Work continues on Whitby’s 2026 Budget. On Sept. 23, I shared an open letter with the community outlining the challenges the Town is facing as we build this year’s budget and some of the ways we’re working to find savings. Read the letter here.

I’m offering several opportunities for residents to share budget feedback with me through my annual Talk Budget with Mayor Roy series. 

Mark your calendar for these dates – I’m looking forward to answering your questions and hearing your thoughts.

• Oct.8 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Whitby Farmer’s Market, Celebration Square, 405 Dundas St. W.
• Oct. 16 from 5 to 6 p.m. at Town Brewery, 1632 Charles St.
• Oct. 21 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Brooklin Community Centre and Library, 8 Vipond Rd.
• Nov. 6 from 2 to 3 p.m. at Jacked Up Coffee, 132 Brock St. N.

• Oct. 21 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the 55+ Centre, 801 Brock St. S.

More dates are being added -- follow me on social media for updates!

Learn more about the budget process at https://connectwhitby.ca/budget

On Sept. 15, I was pleased to help celebrate the official groundbreaking for the new Fire Station 6, which will be located at Rossland Road and Des Newman Boulevard. West Whitby is one of the fastest growing areas of our town, and this new fire station will help improve emergency response times. Adding a new fire station in West Whitby is one of 62 action items in Whitby’s Community Strategic Plan. The fire hall is expected to open in 2027 and will create 20 new firefighter positions, as well as temporary construction jobs.  Council approved a $17 million capital project for the station’s construction in 2025. Visit https://www.whitby.ca/en/news/fire-hall-groundbreaking-in-west-whitby.aspx for more details. 

This is your heads up to save the date for something special coming to Whitby this holiday season!

Building on the success of last year’s Operation Cozy Toes sock drive in support of people in our community experiencing homelessness, this year we’re expanding the initiative to include…Operation Toy Mountain!

2025 marks the 30^th anniversary of the CTV Toy Mountain Campaign, supporting the Salvation Army. Every year, businesses, schools, organizations and community groups donate thousands of toys for local families in need.

From Nov. 5 to Dec. 9, the Town of Whitby and Downtown Whitby BIA will be collecting socks for Operation Cozy Toes and new toys for Operation Toy Mountain. Donation drop-off locations will be announced shortly, watch my social media channels for updates.

The campaign will culminate with an exciting community event on Dec. 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. with CTV broadcasting live from Whitby!

The Town of Whitby is undertaking a review and update of its two Heritage Conservation District (HCD) Plans – Brooklin and Werden’s Neighbourhood. Input gathered to date has helped inform draft updated HCD Plans for public consultation. A Public Information Centre is taking place Oct. 9 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.  at Town Hall, 575 Rossland Rd. E. Attend in-person, or register to join virtually by emailing heritage@whitby.ca with “Register Online – October 9” as the subject line by Oct. 3.  Written comments can also be submitted to heritage@whitby.ca

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

• Shout out to 12-year-old Caleb Holland, who is inspiring change locally and globally. After writing a nonfiction book, he launched a fundraiser to self-publish it and led a book drive, collecting books to support a new children's library in Malawi. Caleb’s dedication and compassion show that one young voice can inspire generosity and build stronger communities.
• Huge congratulations to Vera, who raised $2,834 this summer through her 3rd annual Lemonade Stand for Sick Kids in Brooklin. She surpassed her fundraising goal of $1,500 and inspired so many people in our community with her hard work and generous spirit. We're #WhitbyProud of you, Vera!

• Hats off to the eight volunteer Scouters with 1^st Whitby Scouts who were recently recognized with the King Charles III Coronation Medal for their outstanding community service. The recipients are Erinn Davis, Drew Henry, Brian Bullied, Richard Kulikauskas, Dylan Pammett, Brian Wick, Matthew Pogue, and Pierrette Parent.

The Town of Whitby is entering the final phase of its five-year Official Plan Review which will help set policy direction for how the town should grow between now and 2051. Share your feedback at a statutory public meeting on Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers and via livestream at whitby.ca/Livestream

During the meeting, three draft proposed Official Plan Amendments will be presented for discussion. You can participate by submitting a written comment to clerk@whitby.ca by noon on Oct. 1, or submitting a Delegation Request Form by 8 a.m. on Oct. 1 to speak in-person or virtually. Input received will be considered in preparing the Final Recommended Amendments to be brought forward for Council adoption in the coming months. Whitby’s current Official Plan was last updated in 2018. This review focuses on updating key study areas to plan for more housing and job opportunities to the year 2051, while conforming to changes in legislation and policy made by the province.

Thank you to everyone who has shared feedback and asked questions about the Brock Street redesign project! It’s really encouraging to see so much community engagement.

I’ve received some great questions and want to share a bit of additional information.

Our community has consistently told us that revitalizing our downtowns is a top priority.

It’s important to understand that the Brock Street redesign is a long-term project that will take over 10 years to complete. Funding for this is not part of the Town’s 2026 Budget and won’t be included in next year’s budget either.

A project of this size and scope requires a lot of community consultation, and that’s what we’re starting with.

The first round of public consultation took place in 2024, and the second round is underway now.

The next step will be bringing a report to Council in early 2026, that includes a concept design.

We’ve already heard that residents want the downtown to be more pedestrian friendly with improved parking, road safety, transit connectivity and accessibility.

Feedback has also included a focus on maintaining Downtown Whitby’s heritage character,  beautifying the space, and making the downtown a strong draw for business investment and tourism.

This is the last item to complete in the Downtown Whitby Action Plan approved by Council in 2016. Supporting our downtowns as thriving destinations is also one of 62 action items in Whitby’s Community Strategic Plan, which was created based on feedback from thousands of residents.

I will keep the community updated as we move forward with this initiative. You can also visit https://connectwhitby.ca/brockstreet to learn more and share feedback.

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

I often receive questions and concerns from residents about graffiti in the community. Commonly targeted areas include utility infrastructure, streetlight and hydro poles, Canda Post boxes, buildings, road signs, bridges (both underneath and on top), and directly on roads and sidewalks.

A recent graffiti blitz conducted in the spring by the Town’s summer students, identified 367 locations with graffiti.

Of these, 87 were on Town infrastructure and the remainder were on third party infrastructure such as utility boxes or regional equipment. This is a slight increase from the 2024 blitz, which identified about 330 locations.

Graffiti on infrastructure owned by rail lines has proven especially difficult to address. 

The Town's Graffiti Task Force works closely with our road patrol team to respond promptly to graffiti complaints on Town of Whitby infrastructure.

Graffiti found on infrastructure owned by third parties is documented during the annual blitz and forwarded to the appropriate owner for action -- however, complaints from the public involving third-party infrastructure are sent immediately to the responsible owner for follow-up. 

If graffiti is derogatory, offensive, or hate motivated, staff respond as soon as possible to remove it.

As a prevention measure, the Town applies anti-graffiti coatings to certain infrastructure, which make graffiti more difficult to apply and easier to remove.

Rapid removal is also a key deterrent, because graffiti that is removed quickly is less likely to reappear in the same location.

For this reason, business and property owners are encouraged to remove or cover graffiti as soon as possible.

Residents can report graffiti through the “Report an Issue” section of the Town’s website at: https://www.whitby.ca/en/live/report-an-issue.aspx

Making a Difference: Mannahelp 

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

Mannahelp is a local not-for-profit dedicated to food security and sustainability. As part of this work, Mannahelp recently launched a new community garden at 555 Rossland Rd. E. in Whitby, on the open lawn area west of the Whitby Civic Recreation Complex parking lot.

The garden started with four beds and on Aug. 28, was expanded to eight beds thanks to collaboration from We Grow Food, the Rotary Club of Whitby, the Rotary Club of Whitby-Sunrise and the Town of Whitby.

Mannahelp plans to use the garden to:

• Increase access to fresh food for the community.
• Promote environmental stewardship through sustainable gardening practices.
• Educate and engage the community on food production and urban agriculture
• Create volunteer opportunities that strengthen community ties and encourage social impact.

Residents can secure a garden plot for $50 per year, click here for Community Garden membership form.

Plot fees help with maintenance including soil replenishment, compost, and mulch, tool repair and replacement, building raised beds, creating signage and plant labels, and offering workshops and community events.

Surplus produce will support Mannahelp’s food distribution efforts.

Mannahelp welcomes volunteers, seed and tool donations, and corporate sponsorships.

Email help@mannahelp.com for more information and follow Mannahelp on social media @mannahelp

Mike Forman is a proud McDonald’s franchisee in Whitby, where he leads one of the region’s largest and most dedicated restaurant teams – his franchise locations include 1301 Brock St. S, 200 Taunton Rd. E., 1615 Dundas St. E., and the location inside the Walmart store at 4100 Baldwin St. S. 

With more than 550 team members across his restaurants, Mike emphasizes that his success is rooted in the people who bring the brand to life each day.

He takes pride in the fact that his entire management team -- 47 strong -- has grown through McDonald’s nationally recognized training and management development programs. For Mike, this commitment to fostering growth from within not only builds stronger leaders but also creates lasting opportunities for members of the Whitby community.

Community support has always been a central focus for Mike and his wife Stacey. Each year, their restaurants support over 100 local sports teams, helping young people build confidence, teamwork, and resilience.

Together with their team, they have also contributed to projects that matter to families in Durham Region, including donating $150,000 toward the new Whitby hospice. McDonald’s restaurants in Durham have collectively raised over $700,000 for the new Grandview Children’s Centre and Mike and his team have contributed more than $200,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada, helping families stay close to their children during difficult times.

As someone who has had the opportunity to work with McDonald’s in other parts of the world, Mike is especially appreciative of the values that guide McDonald’s Canada. Nearly 90 per cent of the food and supplies are sourced within the country, supporting local farmers, producers, and industries. For Mike, this connection to Canadian suppliers is another way his restaurants can contribute beyond the counter.

To him, being a franchisee is about more than running restaurants. It’s about supporting people—whether that’s a young employee starting their first job, a community team in need of sponsorship, or a family going through a challenging time. 

• Doors Open Whitby takes place Oct. 18, inviting residents and visitors to explore behind the scenes of some of the town’s most iconic buildings. The local event is part of Doors Open Ontario. Visit https://www.whitby.ca/en/play/doors-open.aspx for details.
• Muslim Women of Durham Region is hosting Islamic History Month Storytime at the Whitby Public Library Central Branch on Oct. 18 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., learn more at https://mwofdurhamregion.com/events

• The Downtown Whitby BIA hosts the second annual Whitby Trick or Treat event on Oct. 25 from 12 to 2 p.m. in Downtown Whitby. Participating businesses will be handing out candy – wear you most creative costume! More details here.
• Several events are taking place for Whitby Local Business Week from Oct. 20 to 24 including a Kick-off Breakfast and Youth Micro Hackathon. Visit the Town’s October event calendar for details.

• World Mental Health Day is Oct. 10, and the Whitby Public Library is offering several initiatives this year, including the “Anxiety Monster in a Box” program for kids on Oct. 9. Click here for details.  

• Little Forests Durham hosts a Mini Forest Planting event at Heber Down Conservation Area on Oct. 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Volunteers are needed to help plant over 600 native trees and shrubs. Click here for details and registration information. 

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 November newsletter:

• Upcoming holiday events in Whitby
• Profile of new Downtown Whitby business the Gamer's Table
• Updates on Whitby’s 2026 Budget process
• An overview of Whitby’s spas and wellness services