\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
![\"Newmarket's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/36528b99402326f2f44003dbe222ead60899c627a3690a4f7906fb6ac3122ae4.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNewmarket’s chief positivity officer Jamie Boyle is photographed outside the town’s municipal offices in Newmarket, Ont., on May 15, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS\/Chris Young<\/p>\n
\u201cJamie\u2019s level of enthusiasm, positivity and just go out there and take on the world attitude is almost without parallel, and it\u2019s infectious,\u201d Taylor said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At the height of the pandemic lockdown in 2020, Taylor tasked ambassadors with using social media to spread positivity, happiness and humour by sharing stories of the community\u2019s bright side and perseverance.<\/p>\n
Working against a constant churn of negative COVID-19 developments, Boyle worked in conjunction with human resources and other departments to help boost spirits and support the town\u2019s workforce of about 400 full-time staffers.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy nature is to be positive and to be uplifting and motivational,\u201d Boyle said. \u201cIt was just a marriage of all the right things happening at the right time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Many employees were working remotely at the time doing check-in calls to seniors, backfilling for essential workers and delivering food to those in need.<\/p>\n
Boyle created popular weekly staff newsletters with inspirational quotes, facts and feel-good pictures and videos. His additional role helped feed his passion for trying to encourage others while keeping them informed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe role itself was created to foster corporate culture, motivation, a lot more inspiration for staff during a time when there wasn\u2019t a lot of that,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd frankly at the time, it really was beneficial.\u201d<\/p>\n
The town dubbed its campaign Stand Apart Together, an effort that included an \u201coutreach of positivity,\u201d Boyle said. He and the ambassadors helped residents look at the bright side during a challenging time via wellness programs, activities and positive communication.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Boyle\u2019s new role blossomed over the years as he maintained connections with public services and groups while making regular appearances at town events. He served as the point of contact between the town and area partners who wanted to promote positivity.<\/p>\n
One effort included working with the local hospital and a private business on a large mosaic sign to thank health-care workers and town staff on behalf of the community.<\/p>\n
Other interactions were as simple as a high-five or a kind word. More smiles came when Boyle worked the megaphone at town parades.<\/p>\n
At every opportunity, positivity was preached.<\/p>\n
\u201cJamie Boyle really, in fact, was already our chief positivity officer. He just hadn\u2019t been named that yet,\u201d Taylor said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd so having a chat with Jamie, providing him with that name and that title, I think just accelerated his sheer positivity to a new level.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now 53 and in his 27th year as a town employee, Boyle is quick to praise others at the town office and in the community. He\u2019s also pleased to do his part.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy belief from the time I was appointed to this role and right up until today is the skies can be grey five days of the week, but we know that there\u2019s sun behind them,\u201d Boyle said. \u201cPart of my role here and part of my belief system is making sure that people recognize that and recognize their value.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cInternally there isn\u2019t a week that goes by that someone doesn\u2019t reach out and say, \u2018You know what, I needed that today. (I\u2019m) just not having a good week,’\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Taylor said the initial positivity endeavour was quick to gain traction throughout the town of about 100,000. Other communities also took notice. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\u201cI got calls from outside of the country and certainly across (Canada) about, \u2018What is this you\u2019re doing? Is it working? And how did you do it?\u201d Taylor said. \u201cTo think that Jamie\u2019s leadership, Jamie\u2019s example can resonate across the country, beyond our borders \u2014 that\u2019s incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n
The mayor added the overall positivity effort also helped create a sense of resilience in the area, about 50 kilometres north of Toronto.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve come a long way, but I don\u2019t think there is an end in sight,\u201d Boyle said. \u201cIt\u2019s just going to be a continuation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has become a part of what we do internally and externally with the residents of Newmarket.\u201d<\/p>\n
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 10, 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"NEWMARKET \u2013 When Newmarket Mayor John Taylor appointed a few dozen people to serve as positivity ambassadors in…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":792561,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[194296],"tags":[49,48,22073],"class_list":["post-792560","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-winnipeg","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-winnipeg"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/792560","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=792560"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/792560\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/792561"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=792560"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=792560"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=792560"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}