What local businesses need to know about Stage 2

On, Monday, June 15, the Ontario government announced that municipalities within the Durham Region Public Health Unit – including the Town of Whitby – can move into Stage 2 to re-open our local economy. The change is effective as of Friday, June 19, at 12:01 a.m.

Stage 2 eases restrictions on a number of local businesses, including personal care services and restaurants. While the Town is currently reviewing what this next stage means for the municipality, here are some tips and resources to help local businesses begin to reopen safely:

Outdoor Patios

As part of Stage 2, the Town is making it easier for local businesses to expand or open outdoor patios by waiving application fees and developing an expedited approval and permitting process. The process applies to patios on both public and private property. The goal: to support local businesses in their safe reopening and provide residents with opportunities to enjoy local establishments, while maintaining physical distancing. For more information, businesses can contact clerks@whitby.ca.

Whitby Business Reopening Kit

The Town has developed a kit to support local independent businesses in their safe reopening. The kit includes a business hours window decal, floor decals and posters to support physical distancing. The kit also includes ProtectENOL sanitizer made by Brock Street Brewery. Local independent businesses can email ecdev@whitby.ca to request a kit.

Safety Guidelines for Reopening

The Town has created a consolidated webpage – whitby.ca/businessresources – for  businesses to visit and learn more about how to safely reopen.

In addition, there are a number of guides to help businesses safely reopen, including a new general workplace guide released by the Ontario government on Tuesday, June 16. The new, downloadable toolkit will help employers and workers better understand how to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Businesses can develop their own COVID-19 workplace safety plan. 

What’s Open Whitby

To date more than 200 local businesses have added their information to the Town’s What’s Open Whitby online mapping portal. The portal was developed by the Town of Whitby in partnership with the Whitby Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Whitby Business Improvement Area (BIA). Through whitby.ca/whatsopen, a user can quickly search for a local business by category or address to find a variety of options available to them. They can also find out which businesses have outdoor patios available.

Not on the map? Add your business by completing a quick survey. Questions about the portal can be directed to ecdev@whitby.ca.

QUOTES

“Local businesses are the foundation of our economic prosperity and we are doing everything we can to support their safe re-opening. As we enter Stage 2 and the summer months, residents will want to enjoy themselves on an outdoor patio. We are working to support local business by providing these spaces.”

-       Mayor Don Mitchell

“The Whitby Chamber of Commerce, BIA and Town of Whitby will continue working together on behalf of the business community. Thrilled to see the Town has waived the fees for patios and I look forward to seeing the rest of our business community continue to open and thrive.”

-       Natalie Prychitko, Chief Executive Officer, Whitby Chamber of Commerce

“The BIA is pleased to continue working in partnership with the Town of Whitby and Chamber to support our members and all local businesses.”

-       Karey Anne Large, Executive Director, Downtown Whitby BIA

MORE INFORMATION

For more information on Stage 2 and resources available to help reopen safely, visit whitby.ca/businessresources or email ecdev@whitby.ca.