'Urban energy': 10 things to know about Newmarket's past, present and future

50 per cent of today's high school students will never own a home, mayor says

Yorkregion.com
May 3, 2023
Lisa Queen

In a presentation called "Strong Communities Attract Strong Economies,” Mayor John Taylor gave a State of the Union address at his annual Newmarket Chamber of Commerce mayor’s lunch.

His speech on April 25 at the Old Town Hall focused on tactics the town uses to attract and retain businesses, the need for a range of housing options to accommodate everyone and leveraging the town’s cultural and public spaces and events such as the Pride Festival, Black History Month, Canada Day, Splash of Culture and more to create an “amazing” arts town brand to attract residents and businesses.

“People are looking for quality of life. They’re looking for urban energy. They’re looking for arts and culture, outdoor experiences, etc. and I believe we can deliver on that like few can,” he said.

Here’s 10 things to know from Taylor’s speech:

The population of Newmarket in 2022 was 91,481. It grew 4.4 per cent from 2016 to 2021. The average age of residents is 41.

At about one per cent, Newmarket is the slowest growing municipality in York Region. That compares to 11.9 per cent in Aurora, 44.4 per cent in East Gwillimbury, 4.9 per cent in Georgina, 11.5 per cent in King Township, 8.8 per cent in Whitchurch-Stouffville and 23.9 per cent in Bradford.

Those communities have traditionally turned toward Newmarket as a centre for health care, shopping and culture and arts. So, their growth impacts Newmarket.

The number of jobs jumped from 41,003 in 2016 to 48,044 in 2022, a 17.1 per cent increase.

Homeowners make up 75.8 per cent of homes in town, with renters making up the other 24.2 per cent. Newmarket has the highest percentage of tenants in York Region but York has the lowest percentage of renters in the Greater Toronto Area.

Amid the housing crisis, if there are no housing options for everyone in the community, the local economy won’t succeed. Meanwhile, the provincial government has slashed by about 20 per cent the development charges municipalities can charge developers on new construction for roads, sewers and other amenities.

Without an income of at least $150,000 a year, buying a home is unreachable. That’s leading to a massive demand for rental housing. Taylor believes 50 per cent or more of high school students today will never own a home.

The percentage of residents whose first language isn’t English or French has grown from 8.75 per cent in 2011 to 23.2 per cent in 2021. In 2021, the most common non-official languages spoken were Italian, Russian, Spanish and German. In 2021, it was Mandarin, Iranian, Persian, Russian and Cantonese.

The GTA is now the third largest population centre in Canada and the United States and is the fastest growing region in the two countries.

Newmarket is a leader in sponsorship agreements, which allows the town to have more events, attractions and spaces for residents, such as the New Roads Performing Arts Centre and the summer TD Music Series and the Art Gallery of Ontario displaying Canadian and Indigenous artwork at the future Mulock Park.