King Township holiday closure and fireworks regulations

The King Township Municipal Centre will be closed on Monday, Aug. 5 in observance of the Civic holiday. ServiceKING will reopen on Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 8:30 a.m.

Essential services, such as fire and emergency response and Bylaw Services, will continue uninterrupted. During the closure, urgent Township matters requiring immediate attention will be handled by the after-hours answering service. For access to Township services and information online during the closure, please visit king.ca.

Below are some key points from Bylaw #2022-032, which governs the sale, use and display of fireworks within King:

• Fireworks may only be set off on Canada Day, the Victoria Day holiday and the third day of the Diwali Festival.
• Fireworks may only be set off between dusk and 11 p.m.
• Vendors must obtain a permit to sell fireworks within King.
• Fireworks must be set off at least eight metres away from any structure and three metres from property lines, public walkways or roadways.
• Fireworks cannot be set off on public land, including parks, parking lots or roads, due to potential fire hazards and the negative impact of loud noises on pets, livestock, wild animals and people sensitive to loud noises.

Fireworks cannot be set off within:

• 150 metres of a nursing home/facility, home for the aged, veterinary clinic/shelter, or any place where explosives, gasoline, or other highly flammable/combustible materials are stored.
• 150 metres of a place of worship, school, daycare, or nursery school without the written consent of the owner.
• 1,000 metres (one kilometre) of livestock, an equestrian facility, or operation without the written consent of the owner.
• 1,000 metres (one kilometre) of woodlands/forested areas, tall grass prairie habitat, wetlands and nesting birds without the written consent of the owner.

To report a complaint or concern, contact Bylaw Services directly at 905-833-5321 or by email at by-law@king.ca. Please report any issues as soon as possible.

Ensuring cottage safety

Headed to the cottage this holiday long weekend? The crew at King Fire and Emergency Services is sharing some cottage safety tips so you stay safe while enjoying your piece of paradise!

Fire safety: Install smoke alarms, clear brush, and maintain fireplaces to prevent fires.

Water safety: Use life jackets, supervise children, and avoid alcohol when engaging in water activities.

Security: Use alarm systems, motion-sensor lights, and lock up to deter intruders.

Wildlife awareness: Secure food, manage garbage, and avoid feeding wildlife.

Weather preparedness: Keep emergency kits, monitor weather alerts, and maintain trees.

First aid: Have a first aid kit and emergency contacts ready.

For more tips on protecting your cottage, visit king.ca/news.

Plenty of fun left at King's Summer Camps!

One month down, one more to go! The weather and the fun are sizzling at King Township summer camps, and there is still time to secure a spot for your little camper in a session this August. What camp life is like:

• tell fortunes & perform magic shows

• play with clay, different painting styles, self-portrait & collage

• archery, shelter building & geocaching

• destress with yoga & a spa day

• play games, sports, arts & crafts, theme days!

• compete in basketball or soccer, learn to skateboard & ride a scooter

For details and direct links to registration, visit king.ca/camps.

King bird photo contest takes flight

Calling all nature photographers (and birders)! Watch. Snap. Win.

The King Township Bird Team is proud to present the first annual King Township bird photo contest. Before they flock south for the winter, go outside and snap some photos of our featured friends who call King Township home (during the spring and summer).

Email your photos to environment@king.ca for a chance to win one of three bird-friendly prizes courtesy of Re/Max Experts The Diener Team.

The King Bird Team will select their top five favourite photos and then the top three photos will be voted on by the residents of King.

One photo per entrant and entrants must be a resident of King Township. Open to any age.

Deadline: The contest runs now through September 22.

Winners will be announced on October 12 (national migratory bird day!).

Age-friendly steering committee seeking members

32% of King’s population is over the age of 55 – and growing. To support ‘aging in place’ through senior self-care initiatives King Township is forming an Age-Friendly Steering Committee – and we’re looking for members!

If you have a soft spot for engaging with older adults, we encourage you to apply. As a committee member, you’d liaise with local business owners, community groups and residents to collect feedback (through surveys and focus groups) on how to enhance policies, programs, facility spaces and services for seniors. Feedback collected will be used to develop King’s Age Friendly Action Plan, which will serve the physical and social needs of King’s aging population for the next five years. The committee will meet in person once a month at the King Township Municipal Centre, starting in September (schedule to be determined and subject to change).

Identified as a priority in the 2023 – 2026 King Corporate Strategic Plan, the Township aims to become an ‘Age-Friendly’ Community by 2026. This means that seniors can ‘age actively’ (live safely, enjoy good health and stay involved) in the unique rural community of King they call home.

Applicants must be 55+ years of age, unless applying on behalf of a business or community group.

Apply by August 23 via email to seniors@king.ca.

Learn more at king.ca/seniors.

Enrich King helping groups that enrich the community

The new community grant program, Enrich King, is in full swing! The first round of applicants received funding in July with the Grants Committee awarding approximately $7,000 to community groups.

Congratulations to our grant recipients:

• Community Events Funding Stream: Kettleby Cemetery, King Theater Company, King Township Food Bank, Schomberg Horticultural Society, and Yellow Brick House.
• Environment King Funding Stream: Kinsland Community Garden.

While the Community Event funding stream's application deadline has passed, there are still three open streams with available funding:

• Special Initiatives: For new activities and initiatives addressing community needs.
• Inclusive Communities: For projects promoting healthy, safe, and inclusive community development.
• Environment King: For projects tackling climate change, sustainability, and environmental issues.

Grants of up to $1,500 are available for Special Initiatives and Inclusive Communities funding streams, and up to $5,000 for Environmental initiatives. The final application deadline is November 1, 2024.

Apply online at enrichking.ca. Learn more about the groups that received funding and how they're using them to build a better community at king.ca/news.

Questions? Email communityservices@king.ca.

Cold Creek Conservation Area

bursting with activities

Need summer staycation plans? Explore nature close to home at the scenic Cold Creek Conservation Area. Go on a FREE guided hike over 7km of marked nature trails or try your hands at archery, climbing or disc golf programs.

Save your spot in one of the following outdoor education programs running in August:

For the young ones:

• Low Ropes Legends

For the young at heart:

• Adult Archery

• Evening Climb

Age is only a number!

• Disc Discovery

• Altitude Adventures

Plus: save your spot in September’s ‘Guided Apiary Tour’!

For more information, visit coldcreek.ca.

Schomberg Farm barn renovations

News fresh from the farm! King Township has partnered with Trisan Construction to restore the iconic Schomberg Community Farm barn. This community-led initiative, driven by passionate residents and businesses, aims to maintain and expand King’s service levels through local fundraising efforts.

Work is already underway and will continue over the next 2-3 years, depending on available funding. The Schomberg Community Farm is a beloved hub for community events such as educational sessions, bonfires, scarecrow contests and produces flower sales. For more information on the farm and to follow progress of the restoration, visit schombergcommunityfarm.ca.

Everything old is (getting) new again

Two historic buildings located at the King Heritage and Cultural Centre (KHCC) are are getting some upgrades and cosmetic work.

The King Christian Church and King Railway Station are currently under construction.

Heating and electrical lighting are being installed at both heritage properties, as well as repainting of the interior walls and exterior wood paneling.

These structural enhancements will help make both facilities more conducive spaces to hold recreation and cultural programming and events, as well as attract permit holders.

Here's a brief history of the buildings:

King Chistian Church: Built by a group with ties to the Sharon Temple Children of Peace, the church  served the community of Kettleby for over 100 years first as the King Christian Church until 1931, and then as the King Emmanuel Baptist Church. After its congregation diminished to the point consideration was given to demolishing the building, it was moved to its current location at KHCC in 1982.

King Railway Station: Located just 23 miles north of Toronto on the Canadian National Northern Railway, the King Station operated from 1853 to 1967 and was the first stop on the way to Lake Simcoe. Now considered the oldest surviving railway station in Canada, the station was moved by truck from King City after 114 years of service. It was eventually moved to its current site in 1989.

The upgrades and cosmetic work is scheduled to be completed by later this year or early in 2025.

For more information, visit kingheritageandculture.ca.

King and Keele improvements

King Road will be reduced to one lane in each direction from September 2024 to December 2024, due to road improvements being completed by York Region. Additional temporary lane closures will be limited to Monday to Friday from 9:30a.m. to 3:30p.m. with traffic control persons directing traffic.

Work includes:

• Rehabilitating a bridge on King Road west of Keele Street that allows trains to pass freely under the road.
• Adding southbound and northbound left turn lanes on Keele Street at King Road

• Installing a new pedestrian signal on Keele Street, 100 metres south of King Road

Additional construction is planned for 2025, including rehabilitating a bridge on Keele Street, north of King Road and continued intersection improvements.

Impacts to travellers:

• The road will remain open to through traffic; however, lane closures are required
• Access to homes and businesses will be maintained

• Trucks are not permitted to turn at King Road from Keele Street until December 2024

• New parking/stopping restrictions will apply to Keele Street to support the new pedestrian signal and left turn lanes, including:
  • No stopping or parking anytime on the east side of Keele Street from King Road to 150 metres south, adjacent to All Saints Anglican Church
  • No stopping between 7a.m. and 9a.m., Monday to Friday on the west side of Keele Street from King Road to Elizabeth Grove

During construction, free parking is available at near-by municipal lots. This includes Memorial Park at 25 Doctors Lane and Wellesley Park at 2330 King Road.

For after-hours emergencies, please contact York Region’s Roads and Traffic Operations Centre at 1-877-464-9675 ext. 75200.

For general inquiries, contact Transportation Operations at 1-877-464-9675 ext. 75000 or via email at transportation@york.ca.

For more information on this project, visit Improvements coming to King Road and Keele Street | York Region.