Delivering Results for Whitby

Whitby is growing rapidly -- and under Mayor Elizabeth Roy’s leadership, the community has continued moving forward with investments in healthcare, recreation, public safety, economic development, waterfront revitalization, and support for vulnerable residents.

Since being elected mayor, Elizabeth has focused on practical leadership, responsible financial management, and delivering on the priorities residents identified as most important.

A Community Plan Built by Residents

One of Mayor Roy’s first commitments was creating Whitby’s Community Strategic Plan -- a four-year roadmap shaped by feedback from over 3,000 residents. 

This included priorities like:

  • Healthcare close to home
  • Community safety
  • Economic growth and jobs
  • Recreation and active living
  • Waterfront revitalization
  • Sustainability
  • Support for vulnerable residents

Today, all 62 action items in the plan are complete or nearing completion.

Building a Stronger Whitby

Mayor Roy has delivered major community investments across Whitby, including: 

  • Completion of the new Fieldgate Sports Complex featuring Durham Region’s largest pool, twin-pad arenas, sports courts, skatepark, pump track, and community spaces
  • Securing land for a future 60+ hectare sports field complex to support Whitby’s growing population
  • Provincial commitment to build a new hospital in Whitby
  • Construction of Fire Station 6 to improve emergency response times as Whitby grows
  • New traffic calming measures and school zone enforcement tools to improve road safety
  • Waterfront revitalization projects, including trail improvements, a new Visitor Centre, Town Brewery’s seasonal waterfront beer garden, and restaurant and culinary hub at the historic Rowe House
  • Launch of a new market-style food bank at Iroquois Park Sports Centre in partnership with Feed the Need in Durham
  • Physician recruitment initiatives and a new online directory helping residents find family doctors accepting patients
  • Whitby’s first Habitat for Humanity project and new affordable housing tools, including incentives for secondary units

Supporting Jobs and Economic Growth

Under Mayor Roy’s leadership, Whitby continues to attract investment, create jobs, and support local businesses. Key accomplishments include:

  • Hundreds of new business openings, including more than 100 in 2025 alone
  • Major investments from employers, like Mazda Canada, Amazon, Toromont CAT and SoftMoc
  • Launch of Whitby’s Hotel and Conference Centre Attraction Program to support tourism and economic development
  • Creation of the Mayor’s Tariff Taskforce and procurement changes prioritizing Canadian suppliers and businesses

Community Safety

Mayor Roy has prioritized community safety, including measures to reduce speeding and improve emergency response times. This work includes:

  •  New traffic calming policy to reduce speeding and unsafe driving in residential neighbourhoods
  • New enforcement tools to improve school zone safety, including escalating fines for repeat offenders
  • Regular community safety roundtables with police and school board partners
  • New coyote management and coexistence policy
  • Investment in new fire station for West Whitby to improve emergency response times and new fire training tower to help Whitby firefighters train for highrise firefighting and complex rescues
  • Installation of many new pedestrian crossovers and four-way stops to improve pedestrian safety

Investing in Arts, Culture, and Tourism

Mayor Roy has supported initiatives that strengthen Whitby’s identity and bring people together. Achievements include:

  •  Launch of the Inaugural Home Sweet Home Festival, attracting 40,000 attendees to Downtown Whitby in its inaugural year in 2025
  •  Expansion of cultural programming through the Culture Pop-Up summer series
  •  New public art policy and installations throughout the community
  •  Annual publication of the award-winning Whitby Food Guide, which promotes local restaurants
  •  New tourism branding, website, and social media initiatives promoting Whitby across the region

Responsible Leadership and Fiscal Management 

Mayor Roy has focused on transparent leadership, community engagement, and protecting value for taxpayers. This work includes:

  • Monthly Mayor’s newsletter and Council Highlights
  • Annual Coffee with Mayor Roy and Talk Budget with Mayor Roy events
  • Regular mayor’s roundtables with businesses, not-for-profits, faith organizations, food banks, and community safety partners
  • Introduction of new revenue tools to reduce pressure on property taxpayers
  • Launch of a Core Services Review focused on finding efficiencies and cost savings in jow Town services are delivered
  • Expanded tax rebate programs for low-income seniors and low-income homeowners with disabilities
  • Annual line-by-line budget reviews, including $2 million in savings identified for the 2026 budget
  • Continued advocacy for a fair municipal-provincial funding model to support growing communities like Whitby ⸻ Moving Whitby Forward Whitby has made significant progress -- but there is still more work ahead. Mayor Elizabeth Roy remains focused on building a community that is safe, affordable, connected, and prepared for the future.