Stand Apart Together

Website banner for Stand Apart Together campaign

Since March 27, the Town of Newmarket has appointed nearly 50 Community Positivity Ambassadors. On and offline, they have helped spread positivity, happiness, humour and united our community in more ways than one. Now more than ever, we need to keep uplifting each other's spirits.

Our Stand Apart Together program has been a huge success and we want to thank all of our ambassadors for showing us the bright side of Newmarket during unprecedented times. Although we are no longer nominating new ambassadors, our efforts are not over. We're turning this great program over to you and everybody in the community to embrace. Let's continue to #StandApartTogether, Newmarket!

Get Involved

Join the community Facebook Group #StandApartTogether headed up by our very own Chief Positivity Officer! Get a positivity boost or share some positivity yourself.
Share a short story about fellow Newmarket residents, Town staff, non-profits and businesses going well beyond the ordinary to uplift our community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Post it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #StandApartTogether and tag the Town @townofnewmarket for a chance to be featured.
Not on social media? Email your story and photo.

#StandApartTogether Initiatives

Community Positivity Ambassadors

Tasked with spreading positivity, happiness and humour, the Community Positivity Ambassadors will use social media to share stories of Newmarket’s bright side and of perseverance in a difficult time. Each embodies the Newmarket spirit and already acts as a local beacon of hope.

Below are the 49 official Community Positivity Ambassadors nominated by members of Council and the community. Feel free to visit their social media pages and encourage them by sharing and commenting on their messages to spread positivity to every corner of Newmarket. We welcome each of you to join them and become a Community Positivity Ambassador by spreading encouragement, honour and kindness as we #StandApartTogether.

Current Community Positivity Ambassadors

Carolyn Rusin

Julia Mellary

Takeaway Lunches

For those most vulnerable in our neighbourhood, the Town is working with Inn from the Cold, the Newmarket Food Pantry and other community organizations to offer takeaway lunches on weekdays, in partnership with Pickle Barrel.

Helping Newmarket Seniors’ Meeting Place Members Stay Connected

Town Staff, Mayor and Members of Council launched the Stay Connected initiative with interested members of the Newmarket Seniors’ Meeting Place. Each week, we’ll check in on our senior members, just to chat. We’ve also launched a weekly bulletin newsletter to share fun activities and interesting news (the latest grandchild) to help members stay connected from afar.

Appointing the first Chief Positivity Ambassador

While we work to raise the community spirit, we also want to ensure Town staff providing essential services continue to see the light too. That’s why the Town has appointed its first Chief Positivity Officer – Jamie Boyle. A resident himself, Jamie is one of the helpful and cheerful voices on the Customer Service line and embodies positivity and perseverance.

Home Sweet Home

Looking for ways to stay active & engaged while staying at home? Newmarket's Recreation & Culture department has launched a new web resource – Home Sweet Home.

This virtual hub is a curated collection of helpful, healthy, educational and fun ideas for the whole family to enjoy while staying at home and physically distancing. Each week, Town staff will share their favourite links and resources to help residents stay active, entertained and connected at home.

In the hub, residents can enjoy content such as recipes, at home workouts, virtual field trips to museums, live online entertainment, crafts and DIY projects, online library resources and much more.

Residents are encouraged to share their Home Sweet Home moments on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter to help others discover fun ways to pass the time at home. Share on your favourite platform with #HomeSweetHome #Newmarket and tag @TownofNewmarket.

This initiative is just one of the many ways the Town is helping Newmarket citizens flatten the curve and stay engaged until we can once again open our facilities and deliver the great programs and events residents love!

Stay Vigilant & Flatten the Curve

While its important to focus on ways to improve a community's collective mental health; residents must also practice the latest recommendations from public health experts to flatten the curve. Please stay vigilant - self isolate, social distance and stay home when possible.

"We can't let down our guard but we can reach out through social media and the phone every day with some positive stories and positive thoughts," reminds Mayor Taylor. "Newmarket is a community that cares deeply for one another – today our Community Positivity Ambassadors are ready to start the wave of positivity that we can all share with each other. Keep smiling Newmarket – even in tough times."