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

The May 2025 Council Highlights include:

• Contract awarded for design of new fire hall in West Whitby
• Council votes for election of regional councillors by ward versus at large
• Council calls on federal government to fund PARA Marine Search and Rescue
• Council votes to use Ontario Ombudsman as default closed meeting investigator

Council Highlights are published following every regular Whitby Council meeting.

Coffee with Mayor Roy is back for Summer 2025! I introduced this initiative in 2023 as a way for residents to connect with me in a casual setting at local coffee shops. Drop by to ask questions, share feedback…or just chat! New this summer, I’m so excited to expand on this concept by introducing Meet-Up with Mayor Roy! Meet up with me for milkshakes, at the farmer’s market, and more! Details here:

Coffee With Mayor Roy

• July 17: 9 to 11 a.m. at Tim Hortons, 601 Victoria St. W.
• July 23: 9 to 11 a.m. at Maple Brewz, 1525 Dundas St. E.
• Aug. 7: 9 to 11 a.m. at The Concrete Café, 1636 Charles St., Unit 3

Meet-Up with Mayor Roy

• July 5: “Get the Scoop” with Mayor Roy from 1 to 2 p.m.

Tip Top Creamery, 2 Roebuck St. and Grass Park 

• Aug. 5: “Milkshakes with the Mayor” from 6 to 8 p.m.

Boardwalk Burgers, 3050 Garden St. Unit 106

I recently had the opportunity to join residents at Durham Christian Homes to mark the 80^th anniversary of Dutch Liberation Day. On May 5th, 1945, the Netherlands was liberated from occupation at the end of the Second World War. More than 7,600 Canadians gave their lives so Dutch citizens could once again live in peace. From that sacrifice grew a lasting bond between our two countries. Many of the residents I connected with carry personal memories, family stories, or cultural ties to that moment in history and it was incredibly moving to share this event with them. 

Summer is here! Time to sip an ice coffee on the patio or grab one to go while you explore Whitby’s shops, parks and trails. This month I’m highlighting a dozen of Whitby’s amazing independent coffee shops. Check out a new one for your next coffee date or morning coffee run!

• Maple Brewz

1525 Dundas St. E.

maplebrewz.com

• The Souk

124 Dundas St. W.

@thesouk.whitby

• The Concrete Café

1636 Charles St., Unit 3

theconcretecafe.ca

• M &L Motors Café

928 Brock St. N.

@mandlmotors

• Marito’s Coffee and Things

105 Mary St. W.

maritoscoffeeandthings.com

• Brock St. Espresso

131 Brock St. S.

brockstespresso.ca

• The Station: Traditional European Bakery

72 Baldwin St. Unit 103A

the-station-bakery.webflow.io

• Upshot Coffee Company

16 Winchester Rd. E., Unit 1

@upshotcoffeeco

• The Goodberry

55 Baldwin St.

thegoodberry.ca

• Melly’s Café and Market

1022 Brock St. S.

mellysworkplace.ca

• Jacked Up Coffee

132 Brock St. N.

jackedupcoffee.com

• Belle Vie Café and Bakery

117 Brock St. N.

belleviepastries.com

Did you know Whitby has a connection to Canada’s first professional women’s soccer league?  The roster for AFC Toronto -- the founding team for the  Northern Super League --includes April Lantaigne who developed her skills right here with Whitby FC! I was so excited to be in the stands in April when Toronto FC played its historic opening match in front of 14,000 spectators at BMO Field – this included an incredible 500 fans from Whitby, as well as ball girls and flag bearers from Whitby FC. The club has now moved to the 4,000-seat York Lions Stadium, which will be its home venue for the 2025 season. Learn more at afctoronto.ca

June is Pride Month and there is lots happening in Whitby and throughout Durham to celebrate our 2SLGBTQIA+ community!

Here are a few options to check out:

May 31 – 7^th Annual Drag Queen Storytime – from 1 to 2 p.m. at Heydenshore Pavillion, 589 Water St., Whitby

June 1 – Durham Youth Pride – 1 to 4 p.m. at Region of Durham Headquarters, 605 Rossland Rd. E., Whitby

June 7 – Multifaith Pride Service – 12 to 12:45 p.m. at Arbour Park Pride Gazebo
65 Harwood Ave., Ajax

June 7 – Durham Pride Parade – 1 p.m. (starting at Ajax Town Hall, travelling south on Harwood Avenue and ending at Bolton C. Falby P.S.)

June 21 – 3^rd Annual North Durham Pride March – 11 a.m. starting at 279 Queen St., Port Perry

On May 8, Habitat for Humanity GTA formally kicked off its new project in Whitby with a well-attended public information session. Habitat GTA will soon start work on an affordable housing community of 40+ units at Hickory St. and Dunlop St. in Downtown Whitby. The Town of Whitby donated the two parcels of land for this project as part of its commitment to increase affordable housing. Residents interested in donating, volunteering or applying for a home can visit habitatgta.ca/hickory-and-dunlop for more information and to subscribe for project updates. 

Do you have your Whitby hoody yet? The Town of Whitby has partnered with local company Vintage Apparel Co. for an exciting fundraiser in support of a new hospital in Whitby! Limited-edition hoodies are now available for purchase, with almost half the funds from each sale going to this fantastic cause. There are three colour options to choose from and four style options: “My Whitby,” “My Brooklin,” “My Ashburn,” and “My Myrtle.”

This summer, watch for Town of Whitby staff at local events offering help with ordering and sample hoodies so you can gauge size.

Visit https://shop.vintageapparelco.com/ to get yours today! You can also visit Whitby.ca/NewHospital to learn more about the new hospital and how the community can support the project.

June is Seniors Month and there are some great events happening in Whitby for older adults!

• An exhibit of art created by local 55+ residents will be on display at the Whitby Public Library Central Branch from June 2 to 30, with a chance to meet the artists on June 13 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Tai Chi in the Park with Dave takes place June 17 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Rotary Centennial Park. This is a free event sponsored by Wellings of Whitby, pre-registration and 55+ membership required.
• Yoga in the Park with Dennis takes place June 24 from 9 to 10 a.m. at Rotary Centennial Park. This is a free event sponsored by Wellings of Whitby, pre-registration and 55+ membership required.
• A free frauds and scams seminar with Durham Regional Police Detective Martin Franssen is being offered June 26 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Whitby 55+ Recreation Centre.

Visit the Town of Whitby’s June calendar for more information. 

With Canada Day fast approaching, the Town of Whitby is inviting residents to showcase their local and national pride through the “Whitby Proud,  Canada Loud” home decorating contest! Decorate your home, yard, balcony or porch in red and white, then snap a photo and submit it by June 20 for the chance to win one of three local prize packs.

Free Canadian flag window signs are available for pick-up at Whitby Town Hall in the Mayor’s Office or any Town facility to get you started!

In the final week of June, I will join members of Whitby Council to evaluate the submissions based on creativity, originality, and overall Canadian spirit. Winners will be announced via the Town’s Facebook channel (@TownofWhitby) on Thursday, June 26.

Visit whitby.ca/en/news/show-spirit-through-whitby-proud-canada-loud-decorating-contest.aspx for more information and to enter!

This is my monthly shoutout 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, email follertj@whitby.ca

• Congratulations to Whitby resident Canisia Lubrin for winning the 2025 Carol Shields Prize for Fiction. This $150,000 US prize recognizes the best fiction book by a woman or non-binary writer from the U.S. or Canadian and is the largest international literary prize for women writers. Canisia won for her book "Code Noir," which was also shortlisted for the 2024 Atwood Gibson Fiction prize.
• Kudos to Kaileb, Ayden, and Brennan from ICKF Karate School in Whitby for earning spots on the Ontario Provincial Karate Team and proudly representing our community at the Canadian National Karate Championships! Whitby is proud of you!
• Shout out to 1^st Whitby Scouts on their 105^th anniversary! This is an amazing milestone. Thank you to the youth and volunteers involved with this group for giving back to our community in so many ways, including helping to plant 300 trees at Whitby Civic Park in May as part of the Scoutrees initiative.

Because You Asked is an opportunity to provide helpful context and information about issues the community is asking about. Got a question? Email Jillian Follert at follertj@whitby.ca

Some of the most common questions and concerns I receive relate to road safety and speeding. You might hear the term “traffic calming” used when these issues are being discussed and wonder, what does that mean?

Traffic calming is a set of measures used to “calm” traffic through physical changes to the street and/or behaviour change.

The goal is to create safer streets for pedestrians, people who use mobility devices, cyclists, and motorists. Used effectively, traffic calming measures can reduce speeds, limit cut-through traffic, and discourage poor driving habits such as distracted or aggressive driving.

Examples of traffic calming measures include speed humps, raised crosswalks and intersections, mini roundabouts.

Click here for photos and information about types of traffic calming measures Whitby has used or may use.

The Town is currently working on a new Traffic Calming Policy and Guidelines, which will establish a more consistent process for how requests for traffic calming are assessed and prioritized.

The new policy will create a fair and data-driven process to assess and prioritize requests for traffic calming, ensuring resources are used effectively. It will also make sure all requests are treated equally, and that consultation happens before any changes are made.

In October 2023, more than 900 people participated in a survey and mapping exercise to share where they thought traffic calming measures should be implemented in Whitby. The top five concerns were speeding, traffic volume, dangerous driving, cut-through traffic, and school zones.

 The new policy will take this input into consideration and will also use feedback collected through two rounds of public consultation in winter and spring 2025.

Visit https://connectwhitby.ca/trafficcalmingpolicy to learn more and follow progress on the new Traffic Calming Policy. 

Making a Difference is my 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

Habitat for Humanity GTA is Greater Toronto’s most recognized provider and advocate of solutions that tackle the region’s housing crisis. As a not-for-profit, Habitat GTA is creating smart ways to bridge the affordability gap for people who are being squeezed by ballooning rent costs and high real estate prices. Habitat GTA's unique approach removes the barriers of traditional home-buying, allowing families to purchase homes without a down payment and ensuring long-term affordability.

Starting in 2025, Habitat GTA will build more than 40 affordable homes in Whitby at Hickory Street South and Dunlop Street East. These homes, situated on land generously donated by the Town of Whitby, will offer families the utmost convenience, being just minutes away from essential amenities, including the GO Station, schools, daycares, grocery stores and more. Habitat GTA is grateful for this donation of land and aims to have families move into these homes sometime in the fall of 2027 and spring of 2028.

Families who move into Habitat homes benefit from improved health and wellness, stronger economies, more inclusive communities, empowerment for women, hope for young people, and smarter, sustainable communities. By partnering with Habitat GTA, donors and community partners can help build stronger, equitable communities to everyone's benefit.

Habitat GTA's efforts go beyond just building homes. The organization empowers families to reach their full potential, enabling multi-generational success and creating stronger, more equitable communities. Since its inception, Habitat GTA has built more than 600 homes in 26 communities across the Greater Toronto Area, impacting thousands of lives, including children. In the next few years, the organization plans to build another 300 homes, making more homes possible in the next five years than in the previous ten.

To learn more about becoming a donor, volunteer or owning a home of your own with Habitat for Humanity GTA, visit habitatgta.ca.

To get involved with bringing the latest community in Whitby to life, join the Making Homes in Possible in Whitby Action Committee by contacting Denise Walker, Manager of Corporate Partnerships, at Denise.Walker@habitatgta.ca 

Founded by Corette Miller over two decades ago, ThryvX HR is a virtual human resources company that is committed to helping businesses thryve in today's competitive landscape. Corette's experience as an HR specialist laid the foundation for ThryvX, which works with businesses seeking expert support without the commitment of full-time resources.

ThryvX offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to empower small and medium-sized businesses including workplace investigations, HR guidance and policy development, staff orientation, training and onboarding/offboarding, recruiting and talent acquisition, legislation compliance, and workshops and leadership development.

The company recently expanded to offer HR, payroll, and benefits administration, utilizing the Canadian-owned and operated Humi platform. These services help businesses build strong, cohesive teams, increasing productivity and long-term success.

With over 25 years of experience in HR, Corette’s passion for fostering cohesive and high-functioning teams has been a driving force behind ThryvX’s success. 

• Opening day for the Brooklin Farmer’s Market is June 14! The Brooklin Market runs Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 3 Vipond Rd. in Brooklin.  You can also check out the Whitby Farmer’s Market every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Celebration Square. Learn more at whitbyfarmersmarket.ca
• The Brooklin Spring Fair Parade takes place June 7 at 10:30 a.m. along Baldwin Street. Organized by the B.A.M Lion’s Club, the parade is a longstanding tradition. Visit brooklinspringfair.com/attractions/parade for information including the parade route.
• The 114^th annual Brooklin Spring Fair takes place from June 5 to 8 with attractions, live music, competitions, homecraft, food, midway rides and games – and more! Visit brooklinspringfair.com for details and a full schedule.
• The Town of Whitby is hosting a Culture Pop-Up for National Indigenous People’s Day on June 17 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Rotary Sunrise Park featuring storytelling, drumming and dancing.
• The Centre Ward Town Hall with Centre Ward Councillor Niki Lundquist and Regional Councillor Maleeha Shahid takes place June 25 at 7 p.m. at Whitby Town Hall, 575 Rossland Rd. E. No registration required. This is a great opportunity to meet your councillors and share questions and feedback!
• The Town of Whitby’s annual summer series of Music in the Park events kicks off June 25 at 7 p.m. at Rotary Centennial Park, 800 Brock St. S. and continues every Wednesday evening until Aug. 27. Music in the Park also takes place at Grass Park in Brooklin on Thursdays at 7 p.m. from July 3 to Aug. 21.

Did you know there are two ways to subscribe to my monthly newsletter? Go to whitby.ca/subscribe to receive an email notification each month when the newsletter is published on whitby.ca -- or click here to subscribe via Constant Contact and get the newsletter right to your inbox.

Here’s a sneak peek of what’s coming up in my July newsletter:

• Details on amazing summer events in Whitby including outdoor movie nights and Culture Pop-Ups!
• A profile of Crave Doughnuts
• The winners of our “Whiby Proud, Canada Loud” Home Decorating Contest