In this issue of Whitby Thrive…

☀️ Today’s Weather in Whitby 

 🩺 New Poll Highlights Deepening Staffing Crisis in Ontario Hospitals

 🌲 Wildlife Center Welcomes Live Christmas Tree Donations for Animal Enrichment

 🍁 Canada to Aid 1,000 Palestinians in Gaza with Special Family Program

 🚨 Racially Charged Assault in Toronto Leads to Arrest of 60-Year-Old

🚔 Speeding G2 Driver's License Suspended, Vehicle Towed in Ajax 

 💼 Summer Student Job Fair Announced by Scugog Township for Local Youth

🏘️ Whitby Commits to Net-Zero GHG Emissions by 2045 with New Climate Plan

🏆 Trivia

 🥅 Oshawa Generals Aim for Comeback Against League Leaders Soo Greyhounds

 📅 Whitby Events

New Poll Highlights Deepening Staffing Crisis in Ontario Hospitals

A recent survey conducted by Nanos Research for CUPE's Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU/CUPE) reveals alarming sentiments among hospital staff in Ontario. Out of over 750 workers surveyed across the province, 41% reported dreading going into work, and a similar number are considering quitting their jobs. This survey aimed to assess the workers' confidence in the government's plans for public healthcare, their satisfaction with current working conditions, and the negative impact of their work on mental health.

These findings underscore the severity of the staffing crisis in Ontario's hospital sector, which OCHU/CUPE had previously highlighted. The crisis is contributing to significant issues like ER closures, delays in treatments, and a decline in the quality of patient care. The OCHU/CUPE leaders plan to reveal the detailed findings of this poll on Wednesday morning and propose specific solutions to address the challenges faced by the healthcare sector, exacerbated by government cuts. Read more.

Wildlife Center Welcomes Live Christmas Tree Donations for Animal Enrichment

The festive season brings a unique opportunity for animal lovers to extend the life and purpose of their Christmas trees. A wildlife centre is inviting the public to donate their live Christmas trees, which serve as a source of enrichment, shelter, food, and natural habitat for the animals in their care. This initiative has seen an overwhelming response in the past, and this year is no different.

Due to the expected high volume of donations, the center will only accept tree donations until this Sunday, January 7th, 2024. It's important to note that the center cannot pick up trees, so donors are requested to drop off their trees directly. Those interested can reach out via direct message or email at [email protected] to receive the address and details about the drop-off process. This act of giving not only helps in recycling Christmas trees but also significantly benefits the wildlife at the centre. Read more.

Canada to Aid 1,000 Palestinians in Gaza with Special Family Program

The Canadian government has announced a new initiative to aid Palestinian families affected by the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. This special program, set to begin next week, is designed to help a maximum of 1,000 Palestinian relatives of Canadian citizens currently residing in the Gaza Strip. The initiative comes in response to calls from Palestinian Canadians for assistance in bringing their family members to safety.

Under this program, eligible Palestinians can apply for visas to take refuge in Canada for a period of three years. The applicants' families in Canada are expected to provide financial support during this period. However, the Canadian government has stated that it cannot ensure safe passage out of Gaza, nor does it have control over the movement across the border between Gaza and Egypt.

The application process for this program will be open for a year or until 1,000 applications are received, whichever comes first. Despite this limit, the National Council of Canadian Muslims has expressed concerns, noting that the number of interested applicants already exceeds the cap. They advocate for removing the limit on the number of applications. Source: Durham Region News.

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Racially Charged Assault in Toronto Leads to Arrest of 60-Year-Old

n a recent incident in Toronto, a man was arrested following a confrontation that escalated into a racially charged assault. The incident took place on December 30, 2023, in the Sherbourne Street and Dundas Street East area. The individual involved, Timothy Eaton, 60, was loitering inside a building and was approached by a security guard who requested him to leave. Eaton refused to exit and reportedly used racial slurs before attacking the guard with a weapon.

Eaton faces multiple charges, including two counts of uttering threats of death or bodily harm, carrying a dangerous weapon, and assault with a weapon. He appeared in court on January 2, 2024.

Toronto Police are encouraging anyone with additional information to come forward and contact them or Crime Stoppers. In cases where hate-motivation is suspected, these offences are investigated with the support of the Hate Crime Unit (HCU), and hate as a factor is considered an aggravating circumstance in sentencing if a conviction is reached. In certain serious cases, hate speech charges can be laid, subject to the Attorney General's approval. Read more.

Speeding G2 Driver's License Suspended, Vehicle Towed in Ajax

In a recent traffic incident in Ajax, a G2 driver was caught driving at a staggering 122 km/hr, which is double the posted speed limit at the Bayly Street/Shoal Point Road area. This significant breach of road safety regulations led to the driver's license being suspended immediately. Additionally, the vehicle involved was towed away from the scene. The driver now faces multiple summons and is required to appear in court to address these serious traffic violations. This incident serves as a stern reminder of the importance of adhering to speed limits and road safety laws, especially for new drivers who are still under graduated licensing conditions. Read more.

Summer Student Job Fair Announced by Scugog Township for Local Youth

The Township of Scugog is hosting a Summer Student Job Fair this Thursday, offering high school and post-secondary students an opportunity to secure summer employment. The job fair will take place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Scugog Community Recreation Centre. Attendees are required to be at least 15 years old and should come prepared with their resumes, dressed professionally, and with plans to return to school in the fall or graduate in the spring.

The township is looking to fill positions in various departments including summer and March Break camps, lifeguarding, parks, engineering, public works, museum, communications, customer service, building, by-law enforcement, IT, and records management. This job fair presents a great chance for young individuals to gain valuable work experience in a diverse range of fields. Read more.

Whitby Commits to Net-Zero GHG Emissions by 2045 with New Climate Plan

The Town of Whitby recently made significant strides in its environmental initiatives by endorsing Phase 2: Mitigation of its Climate Emergency Response Plan. This endorsement, which took place in December, is a testament to the town's dedication to addressing climate change. The plan outlines a comprehensive strategy for Whitby to achieve its ambitious goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2045 community-wide. This commitment represents a proactive approach to mitigate the impacts of climate change and reduce the town's carbon footprint. For those interested in learning more about this initiative and the detailed strategies involved, further information is available on Whitby's official website dedicated to climate change plans. Read more.

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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!

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Which famous Canadian band filmed the music video for their song "Ahead By a Century" on a farm in Brooklin in 1996?

• a) Rush

• b) The Tragically Hip

• c) Arcade Fire

• d) Barenaked Ladies

Answer posted below.

Oshawa Generals Aim for Comeback Against League Leaders Soo Greyhounds

The Oshawa Generals are set to face the Soo Greyhounds following a loss to the Kitchener Rangers. The Generals aim to bounce back, while the Greyhounds, leading their division, seek to end their own losing streak. Key players in the spotlight include Matthew Buckley for Oshawa and Jack Beck for the Soo Greyhounds. Read more.

January 4th

• Whitby Lights the Night

• Free Holiday Swim Sponsored by Gerdau - Whitby Civic - 2:30PM-4:30PM

• Winter Break Activities at the Canadian Automotive Museum - 10:00AM-4:00PM

• Sleeping Beauty - Wake Me Up Before you Panto - Regent Theatre, Oshawa

January 5th

• Whitby Lights the Night

• Winter Break Activities at the Canadian Automotive Museum - 10:00AM-4:00PM

• Sleeping Beauty - Wake Me Up Before you Panto - Regent Theatre, Oshawa

January 6th

• Whitby Lights the Night

• Winter Break Activities at the Canadian Automotive Museum - 10:00AM-4:00PM

• Sleeping Beauty - Wake Me Up Before you Panto - Regent Theatre, Oshawa

January 7th

• Whitby Lights the Night

• Sleeping Beauty - Wake Me Up Before you Panto - Regent Theatre, Oshawa

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