Mingles Café is open from 9 am-2:30 pm Monday to Friday with food supplied by a caterer. Sandwiches and treats are served daily. Hot lunch is served from 11:30 am - 1 pm.

A monthly menu is available online or at the 55+ Recreation Centre.

If you reside in the Town of Whitby and are age 65 or older or an individual with disabilities, the Town provides a free windrow and sidewalk snow clearing program. Deadline to register for the 2024/2025 season is Thursday, October 31.

The program provides service for:

• Windrow clearing created by the snow plow after a 10 cm snowfall and
• Municipal sidewalk snow clearing on the front and side of your property – after a 5 cm snowfall
• Crews strive to start clearing windrows and sidewalks after the main roads and side roads are cleared, about 36 hours after the end of a snowfall.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible for windrow clearing program, you must be either:

• Resident of the Town of Whitby, and 65 years or older, and have no able-bodied people under the age of 65 living in your home, or
• Certified by a medical doctor to be disabled with no able-bodied people living in your home under the age of 65

View the Windrow and Sidewalk Clearing Program FAQs or call us at 905-668-1424. 

Register for the Windrow and Sidewalk Clearing Program

Income Tax Return Preparation

Whitby 55+ Recreation coordinates income tax return preparation for low income seniors from March 1 to April 30 each year. Basic returns will be processed by 55+ Centre volunteers who have been trained by Revenue Canada.

This volunteer service is designed for seniors with an income of less than $35,000 or a couple with a combined income of less than $45,000.  

This Program is currently being run as a Drop off Clinic - Those qualified drop off their tax information to the front desk of the 55+ Recreation Centre only. Volunteers work on tax forms at home and call participants to review any information. Participants will then receive a call when their tax forms are completed and ready for pick up.

For more information contact 55Plus@whitby.ca, or call 905-668-1424. 

Property Tax Relief

The Town of Whitby offers property tax relief programs to help low-income seniors.

Social Prescribing Program

Social Prescribing is when health Professionals “prescribe” social and recreational opportunities to encourage people 55+ to connect to their communities. The health professional “prescribes” the physical and social opportunities at the Whitby 55+ Centre, making their patient aware of the health benefits of participating in programs and activities.

Currently, 55+ Recreation is looking for health care professionals to become partners with us to be a Social Prescription Subscriber. Patients would then be connected to a Peer Mentor who will introduce them to the Centre and inform them about our 55+ Programs. Financial assistance is available.

For more information on how you can be a partner in the Whitby 55+ Recreation Social Prescribing Program please contact:

Kim Evans, Whitby 55+ Recreation

If you need information about abuse, support and safety, these resources can help.

• Senior Safety Line

• Durham Regional Police Services
• Crimestoppers
• Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
• Durham Elder Abuse Network (D.E.A.N.)
• Distress Centre Durham Resource Centre

If you’re looking for general information, try these resources:

• COVID-19 Resources in Durham Region
• 211 Ontario
• Seniors Information Line

Day Programs

For information about seniors’ day programs, explore these resources:

• Community Care Access Centre
• Community Care Durham

Finances

If you need financial support, these resources can help:

• Advocacy Centre for the Elderly
• Durham Community Legal Clinic
• Income Tax Clinics – Whitby 55+ Recreation Centre – 905-668-1424
• Low Income Seniors
• Ontario Securities Commission

Health and Caregiver Support Services

If you are looking for health and caregiver support services, explore these resources:

• Central East Health Line
• Durham Hospice
• Foot Care Services
• Home at Last Program
• Home Help
• Meals on Wheels
• Respite Care Services – Caregiver Relief

Housing

If you need information about housing, these resources can help:

• Ontario Co-operative Association
• Durham Region Non-Profit Housing Corp
• Landlord and Tenant Board
• Durham Region Subsidized Housing
• Ontario Housing Supply Action Plan

Mental Health

For mental health assistance, consult these resources:

• Distress Centre Durham Resource Centre
• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Canadian Mental Health Association Durham Branch
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
• Community Care Durham
• Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences
• Durham Region Hoarding Coalition

Transportation

Here are some resources related to 55+ transportation:

• Accessible Parking Permit
• Community Care Durham
• DriveTest Centre
• Durham Region Transit
• Durham Region Transit Specialized Services
• GO Transit
• VIA Rail
• Senior Driver Renewal Program