The yearly Home and Lifestyle Show is returning to Newmarket for this weekend and features an exciting number of exhibitors devoted to advertising all manner of products and services for residential, commercial and investment properties and general wellness.

Old Town Hall needs a new design but Newmarket city council can’t seem to decide what might be the most appropriate one at a reasonable price tag. The historical building will be undergoing some extensive re-working, however, city council has yet to approve a suitable design. It was the only topic on the council’s agenda last week.

The city of Newmarket knows that identifying and mapping cultural resources is an important step to supporting economic and community development resources and wants resident input on what those cultural assets are. Mayor Tony Van Bynen has asked that Newmarket residents and visitors take a quick survey that will help create a cultural database and identify the elements to support in building a vibrant and prosperous community.

Print companies looking to expand in the York Region area and in particular in the town of Newmarket should consider joining the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce and taking advantages of the benefits afforded to members and opportunities for professional development and networking.

It looks like Newmarket is becoming a good place to work. Canada’s Top 100 Employers for 2012 list has been published and four area businesses made the cut. The four businesses are Central Community Care Access Centre, Southlake Regional Health Centre, XE.com Inc and the York Regional Municipality. All of these employers offer workplace perks that make them great places to work.

Canada is a country founded by immigrants and it is still a popular destination for those wishing to improve their lives. The week of October 17-23 has been designated as Canadian Citizenship Week and there will be many events taking place, among them over 60 citizenship ceremonies in cities throughout the country. It is also a week when native-born citizens can ‘reflect on the value of citizenship’.

It is becoming increasingly essential for a business to have a website. The first place many people look for information on a business is the Internet, and it is imperative that a business has an appealing and helpful website. Most companies have learned that lesson and have websites, but sometimes those websites contain so little information that they are more harmful than helpful. You need to be able to conduct business through your website as much as you do through traditional methods like telephone, direct mail and face-to-face contact. Many companies have an attached sales section on their websites where products can be ordered directly. For example, some printing company websites allow you to design your own business stationery from a template, or upload your own, and have it delivered to you.

The Newmarket Chamber of Commerce provides many opportunities for local business people to network with one another. They provide several monthly and annual networking opportunities, in addition to hands-on workshops. Companies who provide business card printing services in the area will most likely be called upon to provide their product to those who regularly attend such events.