Newmarket has achieved various environmental milestones and garnered recognition for the community's ongoing commitment to being clean and green.
2022
2021
- Newmarket in partners with Newmarket Hydro and Hydro One to install EV charging stations at various Newamrket facilities.
- Newmarket Council bans use of single-use plastics (SUPs) such as plastic cutlery, straws, stir sticks and black plastic at all Town facilities and events. To further Newmarket’s commitment to the environment, the Town will continue to identify opportunities to further reduce or eliminate the use of non-essential SUP products.
2020
- Council declares a climate emergency for the Town of Newmarket
2018
- Town purchases Mulock Farm Estate for a Central Park to create more greenspace for residents to enjoy
2017
- Lions Park Wetland Project Completed
- Town subsidizes LEAF Backyard Tree Planting Program
- Ray Twinney Complex Low Impact Development Stormwater Retrofit completed
- Town adopts Public Tree Protection By-law
2016
- Council Adopts Blue Dot Movement
- Forest Glen Low Impact Development Pilot Project completed
- Yellow Fish Road Project
- As a part of the Yellow Fish Road™ program, Town staff are painted yellow
fish near storm drains in the downtown area to highlight catch basins that
drain directly into the East Holland River. What goes into
Newmarket's storm drains flows untreated into local
watercourses, groundwater and into Lake Simcoe
- Community Energy Plan adopted by Council
- Newmarket began the two year process of developing a Community Energy Plan (CEP), a comprehensive long-term plan to identify ways to support our local economy by increasing our community's competitiveness, creating jobs in the energy sector, improving energy efficiency, and improving energy security. The CEP will look at the types of energy we use as a community, how much energy is used by our home and buildings, our travel, and how population, employment and land use impact our energy needs.
- Solar Installed on Magna Community Centre
- The system is a 500 kilowatt system and consists of 1950 panels on the roof.
2015
- Making the switch to LED's
- The installation of over 7,500 LED (light-emitting diode) street light fixtures throughout Newmarket was completed. The Town is expected to save over $300,000 in electricity costs annually while reducing service and operational costs by over $310,000 each year (including cost avoidance) as a result of the switch to LED fixtures.
2010
- Town Operations Centre built to LEED Silver Standards
- Located at Maple Hill Drive, the building is the first of kind.
2009
- Environmental Park in Northwest Quadrant Established
- Located in the Northwest Quadrant of Town and includes 200 acres of protected woodlands.
2008
- Noreen and the story of a green town
- In celebration of Canadian Environment Week in 2008, the Town of Newmarket produced Noreen & the story of a green town, the first storybook ever produced by the Town, which was distributed to all grade 1 students in Newmarket. This book captures a day-in-the-life of Newmarket's environmental heroine Noreen as she journeys through Newmarket along with a cast of eco-conscious characters, including Binny the green bin, and Lucy the Ladybug.
- Newmarket EcoLogic homes
- Newmarket is the home of Canada's first environmentally-friendly subdivision. In 2008, construction began on 34 EcoLogic homes. These homes will achieve and exceed specific environmental targets, including a 50 per cent reduction in household water draws, a 35 per cent reduction in overall discharge flows and a 60 per cent reduction in solid waste, greenhouse gas production and energy consumption compared to conventional homes. Newmarket was awarded a Sustainable Community Award from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) for this ground-breaking subdivision of LEED Platinum homes.
2007
2006
- Proud to be pesticide free
- In keeping with the Town's commitment to the environment, Newmarket passed a bylaw prohibiting the cosmetic use of pesticides on private and public property in 2008. Doing so encourages a more natural approach to caring for lawns and gardens ultimately benefitting the health of residents and their pets. For more information on how to be pesticide free, meet Newmarket's anti-pesticide expert Lucy the Ladybug.
- Honeywell Energy Saving Program
- A Town-wide energy savings program that will see the installation of over 7,500 LED (light-emitting diode) street light fixtures throughout Newmarket is currently underway. The Town is expected to save over $300,000 in electricity costs annually while reducing service and operational costs by over $310,000 each year (including cost avoidance) as a result of the switch to LED fixtures.
- Smart Commute Starts
2005
- Break the habit – Newmarket's Idle Free
- Newmarket's ant-idling campaign was launched in 2006 during Newmarket's anti-idling week. This campaign focuses on promoting the anti-idling bylaw, educating the public about the negative impacts of motor vehicle idling and promoting good habits motorist should adopt. For more information, visit Newmarket's idle free page.
2003
Newmarket Green Fund
The Town created a fund where one per cent of all municipal taxes collected for the purchase of environmentally significant lands in Town. In 2006 and 2007, Council reaffirmed this allocation of funds for environmental purposes and in 2007 used a portion of the fund to purchase a more environmentally friendly vehicle for parking enforcement. This fund is no longer in effect.
2001
Smog Summit: Clean Air and Climate Change
The Town of Newmarket continues to lead the way on many environmental fronts, including the ongoing assessment of its operational impact on the environment. Committed to the Partners for Climate Protection program since 2001, Newmarket Council is steadfast to improve our own community and our world by attending annual Smog Summits hosted by the Clean Air Partnership as part of the Greater Toronto Area Initiative.
