Community Strategic Plan
On June 19, 2023, based on the results of significant community engagement, Town Council endorsed Whitby’s new Community Strategic Plan. 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 and 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.
Accomplishments to Date:
Pillar 1: Whitby's Neighbourhoods – Safe, Healthy and Inclusive
- 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
- Action 1.2.2 – Launch of second edition of Whitby’s Food Guide which won a national marketing award
- Action 1.2.3 - Initiated Whitby's first Culture Pop-Up Series with two events - Whitby Paint Night and Sunset Tango
- Action 1.3.5 – partnership with Feed the Need in Durham approved to establish a market model food bank at Iroquois Park Sports Centre in 2024
- Action 1.3.6 – Town of Whitby Homelessness Task Force established in June 2023; new whitby.ca/communitysupports webpage created
Pillar 2: Whitby's Natural and Built Environment - Connected and Resilient
- Action 2.1.4 –2023 Budget includes $721,080 for Zero Carbon Whitby projects with a total estimated GHG emissions savings of 165,373 KgCO2e.
- Action 2.3.2 – Town breaks ground on construction of new Whitby Sports Complex
- Action 2.3.7 – Whitby Council approves Town Brewery pop up operation at the historic waterfront Pump House building
Pillar 3: Whitby's Economy - Innovative and Competitive
- Action 3.1.3 – Whitby Council approves Town Brewery pop up operation at the historic waterfront Pump House building
- Action 3.1.3 - Launch of Whitby's new Explore Whitby tourism website and Instagram (@explorewhitby)
Pillar 4: Whitby's Government - Accountable and Responsive
- Action 4.1.1 – Recipient of $2.6M Active Transportation Fund grant from Federal government for waterfront trail enhancements and construction
- Action 4.1.2 – New partnership with Oshawa Clinic Group to attract new family doctors
Action 4.1.2 – Supported Town Brewery pop up at the historic waterfront Pump House building to provide a waterfront food and beverage operation
Community Engagement
Thank you to the more than 3,000 people who participated in the two phases of engagement to inform the development of the new Community Strategic Plan. Feedback from residents, businesses, and community partners who call Whitby home was critical to ensuring that the plan reflects community priorities. Without these valuable insights, the plan would not have been possible.
Engagement to help inform the Plan was done in two phases:
- COMPLETE - Phase One - more than 2,000 people participated in an online survey between February 21 and March 12 to help shape the Plan's Vision and Strategic Pillars (including Action Items). View the results of what we heard.
- COMPLETE - 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 four Strategic Pillars within the Plan:
- Whitby’s Neighbourhoods – Safe, Healthy, & Inclusive
- Whitby’s Natural & Built Environment – Connected & Resilient
- Whitby’s Economy – Innovative & Competitive
- Whitby’s Government – Accountable & Responsive
Each pillar includes several action items that were prioritized during the community engagement process.
Next Steps
The plan includes 62 action items in total. Progress on these will be measured and publicly reported on annually over the next four years.
Additional Background
Feedback collected previously through the Town's annual budget process, Corporate Rebrand Project, 2020 Community Survey, and other key engagement projects was also considered during the Community Strategic Plan's development.
