I want to thank Whitby residents for your patience as we navigate the ongoing strike by CUPE 53 workers. While I am not a member of the Town’s bargaining committee, I continue to urge both sides to get back to the table and bargain in good faith.

Here’s how to stay informed:

Visit whitby.ca/en/live/labour-relations-updates.aspx for labour relations updates, information on which services are impacted, and how to drop off waste.

You can also follow the Town of Whitby on Facebook and Twitter for real-time updates and subscribe to the labour disruption news feed for direct email updates.

In the event of an urgent situation, call the Town’s Contact Centre at 905-430-4346, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  For situations that present an immediate health and safety concern (ex. missing stop sign, downed tree over a Town road), call 905-430-4346 anytime.

Whitby’s Halloween Home Decorating Contest was a spooktacular success

At the end of October, I had the opportunity to join members of Council in judging entries for the Town of Whitby’s 2023 Halloween Home Decorating Contest. This friendly competition was a great way to celebrate fall and showcase the community spirit and pride in our neighbourhoods that Whitby is known for. So many residents put a huge amount of work into decorating their homes with Halloween, fall, and harvest themes. Pictured above is the first place winner -- so creative! The first, second, and third-place winners will receive prize packages generously donated by Thermea Spa Village. 

It's that time of year -- replace your smoke alarm batteries!

Daylight saving time ends on Nov. 5 when the clocks go back one hour. This is your twice-yearly reminder to replace smoke alarm batteries. Make sure you have working smoke alarms on every storey of your home and outside all sleeping areas. As we head into the chillier months it’s a good time to brush up on fire safety tips and make sure you have a home escape plan. Click here for more fire safety information from Whitby Fire and Emergency Services. 

Funding announced to enhance Whitby’s Waterfront Trail

On Oct. 11, I was pleased to join Whitby MP Ryan Turnbull to announce a $6.5 million makeover for Whitby’s Waterfront Trail. The redevelopment includes widening of over 600 metres of the existing asphalt trail as well as the replacement of more than 150 metres of boardwalk and 80 meters of the pedestrian bridge. Improvements will also include seating, rest and viewing areas, and wayfinding and interpretive signs. The Government of Canada is investing $2.5 million in this project through the Active Transportation Fund and the Town of Whitby is contributing $3.9 million. We know how important the waterfront is to Whitby residents and I’m thrilled that this project will ensure residents and visitors can continue to enjoy the Waterfront Trail.  

Whitby’s favourite nature columnist signs off

Whitby resident Margaret Carney, recently wrote her final column for the Metoland Durham Region newspapers. Margaret has been writing a nature appreciation column for the local newspapers for 32 years, sharing bird and animal sightings and other wonders of the great outdoors. She is also the author of several children’s books. Thank you, Margaret for sharing your knowledge and adventures with us for so many years! Read her final column here: durhamregion.com/opinion/thank-you-all-a-fond-farewell-from-durham-s-one-of-a-kind-nature-columnist/article_b470ea32-5745-5a74-a105-b1a6d23ae868.html

Brooklin Community Centre and Library showcased for World Architecture Day

Whitby residents know how beautiful and functional the Brooklin Community Centre and Library is – and it was recently highlighted by the Ontario Association of Architects as part of World Architecture Day 2023.  Each year, the association invites MPPs to share their favourite buildings or structures in their riding as part of the Queen’s Park Picks program. A panel of architects reviews the nominations and selects a shortlist of outstanding projects to mark World Architecture Day. This year’s theme was "Architecture for Resilient Communities” and Brooklin Community Centre and Library -- submitted by MPP Lorne Coe -- was one of nine selections chosen for 2023! Click here to learn more  

Remembering Lynn Philip Hodgson

I was deeply saddened to hear of the recent passing of Whitby resident Lynn Philip Hodgson, whose obituary can be found here. Lynn was an incredible author and history keeper who worked tirelessly to tell the story of Whitby’s Camp X and the history of special operations in Canada. Over the years he published many books, spoke to thousands of local students, appeared in documentaries, and received prestigious honours including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ontario Heritage Foundation and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. Thank you, Lynn for all you did to preserve Whitby’s history. Click here to watch the Whitby History Keeper’s video featuring Lynn and his wife Marlene. 

We’re proud of these Whitby Community Builders

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! Email Jillian Follert at follertj@whitby.ca

• Congratulations to the Whitby Wolves U13AA girls hockey team, which will be participating in the PeeWee Quebec International Tournament coming up in February! They are the only team selected from Ontario to represent the province -- and this is only the second time in 64 years for the Girls U13AA division to participate in this tournament. Whitby is cheering you on!

• Thank you to Muslim Women of Durham Region for organizing a series of special events across Durham for Islamic History Month in October. I had the privilege of attending several of these events – our community appreciates all you do strengthen and celebrate Durham’s diversity! 

• Shout out to Whitby author Douglas Hall age 94, who has released his 27th book! Hall’s published work includes 18 mysteries, five novels, three children's books, and one historical book. Staff at Amica Whitby retirement home, where Hall is a resident, recently put on a murder mystery inspired by one of his books.  He is currently working on “Murder Confirmed” another addition to the Paul West Mystery series. Check out CTV coverage of this story here: toronto.ctvnews.ca/it-s-really-taken-off-94-year-old-ontario-author-celebrates-release-of-latest-book-1.6599503

geekspeak Commerce is an eCommerce services provider focused on developing programs, strategies, and content that help clients sell more online. The company is celebrating its 20^th anniversary this year. How did it start? Twenty years ago, CEO Isaac Wanzama was an entrepreneur working on a dream from his basement in Whitby. He envisioned an agency that could help companies craft great content. At first, that meant a focus on technical writing for product and user manuals. But as more companies started selling products online, the focus shifted to developing eCommerce content that could help drive sales. geekspeak has grown from Isaac in his basement to a team of over 40 staff who work at the Downtown Whitby office and remotely around the world. geekspeak’s offerings have also grown to include services like 3D asset creation, web design, product taxonomy, photography, and more. Diversity is geekspeak’s “superpower” with a team of people largely from the BIPOC community. The company welcomes immigrant and newcomer talent, as both offer a wealth of life experiences and global knowledge. Visit geekspeakcommerce.com to learn more. You can also check out the AR experience launched to celebrate 20 years here: geekspeakcommerce.8thwall.app/20th-anniversary-celebration/  

• On Nov. 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the Whitby Public Library hosts the Whitby Comic Arts Festival at the Central Branch. Check out games, crafts, and activities; meet comic book artists, and cosplayers; buy original artwork and fandom creations; and grab a free comic from the comic book corner. Wear a costume to get a free photo taken with the green screen! Visit whitbylibrary.ca/WhitCAF for more information. 

• Observe Remembrance Day on Nov. 11 with two ceremonies hosted by our local legion branches. Royal Canadian Legion Branch 112 (Whitby Legion) will host a ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Whitby Cenotaph, 109 Dundas St. E. and Royal Canadian Legion Branch 152 (Brooklin Legion) will host a ceremony at 11 a.m. the Brooklin Cenotaph, 8 Vipond Rd. in Brooklin.

• Mark your calendars for the fifth annual Downtown Whitby Christmas Market on Nov. 18 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Celebration Square (405 Dundas St W).  This free, all ages event features an outdoor market, festive activities, live performances, local food and great holiday shopping throughout the downtown!

• Get in the holiday spirit with the Whitby Lights the Night Christmas Festival on Nov. 24 from 4 to 9 p.m. at Civic Park (between Town Hall and the Civic Recreation Complex). Civic Park will be illuminated with beautiful lights and a new 30-foot tree. Lights will also be on display in Downtown Whitby and Downtown Brooklin during the holiday season.