In this issue of Whitby Thrive…

☀️ Today’s Weather in Whitby 

 🛴 Bird's Canadian Operations to Continue Unaffected Amid U.S. Bankruptcy

 👩‍👩‍👧‍👦 Canada Announces Immigration Relief Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict

 🚨 Clarington Man Charged in Violent Courtice Assault, Victim in Critical Condition

🚔 21-Year-Old Faces Serious Charges After Oshawa-Wide Drug and Gun Seizure

 🏆 TrueNorthLaw Triumphs as New Business of the Year at Peter Perry Awards

🏆 Whitby Area Trivia

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

 🥅 Oshawa Generals' Star Forward Kumpulainen Heads to World Juniors with Team Finland

 📅 Whitby Events

Bird's Canadian Operations to Continue Unaffected Amid U.S. Bankruptcy

Electric scooter rental company Bird says its Canadian operations won't be affected by the company's bankruptcy proceedings in the U.S.

Canadian COO Alex Petre told CBC News that Bird Canada is not part of the filing and Canada "remains a key priority market for the business."

"As such, I want to underline that there is no impact on Canadian operations today, or in the future, and scooters will be available in Windsor next summer as usual," she said in an email.

On Wednesday, Bird Global announced it was going through a restructuring "aimed at strengthening its balance sheet and better positioning the company for long-term, sustainable growth."

The company says its scooters are available in more than 20 cities in Canada, including Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, Ottawa, Oshawa, Hamilton and Brampton, Ont.

Bird Global says it voluntarily started Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in Florida as part of its restructuring and said the company would operate normally during the process.

"We are making progress toward profitability and aim to accelerate that progress by right-sizing our capital structure through this restructuring," said interim CEO Michael Washinushi in a media release.

"We remain focused on our mission to make cities more livable by using micromobility to reduce car usage, traffic, and carbon emissions." Source: CBC.ca

Canada Announces Immigration Relief Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict

Canada is implementing special temporary immigration measures to assist family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, as well as Israelis and Palestinians currently in Canada, due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. These measures, announced by the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, come in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The new initiatives include fee-exempt study or open work permits for foreign national family members who have left Israel and the Palestinian Territories since the conflict's onset, and Israelis and Palestinians in Canada who feel unsafe returning to the region. For Canadians concerned about family in Gaza, Canada is introducing measures to support temporary residence for extended family members and will prioritize processing of permanent residence applications for Palestinians in family-based streams.

The situation in Gaza, marked by expanded ground operations and air strikes, makes movement out of the region difficult. Individuals able to exit Gaza must meet all admissibility and eligibility requirements to come to Canada. The government continues to facilitate the exit of Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and their family members from the region.

Details on how to apply for these special measures will be provided soon. A dedicated service channel at IRCC (613-321-4243) and a prioritized web form keyword "MOME2023" are available for enquiries. Canadians and permanent residents with eligible family members are advised to prepare necessary documents, including proof of relationship. Read more.

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Clarington Man Charged in Violent Courtice Assault, Victim in Critical Condition

In a recent incident in Courtice, a 22-year-old male from Clarington, identified as Anthony Oliveira, has been charged with aggravated assault following a violent altercation. The event took place on Thursday, December 21, 2023, when East Division police officers responded to a distress call at a residence on Cousins Street. Upon arrival, they discovered a male victim with severe trauma injuries. The victim was immediately transported to a Toronto-area trauma center and is currently in a life-threatening condition.

The suspect, Oliveira, had left the scene before the police arrived but later surrendered voluntarily to the authorities. He has since been detained for a bail hearing. The police are continuing their investigation and encourage anyone with additional information to contact Det. Gordon of the East Division Criminal Investigations Branch. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers, with potential eligibility for a $2,000 cash reward. Read more.

21-Year-Old Faces Serious Charges After Oshawa-Wide Drug and Gun Seizure

In a significant operation by the Central East Division Community Response Team in Oshawa, a 21-year-old male from Whitby, Nathaniel Reynolds, has been apprehended on multiple charges related to firearms and drugs. The arrest followed two search warrants executed on Wednesday, December 20, 2023. The first warrant was at a property located at the intersection of Cedar Street and Simcoe Street South in Oshawa, where drugs, cash, a loaded prohibited firearm, and prohibited magazines were seized.

The team further extended their operation to a storage locker near Harbour Street and Watson Street East in Whitby. Here, they discovered additional prohibited firearms, drugs, cash, and ammunition. Reynolds faces various charges, including possession of cocaine and fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking, possession of restricted/prohibited firearms, possession of prohibited devices, and failure to comply with release orders.

Following his arrest, Reynolds was detained for a bail hearing. The investigation continues, and authorities are appealing to the public for any new information. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers, with potential rewards for valuable information. Read more.

TrueNorthLaw Triumphs as New Business of the Year at Peter Perry Awards

TrueNorthLaw, led by Anna Naud, has been recognized as the winner of the New Business of the Year Category at the prestigious Peter Perry & Business Achievement Awards. This notable accomplishment highlights the firm's exceptional performance and contributions as a newcomer in the business world. The award, named after Peter Perry, a key figure in the community, celebrates the achievements and innovative spirit of businesses and entrepreneurs. TrueNorthLaw's recognition in this category is a testament to their outstanding work and the impact they've made since their inception. Congratulations, Anna and TrueNorthLaw! Read more.

Whitby Area Trivia

What was the original Danish name of the Town of Whitby, Ontario, and what does it mean?

• A) Wittesby, meaning "Wise Village"

• B) Whitteby, meaning "White Village"

• C) Wittenby, meaning "Wide Village"

• D) Weitby, meaning "Wind Village"

Answer posted below

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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!

Oshawa Generals' Star Forward Kumpulainen Heads to World Juniors with Team Finland

The Oshawa Generals have a reason to celebrate as their talented forward, Rasmus Kumpulainen, has been chosen for Team Finland's roster in the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championship (WJHC) in Sweden. The Finnish Ice Hockey Association confirmed Kumpulainen's inclusion, assigning him jersey number 18, after evaluating performances during the World Cup camp.

Hailing from Lahti, Finland, Kumpulainen has been a key player for the Generals, showcasing his skills in the first half of the season. In 27 games, he has impressively racked up 27 points, consisting of 14 goals and 13 assists, proving to be a formidable offensive player.

Team Finland is gearing up with exhibition games leading up to December 24. Their first major challenge in the tournament will be against the reigning champions, Team Canada, on Boxing Day. The Oshawa Generals extend their heartfelt congratulations to Kumpulainen and express their best wishes for his success as he represents Finland in the quest for gold. Read more.

December 23rd

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

• A Christmas Miracle - Lighthouse Church, Oshawa - 8:00PM

• Whitby Lights the Night More

December 24th

• Candlelight Christmas Eve Service - St Luke's Presbyterian Church, Oshawa - 6:00PM

• Whitby Lights the Night More

December 25th

• Christmas in the Village - Ajax, ON - 3:00PM - 7:00PM

• Whitby Lights the Night More

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