Thanks to your support and loyal readership, our news team of local reporters is growing.
Our readers, page views, supporters and advertisers have skyrocketed in the last year and a half, and as promised when we launched NewmarketToday in September 2018, Village Media is committed to investing in local journalism and our communities.
We're also expanding our community partnership program and launching Community Connections, an editorial advisory group, later this summer.
We're excited to introduce our three new reporters, and thank you for your continued support.
Reach out to us any time, follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and we continue to welcome your feedback, news tips and letters to the editor.
— Debora Kelly, editor, [email protected], 905-895-1432, ext. 1169
Newmarket, I have fallen for you
Joseph Quigley, municipal reporter, [email protected]
Newmarket is a very easy place to fall in love with.
The picturesque downtown enthralled me as an occasional visitor, with its vibrant bustle, pleasant storefronts, and wonderful green spaces. It was clear to me there was a lot the community had to offer — which made the thought of working here as a reporter for NewmarketToday a tantalizing proposition. Thus far, it has been as wonderful as I expected.
So, to Newmarket, I say salutations, and I hope I can offer something in return.
My drive as a reporter is to help others and bring light to issues that people in power may be reluctanct to talk about. Local news is vital to showcasing what is happening in our communities, which would go unnoticed by big city outlets otherwise.
I moved around in the GTA growing up, but have since worked at rural newspapers across the country. I started my career in Alberta in Whitecourt and Athabasca, before coming back to Ontario to work in Haliburton for the past couple of years. Newmarket has been my first opportunity to work in a large centre, and I relish the challenge.
Municipal politics fascinate me and I am glad to focus on it as part of the NewmarketToday team. The happenings of your local council chamber often have a bigger impact on your life than what happens at Queen’s Park or Ottawa, but get so much less coverage in comparison. I hope I can dig into Newmarket politics and make them digestible and relatable. It is my job to hold the council to account, but I will always be fair in my coverage.
Besides that, I have strong interests in social justice, volunteer service, gaming and, unfortunately, the Toronto Maple Leafs. But whatever the topic, I am always happy to hear about the interests of the people around me, and uncover great stories in those interests.
So feel free to send me a message if you want to talk about whatever is on your mind. I promise I will serve Newmarket to the best of my ability and give this alluring place something good to read about.
Deeply connected to community
Elizabeth Keith, general assignment and breaking news reporter, [email protected]
On the corner of a quiet street in the north end of Aurora is the quaint house my grandparents built in 1954. Now over 60 years later, I am the third generation of my family to call this place home. Suffice to say, I’m a lifelong resident of this town and part of a family with deep connections to the community.
I grew up spending my days at the Aurora Public Library, Trinity Anglican Church, and attending Regency Acres P.S. and later Dr G.W. Williams S.S.
Of course, growing up here often meant trips north to Newmarket for shopping, eating out, and participating in countless activities and events. I can’t say how many hours I’ve spent at Upper Canada Mall, Riverwalk Commons and Stardust Drive-In theatre (technically in East Gwillimbury, I know) are also particular favourites of mine.
Our communities are closely connected. I’ve always thought that Aurora and Newmarket go hand in hand, sharing a hospital and major shopping centre, and provincial and federal elected representatives after the electoral districts shifted in the early 2000s.
That’s why when given the opportunity to report on a community so close to home, I jumped at the chance.
I graduated from Carleton University with a bachelor of journalism in 2017. Since then, I have covered breaking news and human interest stories, including interviews with Murray Sinclair and Elizabeth May. I have been recognized as a finalist in the RTDNA Canada Awards.
For me, reporting is all about telling stories. I love talking with residents, business owners, and our politicians to find out what’s happening and how it affects the lives of those in the community.
While the major news networks deliver a wide breadth of stories and connect us to places around the world, local journalism fills a gap by giving people stories that directly impact their daily lives, whether it’s a collision along their typical route or celebrating a local resident doing good for the community.
I strive to make people feel represented by the work that I do and inform them about the world that’s right outside their front door. I hope that in my role as a reporter with NewmarketToday I can continue to do that and meet many of you along the way.
When I’m not on the job I love spending time with my family, baking (and eating) tasty treats, singing my heart out, and taking in a healthy dose of Netflix.
Passionate about diversity, social justice
Michele Weisz, social issues reporter, [email protected]
Diversity and social justice has always been my passion and I'm so excited to be the new social issues reporter.
Prior to joining NewmarketToday, I worked as a general news reporter and photographer in communities throughout Ontario.
Local news is so important because it highlights issues that people may not have been aware of and allows readers to gain a better understanding of their neighbours. Local journalism allows me to really get to know people in the community and learn about what's important to them.
I'm looking forward to telling your stories, learning about how you are impacted by the world around you and revealing issues that can create positive changes.
I'm new to the area, so I can't wait to explore it and meet the community.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any concerns or issues (or even to let me know about which of your favourite places I should explore).
