Mayor's Monthly Newsletter - September 2025

A huge thank you to everyone who came to my Summer 2025 Coffee with Mayor Roy and Meet up with Mayor Roy events! Coffee with Mayor Roy was launched in summer 2023 as a way to make myself available in the community for casual conversations.

This initiative has been a huge success, growing every year. This year, I expanded the concept outside local coffee shops and cafes, to include “Meet Up with Mayor Roy,” with ice cream at Grass Park in Brooklin on a Saturday afternoon and a weeknight meet up over milkshakes at Boardwalk Burgers.

Each event was an opportunity for great conversations, all while supporting and showcasing local businesses. Some of the key issues raised included the new hospital, access to family doctors, property taxes, recreation facilities, traffic calming, and growth.

Next up, I’m inviting residents to connect with me about Whitby’s 2026-28 Budget. Details can be found in the “Connect with me about Whitby’s Budget this fall” section of this newsletter and on my social media channels.

From August 17 to 20 I joined mayors, councillors, municipal staff and other delegates from hundreds of municipalities across the province at the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference in Ottawa.

This event gives municipal leaders an opportunity to highlight local needs and issues by making delegations to provincial ministries.

This year, I was part of delegations representing the Town of Whitby, the Region of Durham and Ontario’s Big City Mayor’s caucus, where I sit on the executive.

Key issues discussed included:

• Transfer of lands for the new hospital in Whitby, so we can move the process forward
• Capital funding for a mental health ER in Durham
• More high-quality, affordable childcare spaces in Durham
• Action on the province-wide homelessness crisis and housing crisis
• Modernization of the provincial-municipal funding relationship to ensure fast-growing municipalities like Whitby can support growth

I’m very optimistic about the discussions at AMO and I look forward to bringing you updates!

Work on the Town of Whitby’s 2026-28 multi year budget is underway, and I'm offering several opportunities for residents to share feedback with me this fall.

Mark your calendar for these dates – I’m looking forward to answering your questions and hearing your thoughts.

• Oct. 8 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Whitby Farmer’s Market, Celebration Square, 405 Dundas St. W.
• Oct. 16 from 5 to 6 p.m. at Town Brewery, 1632 Charles St.
• Oct. 21 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Brooklin Community Centre and Library, 8 Vipond Rd.
• Oct. 21 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the 55+ Centre, 801 Brock St. S.
• Nov. 6 from 2 to 3 p.m. at Jacked Up Coffee, 132 Brock St. N.

Learn more about the budget process at https://connectwhitby.ca/budget

I recently had the opportunity to meet with our new Pickering-Brooklin MP Juanita Nathan to talk about key priorities in Brooklin. Brooklin is one of the fastest growing communities in our town -- we talked about development, housing and progress on the new hospital, to be located at the corner of Highway 407 and Lake Ridge Road. It's so important for all three levels of government to work together to move Whitby forward. Thank you Juanita for the discussion, looking forward to future collaboration!

This is your heads up to save the date for something special coming to Whitby this holiday season!

Building on the success of last year’s Operation Cozy Toes sock drive in support of people in our community experiencing homelessness, this year we’re expanding the initiative to include…Operation Toy Mountain!

2025 marks the 30^th anniversary of the CTV Toy Mountain Campaign, supporting the Salvation Army. Every year, businesses, schools, organizations and community groups donate thousands of toys for local families in need.

This year, the Town of Whitby and the Downtown Whitby BIA will be collecting socks for Operation Cozy Toes and new toys for Operation Toy Mountain, with donation locations throughout the town during the month of November.

The campaign will culminate with an exciting community event on Dec. 9, with CTV broadcasting live from Whitby!

Watch for more details in next month’s newsletter and on my social media channels!

There is so much happening on the culture and tourism front in Whitby! I’m thrilled to share that the Town recently released two new tourism maps, highlighting accommodations, attractions, entertainment and sport facilities. The maps will be available at Town facilities as well as local hotels and motels and will be featured at the new pop-up visitor’s centre coming to the waterfront, alongside an accessible dock for kayak and paddle board access, new outdoor seating areas, and public art.

The maps are one of the action items in Whitby’s Community Strategic Plan and will be a great resource for residents and visitors alike, especially those visiting Whitby for sports tourism. A digital version can be found at https://www.whitby.ca/en/play/plan-your-visit.aspx

Summer 2025 was also a fantastic season for tourism and culture in Whitby with our hugely popular food tours returning to Downtown Whitby. New this year, two tour routes were available and consistently sold out with hugely positive feedback from restaurants and participants. The Town also hosted four successful Culture Pop-Up events – Bollywood on the Pier, Greek Summer Night, Boots and Beats, and Rhythms of Africa – as well as Movies in the Park, Music in the Park, Whitby’s inaugural Home Sweet Home Festival and more.

Thank you to our amazing Town staff who put so much work into growing culture and tourism in Whitby.

On Sept. 15, we will celebrate the groundbreaking for the new West Whitby Fire Station located a Rossland Road and Des Newman Boulevard. Expected to open in 2027, the new fire hall will serve one of Whitby’s fastest growing areas. Council approved a $17 million capital project for the station’s construction in 2025. The new fire hall will create 20 new firefighter positions and is expected to generate several temporary construction-related jobs.

The Town has also announced plans for Whitby’s first ever fire training tower, which will be built at Whitby Fire Headquarters at 111 McKinney Dr. The four-storey tower will provide local firefighters with realistic, hands-on training in a safe and controlled environment. It will be fuelled by liquid propane, allowing crews to simulate real-life fire scenarios and practice skills like high-rise firefighting, technical rescues, and search and rescue operations.

At the AMO Conference in Ottawa last month, Town of Whitby CAO Matt Gaskell and I met with Minister of Health Sylvia Jones and Minister of Infrastructure Kinga Surma to highlight the importance of the new hospital in Whitby and advocate to move the process forward. As next steps, we need Lakeridge Health’s pre-capital planning grant to be approved and collaboration with the Ministry of Transportation to move ahead with the land disposition.

Hoodies are still available to purchase from local business Vintage Apparel Co. to support the construction of the new hospital. Choose from four different designs representing Whitby, Brooklin, Myrtle, or Ashburn. Visit https://shop.vintageapparelco.com/ to order. Shipping is available or pick up your order from Town Hall in the Mayor and Council Office.

To stay up to date on the hospital process, visit whitby.ca/Subscribe and select the “Durham Health Matters” category.

The Town’s Economic Development team is reporting strong development interest in north Whitby, particularly in the Brooklin and Ashburn employment areas. With available sites ranging from 20 to 200 acres, interest has been especially strong from several of Whitby’s priority sectors, including advanced manufacturing, warehousing and logistics, and energy. Whitby offers direct access to major transit routes such as Highways 401, 412, and 407; proximity to post-secondary institutions like Durham College’s Whitby Campus; a highly skilled regional workforce; and high quality of life.

Learn more at our new investment opportunities page at whitby.ca/economicdevelopment

I’m also pleased to see how existing Whitby businesses are pivoting and modernizing to ensure continued success. I recently had the opportunity to visit Ball Packaging, which is home to 200+ employees and produces more than two billion cans every year, which equates to 6,000 cans per minute. Over the last several years, they have modernized their facilities and introduced new sustainability systems to their operations. We're proud to have this global leader in sustainable packaging right here in Whitby.

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

• Kudos to Whitby’s very own Town Crier, Louise Powell, on her impressive win at the 24th Muskoka Escapades Town Crying Competition this summer. Whitby is so lucky to have both our amazing criers, who bring unmatched energy, joy, and spirit to every event they attend.

• Shout out to the Gibson Gastropub at Amica Taunton in Whitby for being certified as a dementia-friendly supporter through the Alzheimer Society of Canada’s dementia-friendly communities initiative. They’re only the second restaurant in Durham to achieve this certification – the first was Chanterelle Bistro in Bowmanville. Thank you for helping us create an age-friendly community!

• Wishing a very happy retirement to Paula Teixeira who is retiring after 30 years as the owner of Turquoise Boutique in Downtown Whitby. Thank you for helping so many women in our community feel beautiful, confident, and empowered!

• Congratulations to three Whitby residents who were recently awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of their service to our community – Eva Reti, chair of Hospice Whitby – Roger Anderson House, Kevin Gibbs with Para Marine Search and Rescue, and Elaine Gardner, a case coordinator with the Region of Durham’s Social Services Department.
• We're so proud of the Whitby Girls Softball Association! This summer they sent U11, U13, U15, U17 and U21 Select teams to tournaments hosted by the Ontario Select Softball Tournament Association. The U11 team made it to the final and brought home the silver medal, while the U21 team brought home a bronze medal from their tournament in Windsor!

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

Did you know Whitby has a new by-law for e-scooter and e-bike use?

As use of “micromobility” devices has become more popular, there was a need to create a bylaw that ensures the safety of e-bike and e-scooter users, as well as other users of Town roads, paths and trails.

Under Whitby’s new bylaw, the minimum age to ride an e-bike or e-scooter is 16. Helmets are mandatory for all e-bike riders, and for all e-scooter riders under age 18.

E-bikes and e-scooters can be ridden on Whitby’s roads, paths and trails – but not on sidewalks! Note that e-scooters are only allowed on roads with a posted speed limit of 50 km/h or lower.

The maximum speed is 20 km/h on multi-use paths and trails. On roads, the maximum speed is 24 km/h for e-scooters and 32 km/h for e-bikes.

There are some micromobility devices that are not permitted on Whitby’s transportation network, including electric hoverboards, electric skateboards, Segways, and electric unicycles.

It’s also important to note that limited-speed motorcycles and motor-assisted bicycles, also known as mopeds, are defined as motor vehicles under the Highway Traffic Act and are not allowed on Whitby’s multi-use paths and paved trails.

The fine for violating the by-law is between $205 and $450. More information is available at Whitby.ca/Micromobility

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

Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Durham and Northumberland (BBBSSDN) is dedicated to empowering vulnerable children and youth through impactful, tailored mentoring programs. Whether delivered in schools, communities, or virtually, children and youth are matched with caring adult mentors who guide them toward success.

With regular check-ins and support from mentoring coordinators, every match is set up to flourish. These connections help young people develop essential life skills, build confidence, and create a stronger sense of belonging, strengthening not only themselves but the communities around them.

This year, BBBSSDN is proudly celebrating 50 years of transforming young lives through the power of mentorship. For five decades, they have been a trusted presence in our communities, offering one-to-one and group mentoring programs that have helped thousands of children build self-confidence, navigate life’s challenges, and create connections that last a lifetime.

One of the organization’s mentees shared, “my Big has shown me that I can be myself, try new things, and never give up. Having someone believe in me has changed everything.”

September is Big Brothers Big Sisters Month, and thanks to a generous $25,000 matching gift, donation will go twice as far.

Every dollar will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $25,000, and over 50 per cent of the $50,000 goal has been reached. Donations help provide training, and ongoing support to ensure every mentoring relationship thrives and leads to positive, lasting change.

Local residents can also help by becoming a mentor and helping a child reach their full potential.

Visit https://durhamnorthumberland.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca/ to learn more. You can also follow them on Facebook and on Instagram @bbsdurhamnorthumberland

What started as a side hustle during the pandemic turned into the unimaginable for BreadChubby – also known as Jonathan Walsh – who now has his own small batch, sourdough bakery in Whitby.

Jonathan got his start baking out of his home, two loaves at a time, then quickly connected with a local bakery in Ajax and rented space to expand bread production from two loaves in Dutch ovens to four, then eight, then up to 16 loaves at a time.

In the early days of the business, Jonathan was baking as much as possible early in the mornings and still working two jobs.

“People were very responsive to the taste of real bread with simple ingredients Flour, water, and salt. " I was always selling out or simply not able to produce enough bread for the demand that was there. That’s when I thought about expanding and getting my own place,” he says.

With the help of a fellow small business owner and friend Benito, Jonathan found a location at 1121 Dundas St. in Whitby, unit BB5 at the back of the plaza.

With the new space, he was able to start baking significantly more and expanding his retail reach. “Really, it was all word-of-mouth,” he says. “People were loving the sourdough bread -- they would tell their friends, and they would come in. The whole sourdough bread craze just took off, and I responded with a top-quality bread.”

For the first year at the Whitby bakery, Jonathan worked alone, putting in long days that started at 3 a.m. and went until 5 or 6 p.m. Now in his second year at the location, he has several staff, and is also expanding the stores and restaurants that carry his sourdough bread and buns, going as far as Markham, the Trading Post in Port Perry, and east to Bowmanville.

He has been able to scale up production without changing the close attention to detail and quality ingredients that BreadChubby is known for. The current BreadChubby product lineup includes classic sourdough and flavours like cheese, pesto, roasted garlic and asiago, jalapeño and cheese, and herb and sun-dried tomato. New sourdough scones are especially popular and regularly sell out.

“It’s been a blessing and Whitby‘s been great,” Jonathan says. “The people have been great, and the support from local businesses has been amazing. I’m so thankful, it’s a great place to be and I’m hoping to stay here for a long, long time and keep feeding people bread.”

Visit BreadChubby in-store Tuesday to Saturday and find them online at breadchubby.com and on social media at facebook.com/breadchubby and Instagram @breadchubby

• The much-anticipated Harvest Festival is Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is one of my favourite events of the year! Enjoy the rock wall, inflatable slides, bouncers, games, and more. The streets will be lined with interactive games and activities, balloon artists, face painting, local entertainment, a farmers market, vendors and performers. Visit https://www.whitby.ca/en/play/harvest-festival.aspx for details.
• On Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m, try a free electric vehicle test drive and connect with EV ambassadors to get your questions answered at the Plug'n Drive event in the Whitby Civic Recreation Complex parking lot, 555 Rossland Rd E. Get behind the wheel of the Mitsubishi Outlander and Hyundai Ioniq 5, and see what EV driving is all about.
• The Whitby Job Fair takes place Sept. 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Abilities Centre, 1 Jim Flaherty St. in Whitby. The event is a collective effort from MPs Juanita Nathan and Ryan Turnbull, MPP Lorne Coe, YMCA Whitby, and the Whitby Chamber of Commerce. Job seekers will have the opportunity to meet employers at their booths, engage in conversations, and potentially have onsite interviews. Click here for more information.

• Whitby’s farmer’s markets are still up and running until October! Check out the Whitby Farmer’s Market every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Celebration Square, 405 Dundas St. W. and the Brooklin Farmer’s Market on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the municipal lot at 3 Vipond Rd.
• Station Gallery hosts Brushes and Beverages: Family Edition on Sept. 6 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. All materials are provided, the cost is $50 per person, $45 for patrons. Visit https://www.stationgallery.ca/events 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 October newsletter:

• A profile of Mannahelp and details about Whitby’s newest community garden
• September Council Highlights
• An update on Whitby’s 2026-28 Budget process
• Exciting fall events including Doors Open Whitby and Whitby Trick or Treat