King lands Junior A hockey team in time for 2024/2025 season

Exciting news for hockey fans! The OJHL's Brantford 99ers are relocating to King Township for the 2024-2025 season, rebranding as the "King Rebellion" to honor local history.

Their home games will be at the new Township-Wide Recreation Centre, opening this fall. Coach Mark Joslin, the 2023/24 OJHL Coach of the Year, will lead the team. The team's new jersey was unveiled at the May 27 Council meeting.

The Rebellion will be coached by Mark Joslin, who was named the 2023/2024 OJHL Coach of the Year and was a finalist for this year’s CJHL Coach of the Year award.

Joslin took over as head coach of the Brantford 99ers in the summer of 2023. Under his leadership, the 99ers’ record went from 5-46-1-2 in 2022-23 to 26-26-0-4 this season. His four previous seasons with the Toronto Patriots included being named OJHL Executive of the Year in 2018 and he has also coached with the OJHL’s North York Rangers, Aurora Tigers, Pickering Panthers and Stouffville Spirit.

The TWRC, where the King Rebellion will play, is the first such publicly funded structure in Canada to achieve the Canada Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Building Design Certification. The facility will include an aquatics centre, two NHL-sized ice rinks, an artificial turf fieldhouse and a multi-use community space.

June is Parks and Rec Month

Each June, communities across Ontario celebrate June is Recreation and Parks Month as a way of promoting the benefits of being active and recognizing the contribution that recreation and parks make to quality of life.

From June 1 to June 30, King Township has lined up 30 days of recreational activities for all ages, abilities and interests. Here’s how you can celebrate:

• Destress by dancing or doing outdoor yoga
• Play basketball, volleyball, pickleball and shinny hockey or go skating
• Make an Indigenous Dot Painting with a Métis artist
• Workout at the Trisan Fitness Centre
• Go on guided hikes or a bird walk and talk at Cold Creek Conservation Area
• Take aim at disc golf (free rentals!)
• Lend a green thumb at a wildflower or herb planting event
• Explore over 100km of scenic trails or take a trip to the playground!

To learn more about what King Township is doing to celebrate Parks and Rec Month, view the month-long calendar of activities, available online at king.ca/recreation.

Heritage Award nominations now open!

Do you have a favorite historic building in King Township? The King Township Heritage Advisory Committee is now accepting nominations for the prestigious Heritage Award which recognizes a building that has heritage significance.

Nominations can be submitted online at king.ca/heritage until June 28.

The Heritage Advisory Committee will evaluate the nominees based on predetermined criteria, focusing on cultural heritage value and interest. They will also assess the extent to which a property stands out due to the creativity used in its conservation and the evident commitment from current owners to maintaining or improving the building.

The winning property will be honored with a framed artist’s rendering of their home at a Council meeting later this year.

Food and Drink Fest is almost here

Calling all food and drink connoisseurs! You have until 11p.m. on June 7 to buy advance tickets for the King Food and Drink Fest, presented by event sponsor Zancor Homes, on Saturday, June 8 from noon to 9p.m. at Memorial Park in King City. Formerly known as the King City Craft Beer & Food Truck Festival, this year’s event will feature some of the best bites and bevies in the area.

Nosh on culturally diverse cuisines (from Asian to American) and sip (so many!) libations – whiskey, beer, cider, cocktails, and even mocktails. Enjoy non-stop live entertainment by musical talents, Toronto-based alt-rock staple Birds of Bellwoods who will open for Canadian indie-pop act and headliner New Friends. The line-up of performances also includes Housewife, Drives the Common Man, Ash Malloy, Skye Wallace and Bernadette Connors.

For the little ones: a kid’s zone featuring face painting, lawn games and access to the splash pad.

Advanced Music Event Pass: $16.95 (includes HST)

Advanced Beverage Sampling Event Pass: $28.25 (includes HST)

For details, and to purchase tickets, visit kingfooddrink.ca.

Here comes the sun! Limited spots left in summer camps

The countdown to summer in King Township– and the long break from school – is on! Parents: no need to panic, there are still (some) camps with availability. Whether your child is a young artist or chef, a challenge course climber, sports superstar or science wiz there is a camp in King that they (and you) will love!

To view availability and register online, visit king.ca/camps.

FoodCycler pilot program

Did you know that up to 50% of household waste is composed of food waste? Starve the landfills, feed the earth by adding a new kind of ‘appliance’ to your kitchen: a FoodCycler, which recycles your food waste into a reusable resource for gardening.

King Township has partnered with Food Cycle Science to establish a pilot program that offers King residents a (heavily) discounted rate on one of two types of FoodCycler machines:

FC-30 Model: $150 plus HST (retail value $500)

Eco 5 Model: $300 plus HST (retail value $800)

100 units are available to residents for purchase, with pick-up at either King Township Municipal Centre or Trisan Centre on June 6-7. Reserve your FoodCycler at king.ca/FoodCyclerPilot.

Splash pads are now open

Beat the heat at a splash pad near you! Our water play features are open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Enjoy the splash! Locations: Memorial Park, King City; Tasca Park, Nobleton; Hickstead Park, Schomberg. More information at king.ca/parks.

Repair Cafe

Do you have a blender that’s broken or a sentimental item you would love to have repaired? Bring back happiness and let our skilled “fixers” breathe new life into your items at the Repair Cafe. It takes place Saturday, June 15 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. located at the King City Seniors Centre in the King City library branch. Register online at york.ca/RepairCafe. Questions? Email repaircafe@newmakeit.com.

Great deals in King Chamber of Commerce coupon booklet

The King Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with King Township, has launched a new coupon booklet featuring exclusive offers and discounts to local businesses.

Discover amazing deals and support your favourite local businesses – including 10% off a summer camp session, fitness membership, recreation program or sports league.

View the Coupon Booklet online at coupon.kingchamber.ca/coupons.

Learn all about bumblebees with free webinar

Who’s up for an un-bee-lievable learning program? King Township has partnered with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority to offer a FREE, fun and educational Bumblebee Watch Learning Program online (via Zoom) so nature lovers can discover the diversity of native bees.

Learn how to tell a bee from a wasp, and how to identify common bumble bees in the Greater Toronto Area. Recommended for ages 6+. The webinar happens on Tuesday, June 18 from 7 - 8 p.m.

Register at king.ca/EnvironmentalEvents.

Water and wastewater bill due June 27

Property owners receive six water bills this year instead of four, for the billing cycle ending in February, April, June, August, October, and December reflecting two months of usage.

The second bill was mailed on May 24. Payment is due by June 27.

Register for the Township's ebilling service to receive an electronic version of your water utility bill directly to your email. Late payments are charged 5% after the due date.

To avoid missing or late payments sign up for automatic withdrawals through the Township’s Pre-Authorized Debit Program (PAD).

Download the ebilling and PAD enrollment forms online at king.ca/waterbilling.

Take in a Story Walk at the King City library branch

King Township Public Library now offers the Story Walk! Enjoy reading a children’s book page by page on laminated poster boards along a path, park, or outdoor space. "The Darkest Dark" and "Outside You Notice" are this year’s featured stories. Check out "Outside You Notice" at King City Library today!

Grasscycling

King Township is reminding residents that grass clippings are not accepted for yard waste collection. Instead, residents are encouraged to leave grass clippings on their lawns, a practice known as grasscycling, which offers several benefits for both the environment and lawn health.

Why grasscycling?

Reduce waste: Grass clippings account for up to 75% of yard waste in landfills. By leaving them on your lawn, you significantly reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.

Improve your lawn: Grass clippings are made up of 85% water, helping your lawn retain moisture, especially during hot summer days. They also provide valuable nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which are found in most lawn fertilizers.

Save money: By grasscycling, you reduce the need to purchase fertilizers as the clippings naturally provide essential nutrients to your lawn.

Save time: Leaving clippings on the lawn eliminates the need to stop and bag them, making lawn maintenance quicker and easier.

For more information, visit king.ca/yardwaste.

Clean Yards

Warmer weather means it's time to tidy up! King's Clean Yards By-law sets standards for property maintenance, including litter and waste. Regularly mow your lawn and trim weeds to keep your property looking neat. To file a complaint or get tips for keeping your yard clean, visit king.ca/cleanyards.