Mayor's Monthly Newsletter - January 2026

You can check out details of the latest decisions and discussions at Whitby Council in the monthly Council Highlights.

The December 2025 Council Highlights include:

• First annual progress report on Whitby’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan
• Call for provincial, federal governments to support housing-related electricity infrastructure in Whitby
• Council votes to keep Whitby’s municipal cemeteries under Town ownership in perpetuity

Council Highlights is published following every regular Whitby Council meeting.

A huge thank you to everyone who donated socks to my Operation Cozy Toes campaign and toys to Operation Toy Mountain. 

In partnership with the Downtown Whitby BIA, Whitby Public Library and Whitby Salvation Army, we collected hundreds of pairs of socks for people in our community experiencing homelessness, and hundreds of toys, which were gifted to children in need for Christmas. Watch the CTV coverage here. 

Thank you as well to all the volunteers who helped collect donations, and the businesses and organizations that hosted collection barrels including Whitby 55 + Centre, MP Ryan Turnbull’s office, Whitby Public Library, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 112, McDonald’s, Ana-Maria’s Dance Academy, Brookstead Fine Flowers, the Bull Pub and Grill, Style Loft Boutique, Jacked Up Coffee, Vintage 905, 8-Bit Beans and the Souk.

And finally, a huge thank you to the generous sponsors that made it possible to host a magical wrap-up celebration for the community on Dec. 9, including Thermea Spa Village, Tim Hortons, McDonald’s, Wellings of Whitby, Gervais Party Rentals, Vickery Electric, Ontario Power Generation, Dollarama, CRCS and Mulligans Indoor Golf.

An incredible amount of progress was accomplished in Whitby in 2025 thanks to the hard work of Town staff and Whitby Council, and continued engagement and support from our residents and stakeholders.

Creating a Community Strategic Plan for Whitby was one of my biggest priorities for this term of office. We started with extensive public engagement in 2023, with over 8,500 people visiting the Connect Whitby project page and over 3,000 completing online surveys or attending engagement sessions.

Council endorsed the final plan in June 2023 – it includes 62 action items that reflect the priorities of our residents. I’m thrilled to share that 100 per cent of the action items are now underway or complete. Of the 49 that are still in progress, more than 83 per cent are nearing completion at this time. This is #YourPlaninAction

Read the 2025 Year in Review Newsletter here: https://www.whitby.ca/news/posts/mayors-2025-year-in-review-newsletter/

The Town of Whitby recently announced that the future Whitby Sports Complex will be named the Fieldgate Sports Complex, following Council approval of a $1.5 million, 10-year naming rights agreement.

Fieldgate Homes has played a key role in several local real estate projects, including recent developments in Brooklin. Agreements like this offer alternative revenue sources for the Town that help offset pressures on property taxes.

In addition, separate naming agreements have also been established with two Whitby families that each contributed to the project in significant ways. Through these agreements, the outdoor park will be named Roybrook Park, and a multi-purpose room inside the facility will be named the Mitchell Room after former Whitby Mayor Don Mitchell’s family.

Learn more at: https://www.whitby.ca/news/posts/whitby-secures-15-million-to-name-future-sports-complex/

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

• We’re proud of the three members of Whitby Fire and Emergency Services -- Captain Christopher Curry, Firefighter Terry Williams, and Firefighter Adonis Perez -- who received the 2024 Ontario Medal for Firefighter Bravery for their actions in August 2024 responding to a house fire with reports of a person trapped on the second floor. The trio encountered intense flames, heavy smoke and worsening conditions. Advancing with a fire hose, they extinguished fire after fire while searching for the occupant. They forced open a blocked door and found the unresponsive resident in a bedroom. Suddenly, the ceiling collapsed on the crew. Despite their training that calls for retreat, they pushed forward, cleared debris and created a path to carry the occupant to safety, ultimately saving a life.
• Congratulations to the Whitby Wildcats U16AA team on becoming 2025-26 Silver Stick Champions in December!  The Silver Stick Tournament is a cherished tradition that holds a special place in Whitby’s heart and history, so it’s especially exciting to see one of our home teams win!
• Shout out to our amazing Town of Whitby staff for receiving two awards from Durham Greener Buildings -- Best Emission and Energy Performance Award for Performing Arts - Whitby Centennial Building, and the Leadership and Sustainability Impact Award- Where Performance Meets Sustainability: Fieldgate Sports Complex.

I’m excited to share that my 3^rd annual Women Who Inspire event will take place the morning of Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Trafalgar Castle School. I started this event in 2024 as a way to bring women from our community together for networking, mentorship, and empowerment. Over the past two years, this event has seen some amazing women take the stage to share their lived experiences – CEOs, local business owners, police officers, faith leaders, students, and more. I can’t wait to share more details about the 2026 event with you -- watch my newsletter and social media channels for updates!

I was honoured to help celebrate Whitby’s 2025 Celebrating Youth Award winners at a ceremony in December. The awards recognize Whitby youth ages 12 to 18 who have demonstrated selfless actions, or their selfless actions, volunteerism, or involvement in school or community organizations. A huge congratulations to: Aishnavee Ainkaran, Akisnan Ainkaran, Aravind Niranjan, Bianca Bruni, Coast Heyes, Eryn Ireland, Haarish Logeswaran, Kaitlyn Archibald, Lakshith Mupparaju, Rhys Olden, Sarah Hasbi, Shruthi Subbaraya Prabu, Sobika Sutharanjan, Sofia Lekas, Sofia Mirza, Taara Gill, Toby Hillier, Tulsi Prajapati, and Zindzhi Eastmond. We are #WhitbyProud of all of you!

2025 was a fantastic year for economic development in Whitby, with the number of businesses registered in the town increasing from 3,904 in 2024 to 4,009 in 2025. That’s an increase of 105 new businesses!

Some examples from 2025 include Michaels Arts and Crafts Store, which expanded the town’s retail offerings by opening a second location in Whitby, and local café TrueNote Coffee, which opened with a focus on quality coffee and creating a welcoming community space. 

Whitby also saw growth in the health and wellness sector, with existing businesses choosing our community. The Yard Gym expanded from Oakville, opening its first location in Whitby. On a similar note, Valeō Pilates & Wellness expanded into the community by opening its third location and its first in Whitby. Monarch House also expanded to Whitby to provide autism support services, helping individuals and families access tailored programs and resources. 

New restaurant openings such as RUDY, Chipotle Mexican Grill and 6ixty Wings added to Whitby’s growing food scene, while Best Buy Insurance strengthened the local professional services landscape. 

Together, these businesses represent just a snapshot of the 105 new businesses that opened in Whitby in 2025. Along with many others across the community, they reflect Whitby’s continued appeal as a place to invest, grow, and do business. In 2026, the Town will continue to focus on attracting new businesses and supporting existing ones as the local economy continues to evolve. 

As we worked on Whitby’s 2026 Budget, one topic that came up often was alternative revenue sources. These are ways for the Town to bring in money, without putting additional pressure on property taxes. Grants that we apply for and receive from the provincial and federal governments are one common example – these totaled $2.41 million in 2025, which is impressive.

Whitby’s new Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) is another example of alternative revenue – and one that we often receive questions about. Effective July 15, 2024, all hotels and motels must pay a four per cent MAT to the Town of Whitby.  The MAT is applied on room rental accommodations of four hours or more and continuous stays of 29 days or less. Other services, including meeting room rentals, food and beverage, room services, internet, and phone charges, are excluded from the MAT provided they are itemized separately on the bill. HST is also payable on the MAT portion.

Revenue from the MAT is allocated 50 per cent to the Whitby Tourism Development Corporation (a municipal services corporation that supports the tourism industry and promotion of Whitby) and 50 per cent to the Town of Whitby to fund programs and services that support visitors to Whitby. Tourism is a significant employment and economic driver in our town, and the MAT helps us fund destination marketing and tourism development initiatives without putting pressure on property taxes.

The Province of Ontario permitted municipalities to create the MAT in 2017 as a vehicle to provide continued investment in tourism without additional tax burden on local businesses or residents. Many other Ontario municipalities have a MAT and rates vary. For example, Toronto currently has a temporary MAT rate of 8.5 per cent, while many other Ontario municipalities charge between four and five per cent.

Learn more at https://www.whitby.ca/services-and-payments/property-taxes/municipal-accommodation-tax-mat/

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

Tucked away on a quiet, tree-lined property just off a busy Whitby street stands the Renascent Paul J. Sullivan Centre. From the outside it looks like an oversized, peaceful family home. Inside, something far more powerful is happening -- lives are being rebuilt, one day at a time, as people struggling with addiction rediscover hope, purpose, and themselves.

Founded in 1970, Renascent is one of Ontario’s longest-standing addiction treatment organizations. What began as an effort by a group of concerned Toronto businessmen has grown into a renowned non-profit that has helped more than 50,000 individuals and families across the province reclaim their lives from addiction.

Renascent opened the doors of its treatment centre in Whitby in 1987. There -- like the organization’s other treatment centres in the Greater Toronto Area -- clients receive evidence-based, trauma-informed care in a warm, home-like setting. Live-in centres are gender-specific, blending 12-step facilitation with professional counselling, medical support, mindfulness practices, and other therapies. The organization also provides virtual intensive treatment, continuing and alumni care post-treatment, as well as family and children programs.

As an organization grounded in the principle that cost should never be a barrier to treatment, Renascent Foundation (established in 1995) raises funds to provide bursaries and sustain services not covered by government funding. In Durham Region, community support has been extraordinary. Renascent’s annual Road to Recovery Walk/Run, held in Durham Region, consistently raises tens of thousands of dollars. Additionally, in November 2025, Renascent hosted Sparks of Hope, an evening dedicated to celebrating the transformative power of artistic expression in recovery at Station Gallery in Whitby. In September 2026, Renascent’s signature golf tournament, Recovery Shot will come to Deer Creek in Durham Region. These events do more than fund treatment; they break down stigma and celebrate recovery in public, bringing together alumni, families, staff, and supporters in a powerful show of solidarity. As the opioid and mental health crises continue to touch many local families, Renascent Paul J. Sullivan Centre and the broader Renascent network of treatment centres remain vital lifelines. By offering compassionate, comprehensive, and accessible care right here in Durham Region, Renascent turns despair into lasting hope, proving every day that recovery is possible, and no one has to walk the journey alone.

Learn more at https://renascent.ca/

• The Whitby Lights the Night holiday light display will remain at Whitby Civic Park (next to Town Hall) until Jan. 5. If you missed taking photos in the lead-up to Christmas, now is the time!
• Keep the kids entertained on Winter Break with two free public skate events! Jan. 2 from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. at McKinney Centre sponsored by Gerdau, and Jan. 4 from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Iroquois Park Sports Centre sponsored by Regional Councillor Rhonda Mulcahy and Regional Councillor Maleeha Shahid.
• Celebrate Family Literacy Day with songs and stories in a cozy fort, Jan. 27 from 7 to 7:30 p.m. at the Whitby Public Library Rossland Branch, 701 Rossland Rd. E.
• As part of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month in January, the Dining for Dementia program is back, featuring 14 Durham restaurants! Visit a participating restaurant in January and proceeds from specific dishes will be donated to the Alzheimer Society of Durham Region to support the nearly 12,000 people in Durham living with dementia. Whitby restaurants include Bistro 67, Cucini Express, Amica Taunton, Los Cabos, and PJ’s Restaurant. Visit www.diningfordementia.ca for details

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 February newsletter: 

• More details on my 3rd annual Women Who Inspire event
• Local events and initiatives for Black History Month, Lunar New Year, and Ramadan
• A profile of Little Forests Durham and their work to plant 30 mini forests in Durham Region communities by 2030