songs, including "Under the Sea," "Kiss the Girl" and "Part of Your World." Visit newtix.ca for more information.
Remembering the Forgotten: Canada's British Home Children
April 1 to 15: The Elman W. Campbell Museum and the British Home Child Group International presents this new exhibit at Newmarket's Old Town Hall (460 Botsford Street) from noon to 8 p.m. Over 10 per cent of the current Canadian population are descendants of British Home Children. These children were sent to Canada to work as domestic and farm workers from 1869 to 1939.
Eggceptional Easter Fun
Saturday, April 15: Hop on in to the Elman W. Campbell Museum (134 Main Street South) for an egg-citing afternoon from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Meet the Easter Bunny, enjoy Easter displays, activities, egg decorating and light refreshments. Don't forget to bring your camera! Suitable for ages four to 10 years. Cost is $5 per participant (pre-registration required).
Wavestage Theatre Company presents: Anything Goes
April 20 to 23: Wavestage Theatre sets sail with the delightful, Tony Award-winning Anything Goes at the Newmarket Theatre (505 Pickering Crescent). Set aboard the S.S. American, the singing-dancing ocean liner overflows with wealth, sailors, a stowaway, gangsters, an evangelist, Wall Street brokers and the most irresistible of showgirls, the brassy-but lovable Reno Sweeney. When the S.S. American heads out to sea, etiquette and convention get tossed out the portholes. A madcap musical comedy with shining example of classic musical theatre complete with epic tap dancing and a wonderfully unexpected and romantic happy ending. Visit newtix.ca for more information.
Sean McCann in Concert
Saturday, April 22: Join Sean on his journey to find his own peace, love, and happiness at Newmarket's Old Town Hall (460 Botsford Street) at 7:30 p.m. “You Know I Love You” is a happy collection of songs sung by a man intent on sharing his joy directly with you. The world has changed. Today the only thing left between Sean’s music and those who wish to share it is a cellphone. Despite how small social media has made the world, and how it has included all of us into the same conversation with a simple hashtag #, the basic human quest for a connection to something real is too difficult to fit in just 140 characters. Luckily, through the years of technological advancement and subsequent social change, two universal energies remain constant - music and love.Tickets are $40 plus tax, all seats are general admission.Visit newtix.ca for more information.
An intimate evening with award-winning guitarist David Howard
Saturday, April 29: Guitarist David Howard is a classically trained and an award-winning first place Silver medallist from the Royal Conservatory of Music Toronto. Join David at Newmarket's Old Town Hall (460 Botsford Street) at 7:30 p.m. as he meshes intense guitar playing together with a strong flamenco/Latin improvisational strain. David’s spectacular concerts are very intense, dramatic and highly emotional - audiences are wowed by his performances. David’s sensual Latin Flamenco inspired guitar style will melt your heart and set your soul on fire! Tickets are $22 plus tax, all seats are general admission. Visit newtix.ca for more information.
HollisWealth Story Pod Re-opening
Saturday, May 6: Stop by the re-opening of Newmarket’s HollisWealth Story Pod at Newmarket’s Riverwalk Commons (200 Doug Duncan Drive). The HollisWealth Story Pod is your new favourite place to read, learn, be inspired and engage with your community. Take a book to read at your leisure. Once you’ve finished enjoying it, please bring it back or bring another book you’d love to share with your community. The HollisWealth Story Pod, in design and function, encourages you to open your heart and mind to life’s possibilities similar to the way a book does. The HollisWealth Story Pod would not be possible without the generous donation by Scott Munro, Bill McTavish and Ted Kurello of HollisWealth Newmarket along with the pro-bono design and building of the Story Pod by AKB, in addition to the support from Scholastic Canada and the Newmarket Public Library in supplying the books. The HollisWealth Story Pod is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (weather dependent). Visit newtix.ca for more information.
Newmarket Community Clean-up
Saturday, May 6: Help keep Newmarket clean and enjoy a day outdoors! Meet at the Municipal Offices (395 Mulock Drive) at 8 a.m. Gloves, garbage bags and clean-up maps are provided for residents to clean surrounding streets and parks. Following the clean-up volunteers will enjoy a free ‘thank-you’ BBQ lunch from noon to 1 p.m., along with music, activities and other fun for the entire family.
Winter Parking Regulations
Residents are reminded that parking restrictions continue until April 15. It is strictly prohibited to park a vehicle on any roadway: that may interfere with the clearing of snow, between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. from November 1 to April 15, for more than three consecutive hours except between 7 and 11 p.m., in front of, or within two feet of a driveway or laneway. For more information, cal 905-895-5193 or visit newmarket.ca
Living with Wildlife
When natural food sources are scarce, wildlife will search for food which often leads to sightings in residential areas.
To reduce the potential of wildlife encounters here are some tips:
- Limit food sources
- Keep barbecues clean and covered when not in use
- Secure garbage in durable plastic containers with locking lids
- Store garbage indoors until collection day
- Maintain compost in containers that keep wildlife out while allowing for ventilation
For more information regarding living with wildlife, visit the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) websit.
Yard waste begins on April 4
Yard waste collection begins in Newmarket on Tuesday, April 4 and will be collected every second week until the last week of November. There is no limit for the amount of yard waste that can be placed for collection as long as the material is placed at the curb in paper organic yard waste bags, or open containers with open handles and does not exceed 22 kg (50lbs). Please do not use blue bins or plastic bags for yard waste. These items should not be placed with yard waste: Kitchen scraps, grass clippings, rocks, dirt, sod, tree stumps, larger branches, flower pots/trays, painted or treated wood and animal droppings.
Newmarket records a 3.1 per cent reduction in electricity consumption for Earth Hour
On Saturday, March 25, Newmarket residents and businesses joined millions of people around the world in taking a stand on climate change by participating in Earth Hour 2017 and powering down lights and electronic devices for 150 minutes in celebration of Canada's 150th Birthday beginning at 8:30 p.m. Newmarket reduced electricity for Earth Hour by 4.03 megawatts – a 3.1 per cent reduction when compared to a typical Saturday night in March. This is equivalent to removing 1,600 homes off the grid for an hour.
Newmarket celebrates Canada150
Weekly Canada 150 themed events, initiatives and fun-facts will be featured in the Town Page every Thursday in the Newmarket Era. Get involved and make the most of Canada 150 with Newmarket!
For more information on Newmarket’s Canada 150-related events and initiatives, visit newmarket.ca/Canada150
Look out for the Canada 150 branding/logo around Town such as our facilities, our communication materials, our website, our ice rinks, Newmarket vehicles and more as we celebrate and highlight this national milestone