• Council recently approved the final design for the Whitby Sports Complex, which will be located in Brooklin on the west side of Baldwin Street South, south of Hwy. 407. The complex is set to include the largest swimming pool in Durham, a double gymnasium, walking track and twin-pad ice arena. Construction is expected to begin this summer! Work is still underway on design of the outdoor component, which could potentially include pickleball, tennis and basketball courts, a multi-use sports field, playground, skate park and pump track.

• Does Whitby need a refrigerated outdoor ice rink? A motion approved by council on March 20, notes Whitby’s ongoing pilot project for natural outdoor ice rinks has been challenging due to fluctuating winter temperatures. Council directed Town staff to report back on opportunities to install refrigerated outdoor ice rinks or skating trails as part of the development of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

• Whitby Council has committed to the development of 18,000 new homes by 2031. In October 2022, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing issued a letter to the Town highlighting the Province’s commitment to build 1.5 million homes by 2031 -- and assigning a municipal housing target of 18,000 new homes to Whitby.

• Council has approved the semi-permanent closure of Roebuck Street in Downtown Brooklin from June to mid-September to create an outdoor community gathering space. The project started in 2022 as a placemaking pilot project using funds from a My Main Street – Community Activator Grant to add Muskoka Chairs, picnic tables a road mural painted by a local artist and planters to the space.

Thank you to everyone who attended the West Ward Town Hall on March 14 with Councillors Maleeha Shahid and Matt Cardwell. In-person ward town halls are a new initiative for this term of council. It’s a chance for residents to meet their councillors, ask questions and get information on important things happening in their ward. Information will be coming soon on upcoming town halls for North Ward and East Ward.

Another thank you to everyone who took the time to give feedback on Whitby’s four-year Community Strategic Plan.  Input from residents is so important to this process! I’m very happy to share that about 2,200 people completed a survey between February 21 and March 12. A draft plan will be developed this spring based on your feedback. That will be followed by another round of community engagement. We’re aiming to have a final version of the plan go to council for approval in June.

This is my 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 by emailing Jillian Follert at follertj@whitby.ca

• Congratulations to Elliot and Debbie Smith, who co-authored the recently published children’s book “Mateo’s Mixed Ability Match.” Elliot is an athlete with autism and the book is based on his real-life experiences with mixed ability sports and ASD. I recently had the opportunity to meet Elliot and he was kind enough to give me a copy – thank you! I know this book will help advance inclusion in our community.

• Amazing work by the Rotary Club of Whitby, which raised $50,000 to purchase a much-needed surgical table for a hospital in Dnipro, Ukraine. The hospital is located near the front lines and the surgical table will help doctors save the lives of injured soldiers and civilians. It was a complex and lengthy process to get the table overseas, via a contact in Montreal who was travelling to Ukraine. Rotary Club of Whitby member Fred Wynistorf and his wife Faye drove a round-tip of over 1,000 km to Montreal to get signed documents into the right hands with the clock ticking. Fred recently received the Rotary Club of Whitby’s “Above and Beyond Award” for his selfless efforts.

• Shout out to the athletes being inducted into the Whitby Sports Hall of Fame on April 29: Adrian Woodley, Priscilla Lopes-Schliep and Derek Suddons. You’re an inspiration to Whitby athletes of all ages!

In Canada, only 25 per cent of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are employed. These adults want to work but also want access to a safe space where they can build their confidence and learn how at their own pace. Melly's Café + Workplace in Whitby delivers just that through a 16-module program focused on experiences that develop the whole person. 

Melly's is a registered Canadian charity. The café and market at 1022 Brock St. S. is open Tuesday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. offering hot and cold drinks, freshly prepared goods and a marketplace with unique finds. 

The almond joy latté is a huge hit and the lemon loaf, brownies and blueberry muffins are also fan favourites. Every visit is an opportunity to help someone learn, make a connection and feel included. Donations and purchases fund opportunities and empower the dreams of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Learn more at mellysworkplace.ca

…the Town of Whitby is working to become a leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions? In honour of Earth Day on April 22, here are some quick facts. The Zero Carbon Whitby Plan lays out greenhouse gas emission reduction targets -- we’re aiming for a 20 per reduction by 2025, 40 per cent by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2045. Recent upgrades include LED lights at Iroquois Parks Sports Centre and the Whitby Public Library, high-efficiency condensing boilers at Iroquois and McKinney arenas and bottle refill stations at several Town facilities to cut down on plastic water bottle use.

This month, I’m introducing you to North Ward Councillor Steve Lee and Regional Councillor Steve Yamada, who will be working together as a team for 2023.

Steve Yamada is serving his third term on Whitby Council and his second term at the Region. He was first elected East Ward Councillor in 2014 and elected Regional Councillor in 2018. For over 14 years, Steve has been an elementary school teacher with the Toronto District School Board. He holds a specialized honours degree from York University, Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto and a Master of Public Policy, Administration and Law from York University. He and his wife, Jennifer, live in Whitby with their two daughters.

Steve Lee was first elected in 2018 as the Councillor for North Ward and is now serving his second term on Council. He has been self-employed for the past 22 years and successfully owns and operates three small businesses including Whitby local business Dive Source. A Humber College graduate, Steve has been actively involved in the community including Scouting for many years. He is a certified rescue diver, a scuba diving instructor and a First Aid instructor. He and his partner Lynne and their 4 children live in Brooklin and have been proud to call it home for over 17 years. 

• Earth Day is April 22 and there are several community clean ups taking place that day including the 20^th annual Pitch-In Brooklin event organized by the Brooklin Ashburn Myrtle Lions Club. Clean ups will take place at all parks in Brooklin from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. You can also check out the Great Lakes Watershed Clean Up from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Heydenshore Pavilion. Hosted by the Rotary Club of Whitby, this event is one of many Great Lakes Watershed Cleanups involving thousands of Rotarians and non-Rotarians alike.

• Looking for some family Easter fun? Kids Safety Village is hosting its annual Easter Eggstravaganza on April 7 and 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days. Kids can take part in a scavenger hunt, games, flower planting workshop, photo booth and a visit from the Easter Bunny.

• Ramadan Mubarak to all the Whitby residents observing Ramadan this month! Wishing you and your families peace and happiness during this holy month – and a joyous Eid-al-Fitr.

• Celebrate Poetry Month on April 6 with an evening featuring some of Durham’s most influential Black poets and spoken word artists -- including Thunderclaw Robinson, Greg Frankson, Daveisha Francis and Judith Shaw. This event is a partnership between the Whitby Public Library and the Whitby Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee, click here for more details.