This summer I hosted four “Coffee with Mayor Roy” events, and they were an amazing opportunity to chat informally with residents about all kinds of issues. I saw many familiar faces and met lots of new people.  Watch my newsletter and social media for information about future Coffee with Mayor Roy events!

I’m excited to share that the groundbreaking for the new Whitby Sports Complex will be taking place later this month! In July, Council voted to award the tender for the project to Ledcor Construction Limited.

The sports complex will be located west of Baldwin Street South, south of the intersection of Highway 407.

Planned amenities include an aquatic centre with the largest pool in Durham Region; a double gymnasium, with three-lane indoor walking track; and a twin-pad arena with 85-foot by 190-foot ice pads. Outdoor amenities are set to include a full-sized outdoor artificial turf sports field; pump track; skateboard park; and basketball courts, tennis courts and pickleball courts. The targeted completion date is late fall 2025. 

Are you new to Whitby? A new resident bus tour is taking place Saturday, Sept. 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Hop aboard the bus to get a look at some of the town’s key sites -- the tour is fun, family friendly and educational, designed to introduce newcomers to their local government and community. New residents include new immigrants to Canada who are settling in Whitby, or anyone new to the Whitby community. Registration is required. Click here for more information. 

The Town of Whitby is working with the Region of Durham and other community partners to address growing concerns around homelessness and food insecurity. Here are some of the new initiatives underway:

• A new shelter for people experiencing homelessness: The Town is supporting the Region of Durham’s work to convert the former Sunnycrest Nursing Home at 1635 Dundas St. into a shelter with wrap-around supports. The shelter will initially open to 45 residents and there will be opportunities for community and stakeholder engagement. An initial community engagement session took place Aug. 30 and more opportunities for public engagement are coming up. For more information or to share your feedback, visit yourvoice.durham.ca/helpaddresshomelessness
• Durham’s first family shelter: The Town is working with the Region of Durham to establish the region’s first family shelter at 316 Colborne St. W. in Whitby. Renovations will take place over the fall with a planned opening in late 2023. The shelter will house up to four families with children.

• A “marketplace model” foodbank for working families and individuals: The Town is working with Feed the Need in Durham to establish a “marketplace model” foodbank in Whitby that will offer evening and/or weekend hours for working families and individuals. The Mayor’s Community Development Fund provided Feed the Need with a $15,000 Lead Grant to establish this marketplace model in Whitby. A location for the foodbank is being explored.

This is our monthly shout-out to residents and groups that make Whitby proud. If you know a person or group 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

• I’m delighted that a street in the Taunton Road and Country Lane area was recently named Icemaker Way in honour of the late Gord Carroll, who spent many years as the icemaker at the Whitby Curling Club -- making Whitby famous for its amazing ice! Gord shared his ice knowledge, assisting other clubs locally across Canada and even overseas. He also taught hundreds of local kids to curl and helped elevate the popularity of the sport. He was recognized with a lifetime membership to the Whitby Curling Club as well as being inducted into the Whitby Sports Hall of Fame and is an Honourary Life Member of the Ontario Curling Association. It’s very fitting that Heathwood Homes has named a street in his memory! 
• A big congratulations to one-year-old Whitby resident Nyles who was recently named the 2023 Gerber Spokesbaby!  Nyles won the company’s 2023 photo search with his big smiles, cute dimples, and funny facial expressions. I recently had the chance to meet Nyles and his parents and I can confirm that he is absolutely adorable. Way to go, Nyles! 

• Shout out to Whitby Fire Girls Ball Hockey League for making it to the 2023 Canadian National Ball Hockey Championships in Newfoundland where the U16 Girls represented Whitby for the first time! Ball hockey has seen a lot of growth in recent years, it’s fantastic that we have a league in our town where girls and women of all ages can feel comfortable and confident, build their skills, and develop a love for sport.

Whitby’s newest neighbourhhod coffee shop celebrated a grand opening in July. Marito’s Coffee and Things is a Filipino-owned boutique café located at 105 Mary St. W. in downtown Whitby. The menu includes coffee, tea and pastries. High tea is offered Saturdays and Sundays by reservation only featuring pastries and sweets, savoury sandwiches and a selection of teas. Welcome to Whitby! Find them on Instagram at @maritos.coffee or click here to check out their Facebook page. 

• Downtown Whitby Beerfest takes place Sept. 8 and 9 at Celebration Square! This popular event showcases beer from amazing craft breweries along with food and live music. Visit downtownwhitbybeerfest.ca to learn more.
• The fourth annual Lynde Creek Cleanup is happening Sept. 14 from 12 to 2:30 p.m. This family event is hosted by the Whitby Chamber of Commerce Young Entrepreneurs and Professionals Committee and is sponsored by Meridian Credit Union. Participants will be treated to a BBQ lunch provided by Lynde Creek Manor. Click here for more information.
• Brooklin Harvest Festival is returning Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is one of my favourite events of the year! Businesses and restaurants on Baldwin Street invite you to shop sidewalk sales, pop into unique shops and meet the local owners. There will be family-friendly fun including a rock wall, inflatable corn maze, interactive activities, balloon artist and scarecrow scavenger hunt as well as entertainment at the main stage in Grass Park. Visit whitby.ca/en/play/harvest-festival.aspx for details.

• Whitby Council and Committee of the Whole meetings are back on a regular schedule this month after a summer break. Visit whitby.ca/en/town-hall/town-hall.asp for the meeting schedule. Members of the public are always welcome to attend meetings in-person or there is the option to watch a live stream or a recording of the meeting.