More than 3,000 people helped shape actions to be prioritized over the next four years.

Whitby − naturally beautiful green spaces, a vibrant waterfront, thriving downtowns, and a safe community − the heart of Durham Region, an exceptional place to live, work, and explore. This is what Whitby residents told us they think Whitby should aspire to be and this is the Community Vision in the Town’s new Community Strategic Plan released today.

The new Plan identifies how Council and Town staff will work together to deliver on community priorities over the next four years. This is thanks to the more than 3,000 residents, businesses, and community partners who took the time to share their thoughts and inform the plan earlier this year. Without these insights, this plan would not have been possible.

Residents highlighted the Whitby waterfront, healthcare, green spaces, community safety, economic growth, and the desire to address social needs, like homelessness, as some of their top priorities. This feedback was used to develop the four Strategic Pillars within the Plan:

• Whitby’s Neighbourhoods – Safe, Healthy, & Inclusive
• Whitby’s Natural & Built Environment – Connected & Resilient
• Whitby’s Economy – Innovative & Competitive
• Whitby’s Government – Accountable & Responsive

Each pillar includes several action items that were prioritized during the community engagement process. With 62 action items in total, progress on these will be measured and publicly reported on annually over the next four years.

Learn more about the 2023 to 2026 Whitby Community Strategic Plan.

Quotes

“This new Community Strategic Plan, and the actions included within, are the direct result of what we heard matters most to our community. We now have a shared vision for what Whitby aspires to be and a roadmap for how we will prioritize and deliver on community priorities over the next four years. Thank you, Whitby, for your valuable feedback. Thank you, also, to all members of Council who unanimously endorsed this new plan. I look forward to sharing and celebrating our progress with you as we work to make Whitby an even more exceptional place to live, work, and explore.”

-        Elizabeth Roy, Mayor, Town of Whitby

“As our community continues to grow, it’s more important than ever that we have a clearly defined vision and actions for how we will continue to move forward on community priorities. This Community Strategic Plan provides that vision and aligns the important work being done by staff and Council, with measurable outcomes that can be evaluated and reported back to our community.”

-        Matt Gaskell, Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Whitby

Quick Facts

• The final plan was endorsed by Whitby Town Council at a Special Council Meeting held on June 19 (2023).
• The strategic planning process began last December and was led by a committee of the Mayor, two Council Members, a consultant and Town staff.
• More than 8,500 people visited the Connect Whitby project page and over 3,000 completed online surveys, with an additional more than 75 people having taken part in virtual and in-person engagement sessions.  
• The new Community Vision included in the plan is: Whitby - naturally beautiful green spaces, a vibrant waterfront, thriving downtowns, and a safe community − the heart of Durham Region, an exceptional place to live, work, and explore.
• The Plan includes four pillars, 13 objectives and 62 action items to achieve this Community Vision.

More Information

To read the new Community Strategic Plan or learn more about how it was created, visit connectwhitby.ca/CommunityPlan

For media inquiries, please contact:

Erin Mikaluk, Manager, Communications and Creative Services, Town of Whitby
Phone: 289.314.6913; Email: mikaluke@whitby.ca

Jillian Follert, Public Affairs Coordinator, Office of the Mayor
Phone: 289.387.9101; Email: follertj@whitby.ca