Whitby Council Highlights - December 2025

The first annual progress report on Whitby’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan has been received for information by Council. The plan was approved by Council in 2024 and includes 79 recommendations focused on parkland and trail use, waterfront access, and strategies for indoor and outdoor facilities and recreation programming. In 2025, Town staff actively worked on 57 of the 79 recommendations. Examples include assessing opportunities for an off-leash dog park in central Whitby, conducting community engagement on future uses for Luther Vipond Memorial Arena, accessibility upgrades and new playground equipment at Glenayr, D’Hillier and Powell Parks, and work on a report that outlines the rationale, location options, and development process for a future refrigerated outdoor skating facility.

Council has directed the Town clerk to review Whitby’s Procedure By-law and recommend amendments to ensure Council members and the public have sufficient time to review and provide input on motions being brought forward by Council members. The motion approved by Council specifically cites motions introduced “with little or no notice” under the new and unfinished business section of the agenda. It notes “Council requires adequate notice of each motion to allow members sufficient time to become informed on the topic, understand its implications, consult with staff, and make well-considered decisions for the benefit of the community,” and says advance notice should be provided through the published agenda and made publicly available.

Council has adopted Version 2 of the Whitby Green Standard, a tiered framework designed to enhance sustainable development. The building sector is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, with approximately 37 per cent attributed to the construction of new buildings and 34 per cent to their ongoing operation. Green standards establish performance benchmarks for energy efficiency, environmental protection, and resource management. During the development of Version 2, Bill 17, the Protecting Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025, was introduced, which limits a municipality’s authority to implement mandatory green development standards. As a result, Version 2 will operate as an incentive program, meaning applicants will only be required to complete the Whitby Green Standard Checklist if they choose to participate. Incentives will include a set level of support from the Town of Whitby Sustainability Division and a sustainability advisor, recognition through a Green Builder Award program, and a one-year pilot financial incentive program funded by the Housing Accelerator Fund until Nov. 30, 2026. Town staff will pursue options to extend the financial incentive, including exploring partnerships with external organizations.

A new report to Council provides an overview of key actions and achievements from the Town’s Creative Communities team in 2025, as well as a look ahead to 2026. The team manages and develops Whitby’s cultural sector, which includes events, culture, tourism and downtown development. Highlights include Whitby’s inaugural Home Sweet Home Festival, which drew 25,000 people to Downtown Whitby in July, and the annual Harvest Festival, which attracted a record 10,000 people to Downtown Brooklin in September. Other notable achievements in 2025 included new public art installations, the release of the fourth edition of the Whitby Food Guide, and a new visitor centre and placemaking space at the waterfront. Plans for 2026 include the second annual Home Sweet Home Festival on July 25, new public art, grand opening of the waterfront Visitor’s Centre  and installation of an accessible dock for kayaks and paddleboards in spring 2026, and new large scale tourism maps installed in Downtown Whitby and Downtown Brooklin, and the launch of a Whitby brewery tour.

Council has directed the Town Clerk to work with the Town’s integrity commissioner to review recommendations in a workplace investigation report from Bernardi Human Resources Law LLP, specifically those related to the Council Code of Conduct. This includes clarifying “how and in what forum allegations of discrimination should be raised.” Subject to Council considering changes to the Code of Conduct, the motion directs the Town’s head of organizational effectiveness to review and make corresponding amendments to the Respect in the Workplace Policy to reinforce expectations to eliminate bias and discrimination. Council also committed to participate in education and training on inclusion, diversity, equity, and anti-racism, which will be conducted in early 2026. 

Council is formally requesting that the provincial and federal governments provide financial and policy support for housing-related electricity infrastructure in Whitby -- particularly in Brooklin and northwest Whitby. The motion notes Whitby is facing a housing affordability crisis and that housing construction has “largely stalled due to the absence of housing-related infrastructure, most particularly electricity and the related infrastructure required to convey it where needed for housing, further exacerbating the housing affordability crisis.”The Town of Whitby, along with three of the four other shareholders of Elexicon Energy, have agreed to a suspension of all dividend payments on shares in Elexicon until at least 2032, and invested approximately $62 million in new equity through the conversion of debt instruments to new shares. Despite these efforts, the motion notes the Town of Whitby, Elexicon Energy, and the development community require investment from senior levels of government to unlock housing development in Brooklin and northwest Whitby.

Council has voted to keep all municipally owned cemetery lands under Town ownership in perpetuity -- with no possibility of them being sold, transferred, or otherwise disposed of. Council also directed Town staff to undertake the steps to have them designated under the Ontario Heritage Act. The Town of Whitby owns and maintains six municipal cemeteries – Brooklin Pioneer, Groveside, Pioneer Baptist, Hemingway, South Myrtle, and Hubble – which serve as culturally, historically, and genealogically significant community assets. The motion notes the Town of Whitby “recognizes that municipally owned cemeteries represent irreplaceable heritage landscapes that document the history of early settlement, family lineages, community leaders, veterans, and diverse cultural communities.” Brooklin Pioneer Cemetery is designated under Part IV and Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act, providing a model for the protection of Whitby’s other cemeteries. Town staff will report back to Council with the necessary designating by-laws and accompanying heritage documentation for approval.

Council unanimously approved extending condolences to those impacted by the Dec. 14 terror attack targeting people celebrating Hanukkah on Bondi Beach in Australia, and reaffirmed its condemnation of antisemitism, hate-motivated violence, and discrimination in all forms. A copy of the resolution will be shared with Chabad Jewish Centre of Durham Region and the Australian High Commission in Canada as an expression of sympathy and solidarity on behalf of the residents of Whitby. Flags at Town of Whitby facilities will also fly at half-mast in commemoration of the victims of the attack. Council also affirmed its commitment to "fostering a community grounded in respect, tolerance, and understanding."