Safe Streets Start Here: King Township kicks off Safe Streets traffic safety campaign

Safe Streets Start Here! King Township is revving up for its Safe Streets Start Here traffic safety campaign, kicking off Sept. 3 with a four-week drive to make King’s roads safer.  

Each week in September, a critical safety issue will be spotlighted, from pedestrian awareness and bike safety to tackling impaired and distracted driving and curbing speeding. This month-long initiative aligns with the back-to-school season, emphasizing the importance of safer roads and sidewalks for everyone.

How You Can Get Involved:

• Follow @kingtownship on X, Facebook, and Instagram. Like, comment, share, and use the hashtag #SafeStreets to spread the word!
• Pick up a free “Safe Streets Start Here” lawn sign at the King Township Municipal Centre, any of our library branches, or the Trisan Centre. Let's create safer neighborhoods together!
• Stop by the King Township Municipal Centre to see a road safety art installation by King’s summer campers.

Weekly themes will keep you informed and engaged, with tips and key messages on how to make our roads safer for everyone.

Week 1: Pedestrian Safety – Stay alert, stay safe!

Week 2: Bike Safety – Share the road with care!

Week 3: Impaired and Distracted Driving – Drive safe, don’t risk it!

Week 4: Speeding – Life is not a race, slow down!

Learn more at king.ca/SafeStreets and join us in making King Township a safer place for all!

King Seniors clubs offer an amazing way to stay connected, fit and sharp!

55 years or older? Become a King Senior Member! Play euchre, bridge, board games and carpet bowling. Paint or dance, knit/crochet. Go on trips and attend social events. Plus get access to workshops delivered by local businesses and community groups, and a discount on programs and services. Members receive weekly email updates about programming and events.

Locations:

• King City Seniors 55+: King City Seniors Centre

• Nobleton Seniors 55+: Nobleton Arena

• Schomberg Seniors 55+: Schomberg Community Hall and Trisan Centre

Learn more during a Seniors Membership Open House on Wednesday, Sept. 4 from 10a.m. to 2p.m. at the King City Seniors Centre. Refreshments and snacks available while quantities last. Purchase (or renew) your 2025 on the spot and receive early bird pricing:

Residents: $15 per person or $20 per couple residing at the same address.

Non-residents: $20 per person or $30 per couple residing at the same address.

Required: valid photo identification or item with name and address. Accepted payment methods include cash, debit and credit.

For Senior (55+) programming and membership information, call the King City Senior Centre at 905-833-6565, email seniors@king.ca or visit king.ca/seniors.

Call for vendors for King's new community event, Kingtoberfest!

Prost! King Township is inviting the best food and beverage vendors in the area to participate in Kingtoberfest on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 5-10:30 p.m. at Cold Creek Conservation Area in Nobleton.  

The essence of Oktoberfest will meet the natural beauty of King’s scenic green space at this festival for ages 19+, featuring the flavours of Germany and non-stop entertainment (polka music, Schuh platter dancers, German rock cover bands). 

We’re looking for vendors in the following categories: 

Food vendors: German cuisine such as bratwursts, pretzels, schnitzels, soup, gingerbread cookies) 

Beverage vendors: German beers, wine, cider, coolers and non-alcoholic beverages 

Merchandise vendors: German-themed merchandise, festival gear and crafts 

Activity vendors: Traditional games and interactive experiences 

The vendor application deadline is Tuesday, Sept. 10.

Download the vendor package at king.ca/kingtoberfest.

Fall into fun this autumn with King's recreation programs

King Township is ‘leafing’ summer behind and fall(ing) into fun! Registration for fall recreation programs – including P.A. Day programs and winter break camps – starts the week of Sept. 16 at townshipofking.perfectmind.com.

From fencing 101 and different dance styles to themed art workshops, and spooky crafts and cookies with Santa, there is something for everyone!

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

Cold Creek abuzz with excitement about apiary tour

Go on a guided Apiary Tour led by third generation beekeeper André Flys at the scenic Cold Creek Conservation Area.

He’ll take you into the beehive to open and inspect a colony of bees and teach you how to identify the queen, brood, larvae, nectar, pollen, propolis and different types of bees in the hive. Learn how bees forage for food and water and what plants are important to them throughout the year.

He will talk about native pollinators and their relationship to the environment compared to European honeybees and the challenges they face today.

Cold Creek Conservation Area

Sunday, Sept. 15 from 1-2:30 p.m.

Cost is $25 per person.

Register at king.ca/EnvironmentalEvents.

Getting married? We can help with that!

Are you getting married within the next 90 days and require a marriage licence? King Township issues marriage licences by appointment only through our new, user-friendly, online booking portal. After submitting your appointment request online, Township staff will contact you to confirm your in-person appointment and go over the list of documents you’ll need to provide.   

For more information on marriage licences and how to apply, visit king.ca/marriage.

Join us for a tree-mendous tree planting event

Stay rooted and help us plant trees! King Township is partnering with Ontario Streams for a tree-mendous afternoon of planting 400 native trees and shrubs at Cold Creek Conservation Area on Saturday, Sept. 14 from 11a.m. to 1p.m. All ages are welcome. Pre-registration recommended but drop-ins welcome. High-school students can receive volunteer hours for participation.    
 
For details and direct links to registration, visit king.ca/environmentalevents.

Photo courtesy of the Budweth Park planting on May 5 at Hill Farm Park North

Have a say in the future of two King neighbourhoods

King Township invites residents to shape the future of two key neighbourhoods! Open houses for King City and Nobleton neighbourhoods will be held to gather input on concepts prepared following the community exercise during the April open house sessions.

Dates & Times: 

Doctors Lane Open House: Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 6-8 p.m. 

Old King Road Open House: Thursday, Sept. 12 at 6-8 p.m. 

To stay informed, visit the Project Page on SpeaKING, or contact the project team at policyplanning@king.ca.

Applications for Senior Snow Removal Assistance Program now open

It may be summer still, but King Township is already thinking snow – and how we can help seniors and persons with disabilities clear snow from the end of their driveway.  

Starting today, qualified applicants aged 65 years or older can apply for King’s Seniors Snow Removal Assistance Program in-person, by mail or online at king.ca/snowremoval. The deadline to submit an application for the 2024/2025 season is Friday, Oct. 18. 

Snow removal is provided for the windrow at the base of your driveway (one car-width only) within 24 hours after roads/sidewalks are plowed (Monday through Friday, excluding holidays) after a minimum of 10cm snow fall.  

Learn more and find the application information at king.ca/snowremoval.

Join the Mayor's Youth Action Team

Applications are now open for the Mayor’s Youth Action Team’s 2024/2025 term.

Interested youth can visit king.ca/myat to apply today. The deadline to apply is Oct. 4.

Meetings will take place at the King City Library from 3:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. on a bi-weekly basis.

MYAT serves as an advisory body, identifies issues affecting our youth, fosters a positive image of youth in our community, promotes meaningful activities, acts as advocates and encourages youth involvement in local government.

MYAT members will have the opportunity to host the annual Youth Opportunity Fair, provide feedback on youth-related items in the community and assist with community events. MYAT members will receive volunteer hours for meetings and all events.

King's population growth and employment lands up for discussion at Open House on Sept. 16

Have your say! The future of King’s Population Growth Management and Employment Land Strategies will be on the table at a Public Open House on Monday, Sept. 16. Running from 6-8 p.m., with a presentation starting at 6:30p.m., the Open House will be held in Council Chambers at the King Township Municipal Centre.  

This is your chance to learn about:   

King’s growth context and local trends 

Population, housing and employment forecasts to 2051   

Employment and community land needs through 2051  

These strategies are vital for shaping our future and will play a key role in the Township’s Official Plan Review.  

Drop by to hear the presentation, engage with the project team, and share your ideas on how King should grow.  

For more details, visit King Township’s Official Plan Review at SpeaKING.king.ca. 

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!).

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.