Town Marks Milestone: One Year of Achievements in Whitby’s Community Strategic Plan

Fifty-eight actions now underway to improve Whitby’s waterfront, parks, and local supports for those in need

It’s been one year since the Town launched it’s new Community Strategic Plan (CSP). Since then, the Town has put into action nearly all of the Plan’s 62 action items – making significant progress towards its Community Vision:

‘Whitby – naturally beautiful green spaces, a vibrant waterfront, thriving downtowns, and a safe community; The heart of Durham Region, an exceptional place to live, work, and explore’

Accomplishments to date include:

Pillar 1: Whitby's Neighbourhoods – Safe, Healthy and Inclusive

• An innovative program to recruit ten new family doctors to West Whitby Health Centre, anticipated to open later this Fall. Looking for a family doctor? Add your name to the Centre’s waitlist.
• An education and advocacy campaign that saw 4,000+ residents share why a new Durham hospital and care close to home matters to them
• The opening of The Market food bank at Iroquois Park Sports Centre in partnership with Feed the Need in Durham
• Release of the second edition of Whitby’s Food Guide, profiling local businesses to residents and visitors alike
• The launch of Whitby's first Culture Pop-Up Series bringing people together through events like Whitby Paint Night and Sunset Tango
• The creation of a new Whitby Homelessness Task Force and dedicated community supports webpage to provide a single source of information on resources available to help those in need

Pillar 2: Whitby's Natural and Built Environment – Connected and Resilient

• Groundbreaking and continued construction on the new Whitby Sports Complex – stay informed on progress by subscribing to the Connect Whitby project page
• Construction of four new parks that included playgrounds, splash pads, multi-use courts and fields, shade shelters, and more
• More than $720,000 in support for Zero Carbon Whitby projects, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Pillar 3: Whitby's Economy – Innovative and Competitive

• Support for the opening of the Town Brewery pop-up at the historic Pump House building, encouraging tourism and waterfront investment
• A new Explore Whitby tourism website and Instagram (@explorewhitby) to promote local attractions and activities
• Launch of Local Business Week and expansion of the Business Retention & Expansion program to connect with and support hundreds of local businesses

Pillar 4: Whitby's Government – Accountable and Responsive

• A variety of new channels to communicate Mayor and Council updates with the public, including Ward Town Halls, the Mayor’s newsletter, and Council Highlights
• A successful grant application to secure $24.9M from the federal Housing Accelerator Fund to support new housing in Whitby
• A successful grant application to secure $25M in federal funding to support construction of the zero carbon Whitby Sports Complex
• A successful grant application to secure $2.6M in federal funding for waterfront trail construction and enhancements, like widening of the trail and new seating areas

The Town will continue to track progress on the action items and report back each year.

Quotes

We have made incredible progress in the year since the Community Strategic Plan launched, with 58 of 62 items underway or complete. This is a testament to the hard work of Town staff and the support Council has shown to deliver on what matters most to our community. The plan is based on feedback from residents, and I’m so pleased to see their vision for Whitby come to life. From hospital advocacy to waterfront improvements, we’re making Whitby an even more exceptional place to live, work, play, and explore.

- Elizabeth Roy, Mayor, Town of Whitby

Quick Facts

• The final plan was endorsed by Whitby Town Council at a Special Council Meeting held in June 2023. It has four strategic pillars, 13 objectives and 62 action items.
• More than 8,500 people visited the Connect Whitby project page and over 3,000 completed online surveys or attended engagement sessions.
• Residents highlighted the Whitby waterfront, healthcare, green spaces, community safety, economic growth, and the desire to address social needs, like homelessness, as some of their top priorities.

More Information

Learn more about the Community Strategic Plan and key accomplishments at connectwhitby.ca/CommunityPlan

For media inquiries, please contact:

Erin Mikaluk
Manager, Communications and Creative Services, Town of Whitby
Phone: 289.314.6913
Email: mikaluke@whitby.ca

Jillian Follert
Public Affairs Coordinator, Office of the Mayor, Town of Whitby
Phone: 289.387.9101
Email: follertj@whitby.ca