Joanne Sweers & Rebecca Gardiner

2026 Newmarket Honourees

The word “iconic” barely scratches the surface when describing the impact Joanne Sweers and Rebecca Gardiner have had on the Newmarket landscape.  Fittingly, and proudly recognizable, the duo chose to have their 2026 Portraits of Giving honouree photo captured outside of the community fridge and donation entrance of the Newmarket Food Pantry’s Community Fridge.

It was nearly 30 years ago that the women first met, while supervising their young children at Proctor Park.  With much in common, and living only four doors apart, they became fast and fruitful friends – both wanting to make a difference (and doing so) wherever they discovered a need over the years.  Both Joanne and Rebecca feel a deep responsibility to give and do for their community as well as a deep alignment in the work they do, stating, “If your actions align with your values, accomplishing your goals will fall into place.”  The contagious community support that has embraced these two women and their platform is proof that the above statement is more than true.  “Everything we put in has come back 10-fold to us and we are so grateful to have these experiences that have made our lives richer.”

They’ve become powerful champions of community spirit in York region, through their grassroots initiative, NWMRKTPROUD.  Founded in 2022, their simple idea to sell seasonal toques and t-shirts to support the Newmarket Food Pantry, has grown into an iconic movement that has raised nearly $125,000 for vital local organizations, including the Newmarket Food Pantry, York Pride and Community Living Central York.  As long-time residents of Newmarket, they’ve been giving back for many years with involvement in initiatives supporting cancer research, Easter Seals, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Heart & Stroke Foundation as well as many local school fundraisers and charity events.

Recently the Town of Newmarket unveiled its new brand “nmrkt.”, and the ladies made the decision to rebrand from their original NWMRKTPROUD to nmrkt.PROUD and continue doing the ‘good work’ together.  Their annual Pride T-shirt Campaign is launched at Newmarket’s Market Brewing and is promoted through the Newmarket Farmers’ Market and York Pride Festival.  It has become a much-anticipated hallmark event for the community – raising awareness, fostering inclusivity and directly addressing food insecurity in their own community.  This platform they’ve built, and movement they started is uniting businesses, residents and local organizations through meaningful and persistent impact.  For more information on the Newmarket Food Pantry, please visit:  https://newmarketfoodpantry.ca/

Story Credit:

Meave Mastracci is the Owner of Ascend Services and a community-focused writer with over 25 years of experience helping local businesses grow. She specializes in community engagement, community give-back initiatives, and improving online presence through social media marketing, website design, Google verification and management, and the development of printed promotional materials. Her work—both in writing and business—champions good people, good businesses, and good organizations.  Contact: mmastracci@ascendalliance.ca