You can check out details of the latest decisions and discussions at Whitby Council in the monthly Council Highlights.

The June Council Highlights include:

• Results of Whitby’s 2024 Community Survey
• New policy on responsibilities, appointment of deputy mayor
• Call for Province to restrict roadside zoos, keeping of non-native animals
• Workforce plan review

Council Highlights is published following every regular Council meeting.

I recently had the opportunity to visit local businesses that received a 2023 Downtown Whitby Facade Grant – and the upgrades to their building facades look amazing! This grant provides Downtown Whitby businesses with assistance to improve the aesthetic quality of the exterior of their building and property. Congratulations to Anne Marie Henry-Lyons Insurance Agency, Jenkins, Newman and Shipley Law, Whitby Audio Video, and Gallery Dental Centre for beautifying our downtown!  To learn more about the Town of Whitby’s downtown revitalization efforts and incentives, check out whitby.ca/en/work/downtown-revitalization-and-incentives

Coffee with Mayor Roy events are back this summer! Join me for an informal chat, bring your questions and your feedback. Dates and locations:

• Tuesday, July 2 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Coffee Culture, 1525 Dundas St. E., Whitby
• Thursday, July 11 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Jacked Up Coffee, 132 Brock St. N., Whitby
• Tuesday, July 16 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Brooklin Community Centre Library, 8 Vipond Rd., Brooklin
• Wednesday, July 24 from 8 to 10 a.m. at The Station Traditional European Bakery, 72 Baldwin St., Brooklin
• Tuesday, Aug. 13 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Central Library, 405 Dundas St. W., Whitby

Hope to see you there!

The Town recently kicked off the 2025 Budget engagement process. Until July 19, residents can go to connectwhitby.ca/budget to rank and prioritize possible capital investments. There will be additional opportunities for residents to provide feedback on the budget later this year with the goal of Council giving final approval to the budget in December 2024. New this year, the Town will move to a multi-year budget, which will better position us to continue implementing action items in the Community Strategic Plan. This new approach will also help the Town plan investments to meet service delivery requirements as Whitby grows. 

I’m excited to announce a unique opportunity for our Whitby 55+ Recreation Services members to showcase their artistic talents – the Mayor and Council Greeting Card Artwork Contest! We’re seeking art submissions of Whitby-related scenery from artists of all disciplines. Selected artwork will be featured on note cards used by the mayor and Council for celebration, thank you, bereavement, get well, and blank cards throughout this Council term. Entries will be reviewed by a selection committee within the Mayor’s Office. Selected artists will win lunch with the mayor or a gift basket from the Mayor and Council Office. Winners will be announced in early July. Submit entries by Friday, July 5 at 11:59 p.m. by clicking here: Mayor and Council note cards contest - Town of Whitby 

The Market opened May 2 at Iroquois Park Sports Centre, as a partnership between Feed the Need in Durham and the Town of Whitby. The Town has provided former office space through a no-cost lease and funding was also provided through the Mayor’s Community Development Fund. The food bank is set up like a store, allowing clients to move freely through the space and select the items that best meet their needs. With extended evening availability, The Market meets rising demand and helps fill gaps in local food bank services. If you’re interested in supporting this amazing new community resource, here are three ways to help:

• Drop off non-perishable food donations at The Market at Iroquois Park Sports Centre or the main Feed the Need in Durham location at 371A Marwood Dr. in Oshawa
•  Donate funds at ftnd.ca or call 905-571-3863 Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Fill out an online volunteer application form

Visit ftnd.ca/market for more information. 

School’s out, summer weather is here – it’s time to check out Whitby’s splash pads! Did you know Whitby operates 19 splash pads at parks throughout the town? Our newest splash pads can be found at Des Newman Whitbee Park (105 Des Newman Blvd.) and Lynde Creek Park (125 Coronation Rd.) – they’re both amazing and well worth checking out. The splash pad at Kiwanis Heydenshore Park has also been recently updated. Click here for a full list of splash pad locations and operating status updates. 

This is our monthly shout-out to those who make Whitby proud. If you know a person, group, or organization that has accomplished something noteworthy or is helping to make Whitby a better place, let the mayor’s office know! Email Jillian Follert at follertj@whitby.ca

• Congratulations to everyone who supported the Lakeridge Health Bike for Health event on June 2. This year’s fundraising goal was $250,000 and that was surpassed with $365,000 raised! Working in partnership with the four foundations of Lakeridge Health and the Region of Durham, hundreds of riders, volunteers, and community supporters made this event a success. Ride for Health raises funds for new state-of-the-art equipment, capital needs like renovations and clinic upgrades, educational opportunities, and research initiatives for the entire Lakeridge Health hospital system.

• The Terry Fox Foundation has announced that Whitby’s All Saints Catholic Secondary School raised the most money for its Terry Fox run of any school in Canada in 2023. The school raised a total of $83,131, bringing its historic total to $633,612. This spring, the school hosted Fred Fox, who spoke to students about his brother Terry Fox’s legacy. Congratulations, All Saints!

• Shout out to Whitby resident Dr. Sarah Habibi who appears on The Peak's Emerging Leaders 2024 list in the Media, Entertainment, and Sports category. This annual list highlights up-and-coming young leaders who are shaping Canada’s economy, culture, and society. Sarah is a STEM content creator, teacher, and author who uses Instagram and Tik Tok to promote scientific inquiry, and hosts professional development workshops on how to effectivity communicate science on social media. To learn more about Sarah and her achievements, visit: http://tinyurl.com/58hy7s46

Skin Essence Med Spa, located at 137 Brock St. N. in Downtown Whitby, is a woman-owned business founded by two best friends who transformed their shared vision into reality. Since opening, Skin Essence has expanded its offerings to include more than a dozen new services. The team at Skin Essence includes CEOs/skin consultants, Rania and Amanda, along with nurse injector Amanda R. and medical aesthetician Kylie. Together, they work to create an inviting environment where everyone feels welcome and inspired to be the best version of themselves. The team believes self-care is more important than ever and aims to offer a sanctuary where clients can relax, rejuvenate, and revitalize their skin. Visit skinessencemedspa.ca/ for more information. 

• Happy Canada Day on July 1! The Town of Whitby’s celebration takes place from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. at Victoria Fields Park, 345 Watson St. W. Join us for food trucks, photo ops, games, a laser maze, rock wall, and live performances, as well as fireworks at approximately 10 p.m. Click here for more information

• Whitby Ribfest runs from July 12 to 14 at Victoria Fields Park. Organized by the Rotary Club of Whitby Sunrise, this popular event raises funds for the community. This year’s Ribfest will feature seven ribbers along with lots of other food and fun. The Kidsfest area will be open July 13 and 14 from 12 to 5 p.m. with crafts, balloon twisting, storytimes, a photo booth, and more. Find more details here.

• The Town of Whitby is hosting Movies in the Park July 12 and 26 and Aug. 9 and 30 at Whitby Civic Park (behind Town Hall) starting at dusk. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs and popcorn for an evening under the stars. Movies are shown on a large, outdoor screen with concert quality sound. Check out whitby.ca/en/play/movies-in-the-park.aspx for movie details.

• Music in the Park is back! You can catch live music on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at Rotary Centennial Park and Thursdays at 7 p.m. at Grass Park in Brooklin. Visit whitby.ca/en/play/whitby-live.aspx for the full performance schedule.
• Check out the Greek Summer Night Culture Pop-Up July 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Rotary Sunrise Lake Park, located north of the Whitby Harbour Lighthouse Pier. Enjoy traditional Greek dancing, try out a few steps during a live demonstration and listen to live music by Olympic Entertainment. Rain date is July 25, click here for details.