Mayor's Monthly Newsletter - January 2024

December was a busy month for Whitby Council, here are a few of the decisions that were made. Check out the December Council Highlights for more, or view Council meeting minutes at whitby.ca/CouncilCalendar

• Nova’s Ark requests bylaw exemption, discussion to continue in January

  At the Dec. 11 Committee of the Whole meeting, several delegations were heard related to a request from Nova’s Ark for an exemption from the Town of Whitby’s Prohibited and Regulated Animals Bylaw. Due to the volume of delegations, the committee voted to end the meeting at 11 p.m. and resume delegations on this issue at the Jan. 8 Committee of the Whole meeting. Nova’s Ark is a registered charity based in Whitby that provides programs for people of all abilities, including animal-assisted therapy. According to a May 2023 inventory provided by Nova’s Ark, there are 355 animals on site, 74 of which violate the Town’s Prohibited and Regulated Animals Bylaw, including wolves, pythons, a lynx, serval, and bobcat. After consulting with industry professionals, considering public submissions, and reviewing emergency procedures and response plans from Nova’s Ark, Town staff are recommending that the bylaw exemption not be granted to permit the keeping of the 74 prohibited animals. This recommendation only impacts the keeping of prohibited animals, not the ongoing operation of Nova’s Ark. Council is expected to vote on the exemption request at its meeting on Jan. 29.

• Habitat for Humanity looks to acquire Town-owned land for affordable housing

  Habitat for Humanity has provided the Town of Whitby with an Expression of Interest in acquiring Town-owned land at Dunlop Street and Hickory Street for the purpose of developing affordable housing. A preliminary concept plan includes 27 affordable housing units on the Hickory Street site and 21 units on the Dunlop Street East site, for a total of 48 three-bedroom units, each with parking and private outdoor space. The concept plan also includes 650 square metres of community space on the Dunlop Site. On Dec. 18, Council directed Town staff to report back on the Expression of Interest, including an appraised value for the donated land.

• No parking implemented for several streets around Brooklin High School

Council has approved an amendment to the Town’s Traffic By-law to implement a permanent “no parking” restriction on residential streets near Brooklin High School between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday to Friday from September to June. The amendment applies to Braddock Court, Whitmore Court, and Leithridge Crescent. This is similar to restrictions in place on residential streets surrounding Henry Street High School and Anderson Collegiate Vocational Institute. The change is in response to community concerns about students parking unsafely on residential streets.

Work is continuing on Whitby’s 2024 Budget. On Dec. 4, Council directed Town staff to prepare the 2024 budget with a target five per cent budget increase. This equates to a 1.8 per cent tax bill increase or approximately 29 cents per day, per household for the delivery of services residents rely on every day, like waste collection and snow clearing. The proposed 2024 Budget will be released in January and community input will be gathered from Jan. 22 to Feb. 7 through ConnectWhitby.ca/Budget A public meeting for community input takes place Feb. 5 and a special Council meeting is planned for Feb. 15 for final approval of the budget.

Did you know the Town of Whitby is responsible for clearing over 1,173 lane km of roads, 329 km of sidewalks, 34 km of trails, 295 cul-de-sac locations, 122,000 square metres of parking lots, and grooming 38 km of trails?

Areas are salted and cleared in a specific order depending on whether it is a primary, secondary, or tertiary road, sidewalk, trail, or parking lot. Clearing the roads based on categories helps to keep traffic flowing to regional roads, schools, community centres, and industrial/commercial areas.

As a resident or property owner, you’re responsible for clearing your own driveway and any windrows left by snowplows on the road or sidewalk. It is also your responsibility to clear ice and snow from the sidewalk fronting and on each side of your property and to avoid parking on the street during or immediately after a snowstorm to allow plows to clear the roads.

Visit https://www.whitby.ca/en/live/snow-clearing.aspx for more information.

Tito Parley’s celebrated a grand opening this fall at 104 Lupin Dr. in Whitby. The business specializes in premium Sans Rival and Silvanas, both of which are Filipino desserts. Sans Rival is a cake with layers of nutty meringue and creamy French buttercream -- the Filipino adaptation of the French dacquoise cake. Silvanas are the cookie version of a Sans Rival with French buttercream sandwiched between nutty meringue and best served frozen. Like a cross between a French macaron and an ice cream sandwich! Check them out at titoparleys.ca or on Instagram at @titoparleys

This is our monthly shout-out to residents and groups that make Whitby proud. If you know a person or group that has accomplished something noteworthy or is helping to make Whitby a better place, let the mayor’s office know! Email Jillian Follert at follertj@whitby.ca

• Congratulations to Whitby musician Aaron John for winning the Emerging Artist or Band of the Year Award at the 2023 OMAs (formerly Oshawa Music Awards). John is known for his unique music style that blends pop, rock, K-pop, hip hop and jazz. His debut single “Fresh” was released in 2022 and was named #1 Song of the Week by Canada Beats. John’s new single “Lazy Love” is also gaining popularity.

• I was thrilled to learn Cindy Adams, founding executive director of Scientists in School, recently received the Order of Ontario! Launched in 1989, Scientists in School is a national charity based in Durham that provides STEM workshops to over 700,000 children and youth each year. I recently had the privilege of being part of one of these workshops at St. Margarite de Youville C.S. in Whitby and it was fascinating. Congratulations Cindy for helping to inspire scientific curiosity in millions of young people!

• I recently had the honour of being present at the 2023 Whitby Fire and Emergency Services Recognition Ceremony, where the inaugural Deputy Chief Bob Mowat Leadership Award was presented to Platoon Chief John Harrison. A memo announcing him as the recipient recognizes John as a leader, mentor and role model noting “his dedication to the craft of firefighting, health and physical fitness alongside helping others further demonstrates not only his commitment to WFES and the staff he leads, but also his commitment to the Town and citizens we serve.” Congratulations, John!

• The Whitby Lights the Night holiday light display will remain at Whitby Civic Park (next to Town Hall) until Sunday, Jan. 7. If you missed taking photos in the lead-up to Christmas, now is the time!

• Looking for ways to entertain the kids during winter break? Free Holiday Skate and Swim events sponsored by Gerdau are taking place from Jan. 2 to 5. Events are open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. There is also a free public skate sponsored by BMO Brooklin Branch on Jan. 21 at 2 p.m. at Luther Vipond Memorial Arena. Click here for all the dates, times, and details.

• Celebrate World Religion Day 2024 with “Faith through the Arts” presented by Durham Multifaith Community. Learn about different faiths through family-friendly performances and activities at the Whitby Central Library on Jan. 20 from 2 to p.m.

• It’s Family Literacy Day on Jan. 27 and the Whitby Public Library has several opportunities to celebrate. On Jan. 26, Canadian-Trinidadian children’s author, Erica London will introduce readers to her book, “My Many Hats” at the Central Library from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. and literacy games will be offered at the Brooklin branch from 2 to 4 p.m. On Jan. 27, a Family Literacy Day Storytime Takeover is happening at the Central Library from 11:05 to 11:30 a.m. followed by Family Literacy Day Foosball at the Rossland branch from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Check out the library’s winter program guide for details.