Ten totems line the Tom Taylor Trail
NEWMARKET, ON, May 27, 2013 /CNW/ - Mayor Van Bynen, members of Council and representatives from Emterra Group joined at Fairy Lake today to unveil ten new nature-inspired pieces of art which span ten kilometres of the Tom Taylor Trail.
The public art installations (called totems or doodems) will serve as distance markers for those who use the trail. These markers were made possible through a donation by the Town of Newmarket and Emterra Group through its Community Care™ program.
"These examples of public art represent our rich heritage, our culture and our connection to the environment," says Mayor Tony Van Bynen. "We hope people will enjoy taking the time to stop and learn more about the pieces and take inspiration from the meaning behind them."
The wood and metal totems were crafted by artists Donald Chrétien and Jim Menken who collaborated to create art inspired by the environment and our Ojibwe ancestors. Each totem represents an animal or aspect of nature and features a plaque that describes its symbolic significance as gifted by an Ojibwe elder.
The works of art start at the Aurora - Newmarket border and run north reaching the border between Newmarket and East Gwillimbury on the Tom Taylor Trail, which is part of the larger Nokiidaa Trail system.
"These trail markers will enhance the experience for everyone using the Tom Taylor Trail - which is already such a significant part of Newmarket's environmental identity," says Ward 2 Councillor Dave Kerwin. "The totems are a great way for people to track their progress as they journey along our system and more importantly, they are pieces that enrich our community as a whole."
"Emterra Group is both honoured and proud to be a partner with the Town of Newmarket to transform the natural environment of the Tom Taylor Trail from a vision to reality," says Emterra CEO and Founder Emmie Leung. "We could not have chosen a more fitting project for our gift to the Town of $50,000 than to line the Harry Walker Boulevard with heritage trees and with inspiring public space works of art. This project aligns perfectly with the goal of our Emterra Community Care™ program, which is to contribute to environmental health and sustainability in the communities we serve, live and work."
In the spirit of making Newmarket well beyond the ordinary, the trail markers are an example of how the municipality can build partnerships and work together with the business community to contribute to the "livability" of our town and promote active community engagement and enjoyment.
The Town of Newmarket is located in southern Ontario and is home to over 85,000 residents. Newmarket is one of Canada's most dynamic, diverse and desirable places to live according to MoneySense Magazine, which named the Town one of the Top 10 Best Places to Live in Canada out of 200 cities nationwide in 2013. Newmarket is widely considered a progressive place with a reputation for innovation, particularly in its environmental projects. Newmarket ranked tenth in Canada (fourth in the small cities category) based on factors such as prosperity, access to healthcare, low crime rates and lifestyle.
Related Links:
Newmarket's Trail System
The Cultural Master Plan
For more information on The Town of Newmarket, please visit www.newmarket.ca
Image with caption: "This owl-inspired totem is one of ten markers that line the trail (CNW Group/Town of Newmarket)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130527_C2383_PHOTO_EN_27082.jpg
SOURCE: Town of Newmarket
Media contact:
Wanda Bennett
Director, Corporate Communications
Tel: 905-953-5300, ext. 2041
Email: [email protected]
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