Newcomers is a regular series featuring the impressions and experiences of residents who are new to Newmarket. To share your story, send an email to [email protected]
Prior to settling in Newmarket last April with her four kids, who range in age from 13 to 22, Sharon Gilbert had lived on both the East (Nova Scotia) and West (British Columbia) Coasts of Canada, and many places in between.
When the family moved to Ontario, they first lived in Keswick but Gilbert's daughter attended school in Newmarket, so they were familiar with the nearby town.
Gilbert's limited time in Newmarket was spent shopping or walking on Main Street, she said, but it wasn't until after the family relocated that she discovered just how much the town has to offer.
Gilbert has discovered Fairy Lake and Riverwalk Commons but she is especially awed by the sheer volume of parks and trails to explore. Newmarket boasts an impressive 800 acres of parkland and more than 44 kilometres of walking and biking trails.
"We never really explored it that much but we've been really impressed with how many parks and trails and just the history, too," she said.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been kind of hard to interact with people, she said, but they have managed to meet and chat with other residents on their walks and said people seem very friendly.
Gilbert, a native of Scarborough, had never been to the area as a child but remembers when a Grade 8 classmate arrived from Newmarket — "It seemed like he'd come from another planet. It seemed so far away when I was little."
Newmarket seems much bigger than it is and she continues to find places, both in Newmarket and nearby, she's never been to.
"There are parts I never even knew of. I grew up in Ontario and I'm like, 'Oh, I didn't even know that it was so big.' There are lots of different areas," said Gilbert.
Her 1-1/2 acre property allows Gilbert to feel secluded but she loves the fact that she can still walk to coffee shops and stores nearby, she said.
"I really like that aspect of it. At home, you kind of have that naturey, peaceful vibe but if you need to go get something, it's very convenient."
Another aspect of Newmarket Gilbert loves is its rich history and the Town of Newmarket's efforts to preserve it.
Gilbert and her family have an interest in historic homes and they especially appreciate the plaques identifying a property's origins and any family who might have lived on it.
"They have the little plaques of who used to live there so it's really neat for us to like look up 'who was that person?' They seem to protect the history more. We walk on historic Main Street and there's that vibe that they really protect the history. "
Gilbert looks forward to a time when restrictions lift and she can contact the historical society and visit the Elman W. Campbell Museum to learn more about her new home's history, adding it would be "neat" to compare photographs of Newmarket from the past with how it looks now.
Gilbert and her kids have only experienced the town under the cloud of a pandemic, which has limited their ability to take part in community events, something the family enjoys doing normally, but even so, it hasn't stopped them from embracing Newmarket.
"It feels like home. I like it here."
