Whitby MP Ryan Turnbull recently announced the Town will receive more than $90,000 from the federal My Main Street Community Activator Program to continue to revitalize Roebuck Street in Brooklin. The funding will support new lighting throughout Grass Park, a new bike rack, Muskoka chairs, outdoor foosball table and cornhole games, solar-powered self-compacting garbage bins, and a vibrant "Field to Fork" mural created by a local artist. This is great news for Brooklin, thank you to the federal government for recognizing the work we're doing to revitalize Whitby's downtowns.  

A big congratulations to Kenesha Lewis, who recently celebrated the third anniversary of her Downtown Whitby business, One More Cocoa.

In the three years since opening, Kenesha’s chocolate has been featured in some pretty incredible places – including the 2023 list of Oprah’s Favourite Things.

Kenesha has also been part of the Black Business Catalyst Project, and her chocolate has been carried at the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Black Owned Toronto Store, and Hello Fresh marketplace.

To celebrate the three-year milestone, Kenesha has unveiled a new “Whitby Chocolate Box” featuring unique flavours inspired by local businesses like Crave Donuts and Brock St. Brewery. There’s even a chocolate called “The Roy” inspired by one of my favourite desserts.

I recently had the pleasure of presenting a certificate to Dennis and Phyliss Smith from Texas, who arrived at Port Whitby Marina on Sept. 4 after completing the “Great Loop,” a 9,700 km (6,000 mile) journey on their yacht. The Great Loop is a continuous waterway that allows boaters to explore eastern North America. It typically takes about a year to complete and includes part of the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf Intracoastal Waterways, the Great Lakes, Canadian Heritage Canals, and inland rivers in the United States. Congrats to the Smiths on completing this journey in Whitby!

Because you Asked is a new feature on my social media channels and in my monthly newsletter! I use this space to provide helpful context and information about issues the community is asking about.

Today we’re talking about community gardens. I often receive questions about how to start one, how to find one, and how they work.

Community gardens are plots of land that people share to grow fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers, learn about gardening, and connect with one another.

Some community gardens grow produce to donate to local food banks, while others provide allotments where those who don’t have access to land, can grow their own food.

Many community gardens are located in Whitby, including the Whitby Ajax Garden Project, St. John’s Port Whitby Community Garden, Hebron Community Garden and King Street Cooperative Community Garden.

Durham Integrated Growers offers a list and map of community gardens in Durham located on public and private lands.

Town of Whitby staff will work closely with groups interested in starting a community garden on Town land. A community garden application, agreement, and checklist can be found at whitby.ca/en/play/community-gardens.aspx

The Town of Whitby also has a Community Garden Policy and Procedure.

Whitby’s newest community garden on Town land is currently in the final approval stage.

Mannahelp Community Garden will be located within the open lawn area west of the Whitby Civic Recreation Complex parking lot – more information is available on the project’s Connect Whitby page.

As food insecurity grows in our community, the need for community gardens also increases.

The Town of Whitby has funded several community garden initiatives through the Mayor’s Community Development Fund.

In 2023 and 2024, MCDF provided grants valued at $35,200 to community garden initiatives including:

• We Grow Food: Four $5,000 grants to establish community gardens at Dryden Heights, Marigold Court, Garrard Heights, and Perry Street
• Christian Faith Outreach Centre: $5,000 to establish a community garden at the 1635 Dundas shelter in partnership with We Grow Food
• Whitby Baptist Church: $2,500 for a shed garden tools, water tanks, compost, wood chips and fencing
• King Street Cooperative Community Garden: A grant for $5,000 in 2023 for development of a community garden and shed and a grant of $2,700 in 2024 for tools, soil, plants, and a water collection and irrigation system

Click here to learn more about the Mayor’s Community Development Fund and how to apply for a grant.

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

• Thank you to the Rotary Club of Whitby Sunrise for installing a Peace Pole at Rotary Sunrise Lake Park on Sept. 21. The Peace Pole serves as a symbol of our collective hope for peace in the world and is the first one in Durham Region. We appreciate that Rotary members promote peace and goodwill in our community and beyond. 

• Congratulations to the team at Crew Cutz in Whitby for celebrating 25 years in business! This is a huge accomplishment for a small business. Owners Paul and Tina Kotsopoulos and their staff work hard to build connections with their customers, and we appreciate that they are part of our vibrant business community.

• A big shout out to the Town of Whitby staff and local businesses that worked together to introduce new Downtown Whitby and Downtown Brooklin Food Tours this summer. These tours have been an incredible success with all dates currently sold out for the season. More than 330 people took part in the tours and over 20 businesses were featured. I’m so impressed with this initiative and how it highlights the culinary scenes in our two downtowns. Read more here: whitby.ca/en/play/food-tours.aspx

Making a Difference is a monthly spotlight on local not-for-profit organizations, which are such a critical part of our community. To suggest a not-for-profit to feature, email Jillian Follert at follertj@whitby.ca

The Durham Rape Crisis Centre is a feminist organization that believes in the equality of all people regardless of race, class, sexual orientation, or gender. DRCC is committed to taking an active role in the community to end all forms of violence against women and children.

As a sexual assault centre, DRCC provides support services to recent as well as historical survivors of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and childhood sexual abuse and their families in Durham and beyond.

The organization’s vision is to be leaders in ending sexual violence through support services, advocacy, and education.

DRCC provides a range of programs and services, all of which are free of charge to the community, confidential, and trauma-informed. Counselling staff specialize in the field of trauma and gender-based violence.

Interim, individual, and group counselling are available to clients, including advocacy and accompaniment support where needed. DRCC also provides counselling services to students at select post-secondary institutions in Durham.

In addition to the core counselling program, support is provided to survivors of sex trafficking and/or sexual exploitation, as well as those who are supporting a survivor of sexual violence in their lives.

DRCC operates a 24/7 crisis and support line that is mainly run by volunteers, who receive comprehensive training and ongoing support. The crisis line is available to any survivor of sexual violence, regardless of age, gender, or location.

DRCC also offers a student placement program, public and prevention education workshops, and training to the public, schools, and other community partners on the multifaceted impacts of sexual violence and gender-based violence on the individual as well as the community.

The waitlist for support is currently about five months long. There many ways the Whitby community can help DRCC connect survivors to support sooner.

-          Monetary donations can be made through the DRCC CanadaHelps page or by e-transfer to gemma@drcc.ca.

-          In-kind donations are also needed, more information is available at https://drcc.ca/donate/

-          Volunteers are needed for the 24/7 crisis line as well as the fundraising committee and to represent DRCC at a local Ontario Lottery and Gaming location. Visit drcc.ca/getting-involved/volunteer for more information.

Located in Downtown Whitby at 104b Colborne St. E., Inspired By You Boutique is a premium consignment store specializing in high-quality brand-name clothing and accessories, gently used and pre-owned. The store has been part of the Whitby community for about 16 years.  “Our selection consists of only one-of-a-kind, hand-picked items. You can find anything in our shop from clothes, shoes, purses, belts, or jewellery,” says owner Anyes. “When you come to Inspired By You we will help you find what you are looking for or let you browse through, whatever you prefer -- but we will make sure that you have the best shopping experience,” she says. Inspired By You Boutique receives over 100 new items each week, with new arrivals featured on Facebook and Instagram at @inspiredbyyouboutique “We believe in the power of consumers in the community who are ready to help their local economy by recycling their wardrobe while enjoying the most fashionable fun experience,” says Anyes, who is originally from Paris and came to Canada 36 years. Before becoming the owner, Anyes was a manager at the store and “fell in love with the clientele, the clothes on consignment, the concept of finding a loving home for items that are no longer wanted in someone else closet.” Visit inspiredbyyouboutique.ca for more information. 

• Get in the Halloween spirit with Ghost Walks of Whitby! The walks are returning for 2024, taking place Oct. 18, 21, 22, 23, and 25 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and at 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Enjoy spine tingling stories from your guide and re-enactments by Beech Street Theatre Company. You must be 18 or older to attend the 8:30 p.m. walks. Visit whitby.ca/en/play/ghost-walks-of-whitby.aspx for more information.
• Whitby Fan Con 2024 is October 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Whitby Central Library. This event celebrates all things fandom including cosplay, manga, anime, comic books, author signings and more. Did you know more than 500 people attended this event last year? Amazing! Go to whitbylibrary.ca/FanCon for details on this year’s event schedule and special guests. 

• This month is your last chance this season to check out the Whitby Farmer’s Market and Brooklin Farmer’s Market. The Whitby Farmer’s Market takes place every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Oct. 25 at Celebration Square just outside the main branch of the Whitby Public Library. The Brooklin Farmer’s Market takes place every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. until Oct. 28 in the municipal parking lot at 3 Vipond Ave. in Brooklin. Check out whitbyfarmersmarket.ca for details.

• October is Islamic Heritage Month. Visit the Whitby Central Library Oct. 19 for an Islamic Heritage Month Storytime from 2 to 4 p.m. This event is a partnership between the library and Muslim Women of Durham Region and will include stories, colouring, crafts, and henna. For information on other Islamic Heritage Month Storytime events in Durham, visit mwofdurhamregion.com/events

• Participate in Waste Reduction Week by checking out the waste diversion event Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  at the Central Library, 405 Dundas St W. Bring your “hard-to-recycle” items and help reduce your impact on our planet! Examples include Brita filters, toothbrushes, disposal razors, pens, markers, and highlighters. Click here for more information.