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September 9 Council Highlights

This was the last meeting of the 2022-2026 Term of Council. The 2026 Municipal and School Board Election will be held in October. Learn more about voting options, locations and accessibility support at ElectionsEG.ca. 

Recognition of Outgoing Council Members  – Council recognized members who are not seeking re-election.   

Mayor Hackson  

Mayor Hackson has dedicated more than 25 years of service to the residents of East Gwillimbury. She was a Councillor for 10 years and Mayor for 16 years. Prior to that, she had a 30-year career in Parks and Recreation with the Town of Newmarket and served as a School Board Trustee for two terms. In addition to her municipal leadership, Mayor Hackson served on numerous regional boards and committees, including York Regional Council, York Regional Police Services Board, York Region Audit Committee, Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, Cedar Centre Board, Royal Oak Court Senior Housing in Mount Albert, Housing York Region, York Region seniors task force, and the York Region Broadband Strategy Task Force.  

Council expressed sincere gratitude to Mayor Hackson for her extraordinary commitment, leadership, and many years of service. Her contributions to East Gwillimbury will be remembered and appreciated for generations to come. 

Councillor Tara Roy-DiClemente  

Councillor Roy-DiClemente has dedicated 16 years of service to the Town of East Gwillimbury. She served as an at-large Councillor for eight years and more recently when the municipality adopted a ward system, she served as a Ward Two Councillor for the last eight years. 

Councillor Foster 

Councillor Foster served as a Ward One Councillor for two terms from 2018 until 2026. Prior to running for Council, Councillor Foster had a 30-year career with the Town of East Gwillimbury, working in Emergency Services.   

Councillor Lahey 

Councillor Lahey served as a Ward Three Councillor from 2022 until 2026. Councillor Lahey resigned from her position as she was recently elected as the MPP York-Simcoe.  

Heritage Designations – Following the prior issuance of a Notice of Intention to Designate (NOID) Council passed 24 heritage designation by-laws. Impacted properties have received notices from the Town, and will enter into a 30-day appeal period. Impacted parties can contact the Town at mchuang@eastgwillimbury.ca with any questions or clerks@eastgwillimbury.ca to appeal.  

Watch this and other meetings online at youtube.com/TownEastGwillimbury.
Contact Council
Image of community members behind a raised community gardenbed
Let's Grow Together! Community Gardens Survey Now Open
EG is exploring opportunities to support community-managed gardens and we want to hear from you. Community gardens are shared outdoor spaces where residents can grow vegetables and flowers, learn about urban food gardening, connect with neighbours, and contribute to local food security. We're looking for feedback on resident interest, preferred locations, and ideas for the community gardens. Complete the survey here: eastgwillimbury.ca/EnvironmentalAction
Image of E-scooter
Ride Smart: E-Scooter and E-Bike Safety
York Regional Police are reminding residents about e-scooter and e-bike safety. Anyone under the age of 16 is not legally permitted to operate an e-scooter or e-bike.
Help keep everyone safe:
  • Yield to pedestrians and give them plenty of space.
  • Keep right and pass on the left when it is safe to do so.
  • Alert others when approaching by using your bell or a friendly greeting.
  • Slow down when passing other trail users and at crossings.
  • Wear a helmet and use lights or reflective gear, especially in low-light conditions.
  • Keep your device in good working order, including brakes, bell and tires.
  • Stay focused and avoid using handheld devices while riding.
  • Follow posted signs and trail rules.
  • Maintain a safe speed and do not exceed 20 km/h on trails.
  • When using EG’s trails, remember they are shared spaces for walkers, runners, and micromobility users, including cyclists, e-bikes, scooters, and skateboards.
Learn more and find trails near you at eastgwillimbury.ca/Trails.
Help Design East Gwillimbury's Official "I Voted" Sticker! 
Calling all young artists in Grades 4–6! EG is inviting students to design the official 2026 Municipal and School Board Election "I Voted" sticker. The winning design will be printed and handed out to voters during the election. This is a fun opportunity to learn about local government, celebrate democracy, and showcase your creativity. 
Contest Details:
  • Open to EG residents and students in Grades 4–6 
  • Submission Deadline: October 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. 
  • The Town will share the top submissions and the community will help vote for the final winner! 
  • The winning student will be recognized by the Town and have their button distributed on election day  
Visit ElectionsEG.ca for contest rules, templates and submission information. 
Learn, Play, and Stay Active: Fall Registration Now Open
Don’t miss out on your favourite activity this fall! Registration is open for fall recreation programs and programming starts the week of September 28.
Program highlights include: Register to play your favourite sport, dance, do arts and crafts, explore cooking and baking, and even book a birthday party. View the guide by visiting eastgwillimbury.ca/Guide.
Silver Screamers Movie Screening
Lights, camera, action! EG is excited to share an exclusive screening of the documentary Silver Screamers. Open to anyone 16+, get your tickets now for the screening taking place on September 23 at 1 p.m. at SilverCity Newmarket (18195 Yonge Street). Silver Screamers is a documentary that follows a group of spirited seniors as they embark on an extraordinary adventure far outside their comfort zones: making a horror film. Don't miss this unique big-screen experience. Come celebrate the stars, the filmmakers, and the magic of moviemaking. Enjoy a 30-minute Q and A session with the film producer and cast after the movie.

Tickets are limited; visit eastgwillimbury.ca/SeniorEvents for details.
Welcoming Week Celebration
EG and the East Gwillimbury Public Library (EGPL) are celebrating Welcoming Week with a free event open to all residents. The event has a variety of free, pre-registered activities that aims to welcome newcomers. Join us on September 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the HALP.
Some of the free, pre-registered activities include:
  • Indigenous drum teachings where participants can learn about the sacred role the drum plays in Indigenous cultures and experience traditional teachings firsthand
  • Gardening workshop featuring seed gathering and harvesting from the demonstration garden
  • Cooking and story time workshop with author Nadia Hohn, where participants will prepare banana fritters, puff puff, and fried plantains while exploring culture and community through food
  • Indigenous beading workshop where participants can learn traditional beading techniques and create their own piece to take home
  • Intro to bachata and salsa dance classes that welcome beginners and are designed to get everyone moving
View the full schedule and register now at eastgwillimbury.ca/WelcomingWeek.
Repair Café
Love It. Break It. Fix It. Give your broken items a second chance at a York Region Repair Café! In partnership with EG, the EGPL and NewMakeIt, this free event on September 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the EGPL Queensville Branch (160 Jim Mortson Drive), connects York Region residents with volunteer fixers. They can help repair everything from clothing and jewelry to bicycles and small household items.

To register, visit york.ca/RepairCafe. 
Celebrating the Arts presented by Rice Group
In honour of Ontario Culture Days, join us for a community-wide celebration of the arts, cultures, cuisine, and heritage that make EG so special! Presented by the Rice Group, Celebrating the Arts is a dynamic event designed to connect the community through engaging artistic experiences, cultural expression, and shared moments of creativity for the whole family to enjoy. The event takes place on September 26, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the HALP. The Town is currently calling vendors and artistic activations to join our event that showcase a broad and dynamic mix of artistic and cultural experiences.

For event details or to become a vendor, visit eastgwillimbury.ca/CelebratingArts.   
Fire Prevention Week Open House
Join EG Fire and Emergency Service for its Fire Prevention Open House on September 26 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Queensville Fire Station 2-8 (1590 Queensville Sideroad). This free outdoor event will feature educational displays, live demonstrations, community partners, family-friendly activities, food, and more.

To view the schedule of events, visit eastgwillimbury.ca/FireOpenHouse.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day
Join us to recognize National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day with the following:
Flag Raising - at the Civic Centre on September 29 from 3 to 3:30 p.m.
Exhibit - at the Civic Centre on September 29 from noon to 4 p.m. and September 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
To show support and solidarity, we encourage everyone to wear an orange shirt. Learn more at eastgwillimbury.ca/NDTR.
Older Adult Health, Wellness and Information Fair
Join us on October 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the HALP for East Gwillimbury’s Older Adult Health, Wellness and Information Fair. Connect with staff from EG, the EGPL, and a variety of local and non-profit organizations to learn about programs, activities, services and supports available to older adults in our community. Discover valuable resources, explore opportunities to stay active and engaged, and connect with organizations dedicated to supporting healthy aging.

For more information on the event and other older adult programs, visit eastgwillimbury.ca/SeniorEvents.
We’re Hiring! Join Team EG:

Seasonal HALP Visit eastgwillimbury.ca/Careers to apply.
Love Local
Support the places that support EG by shopping local. Our local businesses help make EG vibrant, connected, and welcoming. Supporting local businesses throughout the year strengthens our community. Learn more at advantageeg.ca/egloveslocal. 
Support for Your Business 

Help Shape EG’s Economic Future
EG is updating its Economic Development Strategy for the next five years, and we want to hear from you! Share your priorities for supporting local businesses, attracting investment and growing our economy for a chance to win one of two $250 EG Loves Local prizes. Learn more at AdvantageEG.ca/EcDevStrategy
 
Farm to Fork Returns 
One of our favourite local food events is returning, celebrating the incredible farms, producers, and flavours that make EG special. Returning on October 3, from the farm to your fork, come discover the best of our community’s local agriculture and enjoy a true taste of local. Learn more at centralyorkchamber.com/farm-to-fork
 
Business Plan Bootcamp Applications Open 
Business Plan Bootcamp is a free eight-week entrepreneurship program from YSpace York-Simcoe at York University, designed for aspiring and existing business owners. Participants receive expert-led workshops, eight hours of one-on-one mentorship, bi-weekly support from a program officer, and in-person peer networking. 

Learn more and register at AdvantageEG.ca/YSpace.
A Career in Crime and Investigation
Join the Friends of the EGPL for an in-person author event with Hank Idsinga on September 23 at 7 p.m. at the Civic Centre. Hank will offer a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at his 34-year policing career, from patrolling Toronto’s 14 Division to becoming an award-winning homicide investigator and head of Canada’s busiest homicide unit. Tickets are $15 for members and $20 for non-members; ages 18+.

For more information, visit egpl.ca.
Find details on upcoming events