Mayor's Monthly Newsletter - August 2025

There’s still time to chat with me over coffee (or milkshakes) this summer!

My July Coffee with Mayor Roy events were a huge success with many fantastic conversations taking place at local coffee shops. I introduced this initiative in 2023 as a way for residents to connect with me in a casual setting. Drop by to ask questions, share feedback…or just chat!

New this summer, I also expanded on the concept by introducing Meet-Up with Mayor Roy.

Coffee With Mayor Roy

• Aug. 7: 9 to 11 a.m. at The Concrete Café, 1636 Charles St., Unit 3

Meet-Up with Mayor Roy

• Aug. 5: “Milkshakes with the Mayor” from 6 to 8 p.m.

Boardwalk Burgers, 3050 Garden St. Unit 106

Council recently had the opportunity to tour the Whitby Sports Complex construction site and get updates on the progress of this major project -- I’m pleased to share that everything looks amazing so far.

The pool structure is almost complete, and work is set to start on building and finishing the outside walls, which includes metal panelling, glass, and stonework.

Inside, next steps include drywall, tiling, painting and installing the pool systems.

Visit https://connectwhitby.ca/SportsComplex for more information and to subscribe to receive project updates.

• The Town continues to work with the province to advance plans for the new hospital in Whitby. Lakeridge Health has submitted a pre capital planning grant submission to the Ministry of Health. Once that is approved, the land transfer from the Ministry of Transportation to Whitby can proceed to the Treasury Board for approval. I recently had the opportunity to meet with Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria and Whitby MPP Lorne Coe to discuss Whitby priorities including the importance of approving the land transfer. The Town is also working closely with Lakeridge Health Foundation to prepare for a major fundraising campaign. As an initial, grassroots fundraising initiative, the Town has partnered with local company Vintage Apparel Co. to make custom hoodies available for purchase, with almost half the funds from each sale going to support the new hospital. Visit https://shop.vintageapparelco.com/ to get yours today! You can also visit Whitby.ca/NewHospital to learn more about the new hospital and how the community can support the project, including making a donation to Lakeridge Health Foundation.

• More than 100 people attended a recent community kick-off meeting to learn more about a new affordable housing community at Hickory and Dunlop Streets in Downtown Whitby. This future Habitat for Humanity GTA development will house more than 40 families and is supported with a land donation from the Town of Whitby. Initial site planning conversations between the Town and Habitat for Humanity GTA are already in motion and volunteers from the Making Homes Possible in Whitby Action Committee are actively spreading the word at local events and helping build momentum for the project. If you’re interested in joining the committee, contact Denise Walker at Denise.Walker@habitatgta.ca You can also visit https://habitatgta.ca/hickory-and-dunlop/ to sign up for newsletter updates.

• Construction is underway on Hospice Whitby – Roger Anderson House, a 10-bed hospice residence located at the corner of Prince of Wales Drive and Crawforth Street. Key site preparation milestones have been completed including curb removal, erosion and sediment control, and initial topsoil stripping. Site grading, swale construction, and rip rap installation are now in progress, which are important for managing surface water and establishing proper drainage infrastructure.

In July, I was pleased to be part of a positive and productive meeting with Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria and Whitby MPP Lorne Coe. We had the opportunity to speak directly about several key priorities for Whitby, including:

• Connecting links to support revitalization in Downtown Brooklin

• Future development of the Hwy 407/412 corridor lands

• Progress on hospital lands at Lake Ridge Road and Hwy 7

• Opportunities tied to MTO employment lands in Whitby

These conversations are critical to shaping Whitby's growth and ensuring our infrastructure keeps pace with our needs. We’ll continue working together to move these important files forward.

If you haven’t checked out Whitby’s Farmers Markets this summer, what are you waiting for?

The Whitby Farmers Market runs every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Celebration Square, 405 Dundas St. W.

The Brooklin Farmer’s Market runs Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the municipal lot at 3 Vipond Rd. in Brooklin.

Explore fresh produce, baked goods, handmade artisan items, honey and maple products, sweet treats, local beer and wine -- and more!

Visit https://www.whitbyfarmersmarket.ca/ for more information.

The Durham Greener Homes deep retrofit incentive provides eligible residents with a rebate of up to $5,000 towards the cost of reducing their home’s energy use. This incentive jumps to $10,000 for Whitby residents, thanks to the Town of Whitby allocating Housing Accelerator Funds to match funding. Durham Greener Homes is a Regional Municipality of Durham program administered by Windfall Ecology Centre and designed to help homeowners overcome the challenges of completing energy retrofits. Visit https://durhamgreenerhomes.ca/ to learn more.

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

• Congratulations to Karim Mamdani who recently retired as CEO and president of Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences after a 35-year career in health care. This included 12 years of leadership at the helm of Ontario Shores -- thank you for all you have done to support the health and wellbeing of our residents!

• Shout out to Founder and CEO David Lahey and the team at Predictive Success Corporation on the company’s 20-year anniversary! Headquartered in Whiby, Predictive Success has created local jobs and made big contributions to our economy and business community -- here’s to many more successful years!

• Kudos to Whitby native Brianna Brooks who was recently drafted by PWHL Vancouver and Whitby native Jake O’Brien who was selected eighth overall by the Seattle Kraken in the 2025 NHL entry draft. Whitby will be cheering for both of you!
• A huge thank you to Whitby Hockey alumni and two-time Stanley Cup Champion Jonah Gadjovich for bringing the Stanley Cup to Iroquois Park Sports Centre on July 29! So many fans had the opportunity to get photos with Jonah and the cup -- what an amazing day for our hockey community!

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

Residents often ask me about revitalization of our two downtowns -- and I’m excited to share that both Downtown Whitby and Downtown Brooklin are experiencing tremendous momentum with projects, programs, and events that are helping to bring new life and energy to these historic areas.

In Downtown Whitby, we recently celebrated the opening of Station No. 3 – the largest residential development in the core in more than 30 years.

This milestone is just the beginning. Public consultation has now begun on a major redesign of Brock Street – stretching from the Highway 401 exit all the way north to the CP rail line near Maple Street. Watch for opportunities to have your say this September.

Brock Street has also been designated Whitby’s “Cultural Corridor” in our Culture Plan – a place where arts, heritage, and culture converge. We’re already seeing exciting public art installations along this corridor, including:

• The striking “Molly’s Way” mural on the south side of Station No. 3,
• The Hive, a unique wood sculpture across from the Centennial Building, and
• Welcome Home and Dancing in the Light by Indigenous artist Emily Kewageshig, located in Rotary Centennial Park.

To support local business and preserve heritage character, our Façade Grant Program is helping property owners improve their storefronts – from new signage and paint to restored historic masonry.

In Downtown Brooklin, placemaking has been front and centre. In 2022, we piloted the seasonal closure of Roebuck Street to create a more vibrant and people-friendly space. Thanks to overwhelmingly positive feedback from residents, businesses, and visitors, this is now an annual summer initiative. The space features Muskoka chairs, picnic tables, planters, a foosball table, corn hole boards – and even hand-painted concrete barriers created by local artists.

We know that events are essential to bringing people downtown – and both areas are buzzing with activity this summer.

Events in Downtown Brooklin include Music in the Park on Thursday evenings throughout the summer in Grass Park, and the award-winning Harvest Festival on Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The inaugural Home Sweet Home Festival took place in Downtown Whitby on July 26, and was a huge success featuring live entertainment, food, vendors, interactive activities, trolly rides – even an Adventure Zone with a 300-foot zipline!

Introducing a new signature event is one of the 62 action items in Whitby’s Community Strategic Plan and I’m thrilled that we delivered on this in such a big way.

The Downtown Whitby BIA also hosts amazing events throughout the year. This month’s events include the Summer Art Series Aug. 9 and 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. each day and a free outdoor movie night Aug. 14 at Celebration Square, 405 Dundas St. W. with giveaways, free popcorn, games, face painting, vendors and more.

Visit https://whitbybia.org/bia-events for details on BIA events.

Looking ahead, Doors Open Whitby will return in 2025, featuring a number of Downtown Whitby locations – and in 2026, the spotlight will shift to Downtown Brooklin.

To support tourism and help residents and visitors explore all our downtowns have to offer, new tear-off tourism maps are now available at Town facilities!

The maps highlight local attractions, businesses, and community spaces. Installations are planned for Downtown Whitby in Fall 2025 and Downtown Brooklin in Spring 2026. The maps will also be available at the new seasonal Visitor Centre pop-up at the Whitby waterfront and in local hotels and motels.

There’s a lot to be proud of – and even more to look forward to – in our downtowns.

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

Every year, countless fruit trees in our own backyards overflow with apples, pears, plums, and cherries -- fruit that often falls and rots, ultimately going to waste.

Meanwhile, many of our neighbors struggle to access fresh, nutritious food. It’s a heartbreaking contradiction, but it’s also an incredible opportunity for us to come together as a community and make a difference.

Fruitful Connections was founded by local resident Heather O’Shea, who was inspired by her experience volunteering with Not Far From the Tree, a Toronto-based urban fruit picking organization. After moving to Durham Region and seeing the same abundance of unharvested fruit in her new neighborhood, Heather envisioned a program that could turn this overlooked resource into a source of nourishment, connection, and community resilience.

Fruitful Connections brings homeowners with fruit-bearing trees together with volunteers who help pick the fruit. Harvested produce is shared between the homeowners, the volunteer pickers, and local food banks, shelters, and community programs -- ensuring fresh, local fruit reaches those who need it most.

It’s a simple idea with a big impact: reducing food waste, strengthening local food security, and creating moments of connection among neighbours. Picking fruit together isn’t just practical; it’s joyful. Volunteers have the chance to meet new people, learn about fruit tree care, and make a tangible contribution to their community.

Homeowners benefit by keeping their yards cleaner and their trees healthier while knowing their surplus fruit is helping others. As we continue to face rising food costs and environmental challenges, local, community-based solutions like Fruitful Connections are more important than ever.

If you have a fruit tree that produces more than your household can use -- or if you’d like to volunteer your time to help harvest -- consider joining Fruitful Connections. Visit up at heatheroshea.ca/fruitful-connections to sign up.

Located at 124 Dundas St. in Downtown Whitby, The Souk is a warm and welcoming café where you can find traditionally made chai and coffee as well as baked goods made by local/newcomer Canadian bakers.

But it’s more than just a place to enjoy a great cup of coffee.

The Souk is a vibrant community space offering a wide range of events and workshops, from book clubs and painting classes to tatreez embroidery and the innovative Darzee sewing program.

Darzee is a social enterprise that empowers newcomer Canadian women by helping them develop skills in sewing, embroidery, crochet, and textile arts.

Over the course of eight weeks, participants not only hone their craft but also learn the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, with opportunities to sell their creations through The Souk’s in-house retail shop.

Darzee’s impact has been recognized with the prestigious Jane Goodall Award for Volunteerism and a feature at Nuit Blanche.

The Souk is also the home of Reh’ma Community Services, a registered nonprofit organization serving aging and newcomer populations since 1991.

Reh’ma is behind a number of innovative and culturally inclusive programs such as Halal Meals on Wheels (now operated by the Muslim Welfare Centre), the Seniors Network for Integration, Saheli Social Networking Group for Senior Women, Seniors Overcoming Social Isolation (SOS), Scarborough Seniors Socials, and the Senior Business Boomers initiative.

Visit https://thesouk.ca/ to learn more and follow them on Instagram @thesouk.whitby

• Downtown Whitby Food Tours run Wednesdays and Sundays throughout August. Tickets are available at whitby.ca/en/play/food-tours.aspx

• The Town of Whitby is hosting two Culture Pop-Ups in August. Check out “Boots and Beats” on Aug. 12 and “Rhythms of Africa” Aug. 26. Both events take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at Rotary Sunrise Lake Park, 269 Water Street. Visit https://www.whitby.ca/en/play/culture-pop-ups.aspx for details.

• The Town of Whitby is hosts Movies in the Park Aug. 8 and 22 at Whitby Civic Park (behind Town Hall) starting at dusk. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and popcorn for an evening under the stars. Movies are shown on a large, outdoor screen with concert-quality sound. Check out whitby.ca/en/play/movies-in-the-park.aspx for movie details.

• The Downtown Whitby BIA presents the Summer Art Series Aug. 9 and 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. each day. Spend a Saturday afternoon shopping in Downtown Whitby while enjoying live music and creative fun with Art with a Heart. Visit https://whitbybia.org/bia-events for details.

• The Downtown Whitby BIA is hosting a free outdoor movie night Aug. 14 at Celebration Square, 405 Dundas St. W. Featuring VIP giveaways, free popcorn, games, face painting, vendors and more. Activities start at 7:30 p.m. and the movie starts at dusk Visit https://whitbybia.org/bia-events for details

• Music in the Park runs until mid-August. You can catch live music on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at Rotary Centennial Park and Thursdays at 7 p.m. at Grass Park in Brooklin. Visit whitby.ca/en/play/whitby-live.aspx for the full performance schedule.

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 September newsletter:

• Updates on the Town’s 2026-28 Budget process and opportunities for public engagement this fall
• Details on local fall events including the award-winning Harvest Festival
• A look at the amazing work of Big Brothers Big Sisters South Durham in honour of Big Brothers Big Sisters Month