In this issue of Whitby Thrive…

☀️ Today’s Weather in Whitby 

🎅🏻 NORAD Set to Track Santa's Journey for the 68th Year This Christmas Eve

 🎯 Whitby Psychiatrist Juveria Zaheer Clinches Victory in Jeopardy! Second Chance Competition

 🚨 Oshawa Collision Leaves Pedestrian in Critical Condition; Police Seek Second Vehicle

🚔 Dramatic Clarington Police Chase Ends with Two in Custody, Cruisers Damaged

 🤣 Holiday Humour

🏆 Whitby Area Holiday Trivia

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

 🏆 A Year of Firsts: Ontario Tech Ridgebacks' Record-Breaking 2023

 📅 Whitby Events

NORAD Set to Track Santa's Journey for the 68th Year This Christmas Eve

The North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) is set to continue its beloved holiday tradition of tracking Santa Claus on December 24th, marking the 68th year of this festive program. NORAD, known for its critical role in monitoring and defending the airspace of North America around the clock, takes on a special mission during Christmas Eve: tracking Santa's global journey to deliver presents to children.

The NORAD Tracks Santa initiative kicked off with the launch of its website on December 1st. The site, available in nine languages including English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Chinese, and newly added Korean, offers a rich interactive experience. Visitors can explore Santa’s North Pole Village, featuring a holiday countdown, games, a movie theatre, holiday music, a web store, and more.

In addition to the website, the official NORAD Tracks Santa app is available for download in both Apple App and Google Play stores. This app offers a mobile-friendly countdown to Santa's journey. NORAD Tracks Santa is also accessible through various digital media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X, and is supported by several contributor platforms including Amazon Alexa, Bing, SiriusXM, and OnStar.

On Christmas Eve, enthusiasts from around the world can call 1-877-HI-NORAD to speak with live operators about Santa's whereabouts from 6 a.m. to midnight MST. The website will also showcase Santa's flight from 4 a.m. to midnight MST on the same day.

NORAD Tracks Santa is a global event, proudly carried on by the U.S. and Canadian personnel of NORAD. The program is made possible through the contributions of numerous partners including Space Base Delta 1, Acuity Scheduling, Alaskan NORAD Region, Agingo, and many others.

NORAD, a bi-national organization of the United States and Canada, primarily focuses on aerospace warning, control, and maritime warning for North America. Its mission is to prevent air attacks against the continent and to safeguard the sovereign airspaces of the United States and Canada by responding to various air activities. Read more.

Norad Santa Tracker

Whitby Psychiatrist Juveria Zaheer Clinches Victory in Jeopardy! Second Chance Competition

Juveria Zaheer, a psychiatrist and medical head at CAMH's Emergency Department from Whitby, achieved a remarkable victory in the Jeopardy! Season 39 Second Chance Competition. In an intense game aired on December 20, Zaheer competed against Sam Claussen and Jake Garrett, delivering an impressive performance. The trio managed to correctly answer 58 out of 60 questions, a feat that Jeopardy! enthusiasts suggest might be a record for accuracy.

Zaheer secured her win with a final total of $36,400, narrowly surpassing Claussen by $400 and Garrett by $600. The decisive moment came with the final Jeopardy question under the category "COUNTRIES," which asked about the only monarchy bordering China with a population under one million. All three contestants correctly answered "Bhutan," securing Zaheer's victory.

Despite facing challenges in categories other than Opera, Zaheer's skill and knowledge earned her a spot in the upcoming Tournament of Champions. This victory has garnered significant attention and excitement among Jeopardy! fans, with many expressing their enthusiasm on social media platforms like Reddit, where the match was described as possibly "the most exciting highest-scoring game ever" and "one of the best episodes ever." Source: Durham Region News.

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Oshawa Collision Leaves Pedestrian in Critical State; Police Seek Second Vehicle

In Oshawa, on the evening of December 6th, 2023, a serious collision occurred at Thornton Road North and Rossland Road West, leaving a 28-year-old male pedestrian in critical condition. The incident, involving a white Acura RDX, was responded to by officers from the Central West Division around 5:05 p.m. While the driver of the Acura stayed at the scene, authorities are now seeking a second vehicle believed to be connected to the event. The injured pedestrian was rushed to a trauma centre in Toronto and is currently in a grave state.

Investigators are urging witnesses or anyone with knowledge about the incident to contact D/Cst. Riley of the Collision Investigation Unit. Additionally, anonymous tips can be directed to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers, with potential rewards for valuable information. Read more.

Dramatic Clarington Police Chase Ends with Two in Custody, Cruisers Damaged

A high-stakes incident unfolded in Clarington when police responded to a suspicious person call near King Lane and Millstream Lane. Upon arrival, officers identified a vehicle associated with earlier trailer thefts and a police chase. The suspects, attempting to escape, rammed multiple police cruisers. The pursuit ended with the deployment of a spike belt, halting the vehicle off-road. A male suspect was arrested with minor injuries, while a female was apprehended inside a trailer on the property, where various stolen items were discovered.

Barry Neads, 37, and Elisha Robinson, 38, both from Clarington, face multiple charges, including dangerous operation, flight from police, and possession of stolen property. Additional charges for Robinson include drug trafficking and public mischief. Both suspects were detained for a bail hearing.

Authorities are appealing for public assistance in the form of surveillance or dash cam footage related to the incident. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers. Read more.

Holiday Humour

Whitby Area Holiday Trivia

What unique feature does the Whitby Lights the Night Christmas Festival, a popular holiday event in Whitby, Ontario, showcase?

• A) A parade of vintage sleighs

• B) A 30-foot Christmas tree in Civic Park

• C) A Christmas-themed boat race

• D) An ice sculpture competition

Answer posted below

We are seeking Amazing Stories

About our Local Businesses!

Help us celebrate our Community’s Achievements!

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!

A Year of Firsts: Ontario Tech Ridgebacks' Record-Breaking 2023

2023 marked a year of significant achievements and milestones for the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks, with numerous firsts and record-setting moments. The year was filled with remarkable accomplishments across various sports, highlighting the talent and dedication of the Ridgebacks' athletes and staff. Here's a look back at some of the standout events:

• January 15: The men's hockey team celebrated its 500th game.

• January 22: Alumnus Shannon Galea contributed notably to the Malta Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation, narrowly missing an Olympic berth.

• February 5: The OUA Women's Curling Championship was hosted by Ontario Tech at the Oshawa Golf and Curling Club.

• February 7: Melani Hoekstra signed with AC Omonia Nicosia in Cyprus.

• February 13: Treyton Cowell was named an OUA All-Star for the second consecutive men's curling championship.

• February 18: The men's basketball team concluded their most successful season to date.

• March 2: Stefan Prica earned a spot on the OUA All-Rookie team, a second in the school's history for men's basketball.

• March 5: Ridgeback alumnus Lief Hertz signed with the ECHL team Adirondack Thunder.

• March 8: Nicole Escano and Harrie Jones were named an OUA Second Team All-Star and to the OUA All-Rookie team, respectively.

• March 9: James White was honored as an OUA Second Team All-Star in men's hockey.

• March 15: Deluxeshan Pathmanathan became the second head coach in the history of men's basketball at Ontario Tech.

• March 15: The Ridgebacks triumphed in the inaugural Campus Clash against Durham College.

• March 19: The YONEX University and College Badminton National Championship was hosted by Ontario Tech.

• March 24: The annual Ridgebacks Gala honored Christopher Campoli and Nicole Escano as athletes of the year.

• March 24: Meggie Peddie received the Ridgebacks Alumni Award of Distinction.

• March 28: Ryan Colpits, part of the women's hockey staff, celebrated a victory with the Toronto Six in the Premier Hockey Federation.

• April 4: The Ridgebacks Dance Showcase was held at the Regent Theatre in Oshawa.

These highlights demonstrate the dynamic and successful year for the Ridgebacks, showcasing the diverse talent and commitment within the Ontario Tech athletic community. Read 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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