Thank you to the Whitby Chamber of Commerce for hosting a fireside chat with me and guest interviewer Trinda Searle from 360insights on April 25. It was an honour to talk to members of our local business community and share information about plans, priorities and initiatives for this term of council. Thank you to everyone who put hours of hard work into organizing this fantastic event!

Community Strategic Plan update

Work is continuing on Whitby’s four-year Community Strategic Plan! I’m so pleased that more than 2,200 people gave their feedback during the first round of public consultation in February and March. We learned a lot from this feedback. On April 24, council endorsed a draft of the Community Strategic Plan. Phase 2 of community engagement launched on April 27 and will run until May 19. Residents, businesses and community partners have the opportunity to attend virtual and in-person engagement sessions to provide feedback on the draft plan. Visit connectwhitby.ca/communityplan for more information.  Your voice matters, let us know your vision for Whitby! A final version of the plan is expected to go to council for approval in June.

Warming centre update

Council and Town staff are working together to address concerns from the community about the warming centre in Downtown Whitby.

Town staff is looking for a suitable alternate location for the warming centre, which will ensure we can provide services to people experiencing homelessness, while relieving pressure on the Whitby Public Library.

Until that happens, here’s what we’re doing to address concerns:

• Our operations staff are deployed on a daily basis to pick up waste around the warming centre and library
• The Town has arranged for a storage bin that is located onsite where unsheltered people can store their personal belongings
• The Town has added security both inside and outside the library, and work is underway on a security analysis for the warming centre
• The Salvation Army has stopped new intakes and is implementing a phased approach to reduce the number of clients onsite back to a maximum of 10. The Region of Durham is working to find space in Whitby to support additional demand
• The Salvation Army is immediately identifying staffing needs and a hiring plan to allow the warming centre to operate on a 24/7 model. This will allow clients to remain in the warming centre for programming and support during the day

We’re working hard to ensure that all concerns are addressed – and to make sure vulnerable members of our community have access to the shelter and supports they need.

What’s happening at council?

New policies for Whitby’s mature neighbourhoods

Council has adopted an amendment to the Whitby Official Plan, which includes additional policies to help manage residential infill and intensification in mature neighbourhoods. The amendment adopted on April 24 follows a Mature Neighbourhoods Study and public consultation. Increasing land costs and provincial legislation creating pressure for infill and redevelopment in mature neighbourhoods. Types of infill development include severances to create new single detached or semi-detached dwelling lots, and denser forms of development such as townhouses or apartments on larger lots or consolidated lots. Examples of polices in the new amendment include: generally limiting building heights for low-density residential development to two storeys; directing high-density residential development to the edges of mature neighbourhoods along arterial roads and abutting intensification corridors and areas; a maximum of four storeys for high-density residential development in mature neighbourhoods.

Pilot program for after-hours parking and bylaw enforcement to continue

Council has approved the continuation of a pilot program for after-hours parking and by-law enforcement. The pilot program was launched in response to concerns from council and the community. Data shows the majority of after-hours noise complaints occur between 7 p.m. and 2 a.m. from Mayo to October, and primarily on weekends. An enforcement services officer was hired for a six-month period from May to November 2022. An after-hours phone system was set up, which allowed residents to speak directly with an officer on duty Thursday to Sunday nights from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. The officer working the pilot program was responsible for issuing $26,000 in parking infraction revenue during the six months. A report from Town staff says the seasonal pilot project was successful and recommends continuing it for 2023 and investigating the option of making the position permanent as part of the 2024 budget.  The cost to continue the pilot program is $17,558, which will be funded from incremental 2023 parking infraction revenue and the parking reserve fund.

Soccer dome replacement

Council has approved replacement of one of Whitby’s soccer domes as a new capital project for 2023. The soccer dome, located at 683 Rossland Rd. W., is 14 years old and needs to be replaced before next winter. A report from Town staff says the weight of snow on top of the dome has caused dome collapses. The estimated cost to replace the dome is $650,000. The Whitby Football Club is able to fund $400,00 of the cost and requested that the Town contribute $250,000. Council approved the $250,000 funding on April 24, the cost will be funded from the Whitby Soccer Dome Reserve Fund, which was created to support replacements for the soccer dome, artificial turf, and major mechanical components. Council has authorized the Whitby Football Club to move forward with coordinating and procuring the dome replacement.

Council urges Province to act on homelessness crisis

On April 24, Council approved a motion calling on the provincial government to “acknowledge that homelessness in Ontario is a social, economic, and health crisis; commit to ending homelessness in Ontario; and work the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and a broad range of community, health, Indigenous and economic partners to develop, resource, and implement an action plan to achieve this goal.”
The motion notes the homelessness crisis “is the result of the underinvestment and poor policy choices of successive provincial governments” and says municipalities are working to address the issue but do not have the resources, capacity, or tools to address this complex challenge.

We’re proud of these Whitby Community Builders!

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

• Congratulations to the Whitby Chamber of Commerce, which recently celebrated its 95^th anniversary! The chamber plays a big role in creating an environment where businesses can succeed, by supporting them with networking opportunities, education, advocacy and leadership. Thank you for helping our local business community thrive!

• Thank you to Bellwood P.S. for hosting its first ever community Iftar celebration on April 6. This event brought the community together in faith and friendship and is an example of the kind of inclusivity we love to see in local schools.

• Shout out to Nelson Tellis who is the winner of the 2023 Mayor’s Senior Volunteer Award! Nelson has been a committed volunteer with Holy Family Parish and the Knights of Columbus for 35 years. Nelson was recognized at the 55+ Volunteer Appreciation and Mayor’s Senior Volunteer Award event on April 27.

Whitby business spotlight: One More Cocoa

Many people started new hobbies and pursued their passions during the pandemic, including Kenesha Lewis who became a chocolatier and went on to launch chocolate shop One More Cocoa.

The business started as an online store in May 2021. In September 2021, a brick-and-mortar location opened in downtown Whitby at 116 Athol St. in Whitby.

Inspired by an old Caribbean proverb, “One One Cocoa, Full Basket” -- meaning one step at a time -- One More Cocoa is a reflection of Kenesha’s heritage, memories, and love of chocolate. The store offers handmade, gourmet chocolate bars in more than 18 flavours like birthday cake, lemon poppyseed and caramel popcorn, as well as gourmet bonbons. Kenesha says she loves Whitby’s small-town feel and the fact that residents want local businesses to succeed and show them lots of support.

When Kenesha isn’t busy creating new flavours, she’s working to expand the business, like getting her bars carried by the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Black Owned Toronto store at the Scarborough Town Centre and HelloFresh Marketplace. Check out onemorecocoa.com for more information.

Get to know your councillors

This month, I’m introducing you to West Ward Councillor Matt Cardwell and Regional Councillor Maleeha Shahid, who are working together as a team for 2023.

Matt Cardwell was elected in 2022 and is serving his first term on Whitby Council. He has been a Whitby resident for more than 40 years, attending Dr. Robert Thornton P.S. and and Anderson C.V.I. He went to Saint Mary’s University and York University where he earned his Bachelor of Commerce Degree. Actively involved in sports, he spent two seasons playing pro hockey in the U.S. before returning to Whitby where he finished his competitive hockey career playing seven seasons for the Whitby Dunlops.

Matt is the owner of two local Whitby businesses and prior to being elected to Council, he was an active member of the Whitby Chamber of Commerce including serving on the board of directors as vice-president. He received the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2012 and founded the Young Entrepreneur and Professional’s Committee. He also received the 2015 Prime Minister’s Award for his charitable work. Matt lives with his partner Kyla in West Ward.

Maleeha Shahid and her family have called Whitby home for more than 15 years. First elected as East Ward Councillor in 2018, Maleeha was elected Regional Councillor in 2022 and is also serving as Deputy Mayor for 2023.

Maleeha has served the community by volunteering with the Rotary Club of Whitby-Sunrise, local church food banks and women’s shelters. She has organized community information sessions on issues like fraud and scam prevention for seniors. Maleeha also organizes an annual community Iftar dinner.

Through her work on the Whitby Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Maleeha has helped make new Canadians feel welcome in Whitby.

Coming up in May

• Art Attack 2023 takes place May 4 at 7 p.m. at Station Gallery. This annual showcase of local youth artists is held each year during National Youth Week. Categories include drawing and painting, sculpture, video and film, photography, fashion and jewellery and spoken word. All art pieces will be on display at Station Gallery from May 1 to 27.  Art Attack is presented by Whitby Youth Council in partnership with Station Gallery.

• May 9 is the Provincial Day of Action on Litter.  If you can, consider taking even a few minutes to pick up litter in your neighbourhood or near your workplace or school. You could even organize a community clean-up, the Province’s Public Litter Clean-up Guide has tips.

• The Whitby Farmer’s Market opens for the season on May 17! The market runs Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Celebration Square. You can find lots of local produce as well as baked goods, local honey, gourmet products and so much more. Stay tuned for the Brooklin Farmer’s Market to open in June.

• Food Truck Frenzy is coming up May 27 and 28 at Iroquois Park Sports Centre.  The Rotary Club of Whitby hosts this popular annual event which has drawn up to 25,000 people in past years – amazing! Funds raised go back to the community. Mark you calendar and bring your appetite!

• The 2023 Durham Region MS Walk is May 28 at 11 a.m. at Kiwanis Heydenshore Park in Whitby. Participants can walk the 5 km route as an individual or as part of a team. The MS Walk is a community-driven fundraising event that takes place across Canada to build awareness of multiple sclerosis and fundraise for the MS Society of Canada,

Ask the Mayor

I’d love to hear your questions and answer them in an upcoming newsletter. If you're wondering about it, other residents probably are too! Email roye@whitby.ca to share what’s on your mind.