In this issue of Whitby Thrive…

☀️ Today’s Weather in Whitby 

 🚒 Investigation Underway After Destructive House Fire in Oshawa

 🚗 Canada Accelerates Towards an Electric Future: Gas Cars to Exit by 2035

 🚨 Sharp Rise in Toronto Hate Crimes in 2023, Chief Demkiw Reports

🚔 Ontario Boosts Fight Against Car Thefts with $900K Investment in Durham Police

⛑️ Lock, Block, and Secure: Essential Steps to Deter Vehicle Theft

 🌆 Whitby Council Highlights: Quick Insights into Local Decisions

🏆 Whitby Area Trivia

 🔔 Got a Favourite Whitby Business? Nominate Them for a Feature in Our Community Newsletter!

 🥅 Generals Trio Selected for Prestigious 2024 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game

 📅 Whitby Events

Investigation Underway After Destructive House Fire in Oshawa

In Oshawa, Ontario, fire marshal investigators are probing the aftermath of a significant house fire at 36 Park Rd. S. The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, December 17, 2023, resulting in over $800,000 in damages. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported.

The fire, which was swiftly controlled by Oshawa Fire Services, required the efforts of approximately 25 firefighters. The emergency call was received at 12:44 a.m. Sunday, and the fire was effectively extinguished by 3:45 a.m. Platoon Chief Jim Lee commended the quick response of the fire crew, noting that the fire was "knocked down relatively quickly." Oshawa Fire Services kept the public informed with a timely tweet at 1:43 am Sunday. Source: durhamregion.com.

Canada Accelerates Towards an Electric Future: Gas Cars to Exit by 2035

Canada to introduce regulations this week to phase out gas-powered vehicles by 2035, promoting electric vehicles through a credit system for automakers and investments in EV infrastructure. Source: citynews.ca.

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Sharp Rise in Toronto Hate Crimes in 2023, Chief Demkiw Reports

Toronto has seen a marked increase in hate crimes in 2023, with significant rises in anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim incidents. The police have responded with increased arrests and charges. A new online reporting tool for hate-motivated graffiti has also been introduced, reflecting the seriousness of the issue. Read more.

Ontario Boosts Fight Against Car Thefts with $900K Investment in Durham Police

Ontario invests $900,000 in Durham Regional Police to address the increasing trend of car thefts, as part of a broader strategy involving multiple initiatives and partnerships. Read more here.

Lock, Block, and Secure: Essential Steps to Deter Vehicle Theft

Suggestions from Durham Regional Police to help reduce the risk of vehicle theft:

1. Lock Your Vehicle: Always lock your vehicle and take the keys with you. This is the most basic yet crucial step in preventing theft.

2. Parking Safety: Choose well-lit areas or a locked garage for parking. Visibility and security can deter thieves.

3. Avoid Leaving Vehicle Unattended with Keys Inside: Never leave your vehicle running unattended, especially with the keys inside.

4. Use Anti-Theft Devices: Consider using devices like a steering wheel lock or collar. These physical barriers can be effective deterrents.

5. Spare Key Safety: Do not hide a spare key inside your vehicle or outside your home. Thieves often know the common hiding spots.

6. Secure Your Key Fob: When not in use, place your key fob in a radio frequency shielding pouch (Faraday Bag) to block cell signals. This prevents thieves from amplifying the fob’s signal to access your vehicle.

7. Key Placement: Avoid placing or hanging keys near the front door or windows, where they can be easily seen or reached.

8. Bedside Key Storage: Consider keeping your keys on your bedside table if it is away from windows. The key fob can act as an alert alarm in case you notice suspicious activity outside your home at night.

Following these precautions can significantly reduce the chances of your vehicle being targeted by thieves. Remember, the goal is to make your vehicle a less attractive and more challenging target for theft.

Whitby Council Highlights: Quick Insights into Local Decisions

Whitby Council Highlights provides concise summaries of key decisions, discussions, and agenda items from Whitby Council meetings, aiming to offer residents a quick and informative overview of municipal proceedings. For those seeking more comprehensive details, including official meeting minutes, the Town of Whitby directs residents to their dedicated webpage at whitby.ca/CouncilCalendar. This resource ensures transparency and accessibility, allowing residents to stay informed and engaged with local governance.

Included in this month's highlights:

During the December 11 Committee of the Whole meeting in Whitby, the topic of Nova’s Ark, a local charity, seeking an exemption from the town's Prohibited and Regulated Animals Bylaw, was a significant focus. Due to a large number of delegations, the committee decided to continue the discussion in their next meeting on January 8.

Nova’s Ark, a registered charity in Whitby, is known for its animal-assisted therapy programs catering to people of all abilities. A recent inventory revealed that the charity houses 355 animals, 74 of which are in violation of the town's bylaw. These include wolves, pythons, a lynx, serval, and bobcat.

Town staff, after consulting with industry experts, reviewing public submissions, and examining emergency procedures from Nova’s Ark, recommended against granting the bylaw exemption for the 74 prohibited animals. It's important to note that this recommendation does not affect the overall operations of Nova’s Ark but only concerns the keeping of these specific animals. The council will make a decision on this exemption request in their meeting on January 29.

See more here.

Whitby Area Trivia

Which significant historical site in Whitby, Ontario, was originally built as an Elizabethan-style castle and later became a private girls' school?

1. Camp X

2. Whitby Harbour

3. Trafalgar Castle School

4. Port Whitby and Port Perry Railway

Answer posted below

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Got a Favourite Whitby Business? Nominate Them to be Featured in Whitby Thrive!

Whitby Thrive, your local community newsletter, is on the lookout for remarkable businesses to feature in our upcoming editions! We're calling on our readers to help us in this endeavour. If you know a local business in Whitby that deserves some recognition, we would love to hear from you. Nominate your favourite local business by sending us an email. This is a fantastic opportunity to shine a light on those businesses that make our community special. Don't miss the chance to help a local business get the spotlight it deserves!

Generals Trio Selected for Prestigious 2024 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game

Oshawa Generals players Beckett Sennecke, Ben Danford, and Luca Marrelli have been selected for the 2024 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, reflecting their impressive performances and potential. Read more.

December 20th

• Christmas Fest - Pingle Farms - 9:00AM-6:00PM

• YWCA Toy & Gift Drive - YWCA 33 McGrigor St - 9:30AM-4:30PM

• Gingerbread Village - Oshawa Shopping Centre - 10:00AM-7:00PM

December 21st

• Christmas Fest - Pingle Farms - 9:00AM-6:00PM

• YWCA Toy & Gift Drive - YWCA 33 McGrigor St - 9:30AM-4:30PM

• Gingerbread Village - Oshawa Shopping Centre - 10:00AM-7:00PM

December 22nd

• Christmas Fest - Pingle Farms - 9:00AM-6:00PM

• YWCA Toy & Gift Drive - YWCA 33 McGrigor St - 9:30AM-4:30PM

• Christmas Lunch - Chanterelle Bistro - 12:00PM-2:00PM

• Gingerbread Village - Oshawa Shopping Centre - 10:00AM-7:00PM

December 23rd

• Christmas Fest - Pingle Farms - 9:00AM-6:00PM

• Gingerbread Village - Oshawa Shopping Centre - 10:00AM-4:00PM

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