Community Strategic Plan
Whitby's 2023 to 2026 Community Strategic Plan was developed and endorsed by Town Council based on significant community engagement. The Plan provides a shared Vision and Objectives for how Town Council and staff will work together to deliver on community priorities over the next four years and beyond. The Plan includes 62 measurable action items - informed and prioritized through community input - that will be reported on annually to openly evaluate progress.
Read the new Community Strategic Plan to learn more about how Town staff and Council will be working together to deliver on Whitby’s new 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.
View the 2024 Community Strategic Plan Progress Update on the 62 action items. More than 95 percent of the action items are either underway or complete.
Accomplishments To Date
Pillar 1: Whitby's Neighbourhoods – Safe, Healthy and Inclusive
- Action 1.1.1 – Planning grant for Lakeridge Health announced; confirmed a hospital will be built in Whitby(External link)
- Action 1.1.2 – Location approved in Whitby (632 Dundas St. W.) for a new paramedic station in Whitby
- Action 1.1.3 – Installed traffic calming elements on numberous streets in Whitby in 2024
- Action 1.1.5 – Additional 20 firefighters approved to address community growth
- Action 1.1.6 – New pilot program with Oshawa Clinic Group to recruit and retain ten new family doctors to the West Whitby Health Centre(External link)
- Action 1.2.1 – Permitted multiple events celebrating diversity, in addition to Town-led Culture pop-up events
- Action 1.2.2 – Launch of third edition of award-winning Whitby’s Food Guide(External link); introduction of Downtown Walking Food Tours in Whitby and Brooklin
- Action 1.2.3 – Expanded Whitby's Culture Pop-Up Series from two to five events in 2024
- Action 1.3.1 – Hosted five roundtable meetings with non-profit groups to address community needs in 2024; Community Funds provided $278,000 to 68 community groups
- Action 1.3.2 – Completed new Parks and Recreation Master Plan
- Action 1.3.4 – Increase in Accessory Dwelling Unit permits in 2024
- Action 1.3.5 – Opened market model food bank(External link) at Iroquois Park Sports Centre in partnership with Feed The Need Durham in 2024
- Action 1.3.6 – Town of Whitby Homelessness Task Force established in June 2023(External link); new whitby.ca/communitysupports(External link) webpage created; participation in Community Liaison Committee for the shelter at 1635 Dundas in 2024
Pillar 2: Whitby's Natural and Built Environment - Connected and Resilient
- Action 2.1.1 – Durham Greener Homes(External link) incentive partnership announced (External link)in 2024
- Action 2.1.2 – Geothermal Exchange System has been incorporated into the construction of the Whitby Sports Complex
- Action 2.1.4 – Approved budgets include Zero Carbon Whitby projects; Town’s net reduction in GHG emissions projection: 881.3 tCO2e (80% of the 1,105 tCO2e target)
- Action 2.1.6 – 14 EV charging stations installed in 2024
- Action 2.2.2 – Continued implementation of Active Transportation Plan(External link)
- Action 2.2.3 – Public Art Policy adopted by Council in 2024
- Action 2.3.1 – Mid-arterial roadway Phase 1 construction (Ashburn Rd. to Garden St.) 85% complete by end of 2024
- Action 2.3.2 – Progress continues on construction of new Whitby Sports Complex; $25 million secured(External link) from Green and Inclusive Community Buildgins (GICB) Program
- Action 2.3.4 – Enhanced street design standard in place
- Action 2.3.7 – Whitby Council approves Town Brewery pop-up operation at the historic waterfront Pump House building(External link)
Pillar 3: Whitby's Economy - Innovative and Competitive
- Action 3.1.1 – Local Business Week and the Whitby Job Fair introduced
- Action 3.1.2 – New Whitby Health Centre opened and multiple businesses supported to keep hundreds of jobs in Whitby
- Action 3.1.3 – Town Brewery pop-up at waterfront Pump House(External link); Launch of Whitby's Explore Whitby tourism website(External link) and Instagram (@explorewhitby(External link)); implementation Municipal Accomodation Tax(External link) to support tourism; grant secured to support redevelopment around Rowe House
- Action 3.2.2 – Launched home-based business tool kit(External link)
- Action 3.2.4 – Two development projects within the Concierge Program in 2024, including industrial project and future business park
- Action 3.2.5 – Grant secured for additional placemaking in Brooklin
Pillar 4: Whitby's Government - Accountable and Responsive
- Action 4.1.1 – Secured well over $55 million in grant funding in 2024(External link), reducing tax funding required for municipal programs
- Action 4.1.2 – New partnership with Oshawa Clinic Group to attract new family doctors(External link); Supported Town Brewery pop-up at the historic waterfront Pump House building(External link) to provide a waterfront food and beverage operation
- Action 4.2.1 and 4.2.4 – Compensation Market Review endorsed by Council in 2024
- Action 4.3.3 – Implemented new enterprise management system for technology modernization
- Action 4.3.4 – Multiple community engagement opportunities, including Town Hall events, multiple community partner meetings, and Mayor's monthly newsletter(External link)
- Action 4.3.5 – Completed second annual report on progress of the Community Strategic Plan
- Action 4.4.1 – Introduced multi-year budget; 2025-2027 Budget(External link) approved by year-end, helping to respond to community needs while balancing impact on taxpayers
- Action 4.4.2 – Phase 1 of Official Plan Review complete; engagement sessions hosted in 2024 on draft Comprehensive Zoning By-law
Community Engagement
More than 3,000 people helped to inform the creation of the Community Strategic Plan. Feedback from Whitby residents, businesses, and community partners was critical to ensuring that the plan reflects community priorities.
Engagement was done in two phases:
- Phase One - more than 2,000 people participated in an online survey to shape the Plan's Vision and Strategic Pillars (including Action Items). View the results of what we heard.
- Phase Two – more than 800 people participated in an online survey and in-person and/or virtual engagement sessions to share their feedback on the Plan’s Vision, Objectives, and updated Action Items. View the results of what we heard.
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. This feedback was used to develop the Plan's four Strategic Pillars. Each pillar includes several action items that were prioritized during the community engagement process.
Next Steps
Two progress updates (2023 and 2024) have now been reported. Over the remaining two years of the Community Strategic Plan, progress on the identified Actions will continue to be measured and publicly reported annually.