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Friday, June 4, 2021 7Brooklin Town Crier Is the Town of Whitby's service delivery inclusive? Does the Town provide service delivery that meets the needs of our di- verse community? These are questions the Town is asking the community to help answer as it launches a new project to better understand the current state of diversity, inclusivity and equity in its service delivery. The project is called: The IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Anti-Racism) Project - Whitby's Journey to Inclusiv- ity. Its goal: to help the Town identify immediate, medium, and long-term steps the municipality can take to improve services for all residents, regardless of age, ability, race or background. Feedback will be shared with Council later this year and be used to develop a comprehen- sive action plan to support more inclusive and equitable service delivery. GET INVOLVED Residents, community groups and businesses are encour- aged to get involved. There are a number of ways to share your experiences: 1. Complete an anonymous sur- vey between now and June 13 online at connectwhitby.ca/ Idea 2. Residents can register to at- tend one of two virtual Commu- nity Engagement Sessions be- ing held on: • Monday, June 21, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. • Monday, June 28, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. 3. Community organizations can register to attend one of two vir- tual Community Engagement Sessions being held on: • Thursday, June 24, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. • Wednesday, July 7, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. 4. Business owners in Whitby can also register to participate in one of two business-focused virtual engagement session be- ing held on: • Wednesday, June 23, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. • Monday, June 28, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. For more information or to take the survey, visit connectwhitby. ca/Idea QUICK FACTS • Whitby's population is expect- ed to grow by more than 40 per cent over the next 11 years. • More than 25% of Whitby's population identify themselves as a visible minority. (source: 2016 census through the Region of Durham's Local Diversity and Immigration Partnership Coun- cil) • More than 1 in 10 Whitby resi- dents are living with a disability (source: 2016 StatsCan Census) • The IDEA Project builds on work currently being done by the Town's Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee, as well as Accessibility Advisory Commit- tee to eliminate barriers for di- verse populations and build a community where all people feel a sense of belonging. • Through a recent survey con- ducted by the Town and its Di- versity and Inclusion Advisory Committee, 23% of respondents suggested ensuring "public spaces are welcoming and inclu- sive" as a way the Town can sup- port diversity and inclusion in the community. Whitby Wants To Know... The Town of Whitby is making changes to its proposed design for the new Whitby Sports Com- plex on Baldwin Street South, the direct result of feedback col- lected through one of the Town's largest community engagements to date. From March 12 to April 2, more than 2,700 people shared their feedback on three possible de- sign concepts for the complex through an online survey and four virtual engagement ses- sions. Feedback showed strong support for a flexible, active and connected complex design, with a community desire for more out- door, aquatics and gymnasium space at the facility. Design revisions presented by Town staff at a Special Council Meeting on May 31 being con- sidered as part of the final de- sign concept will include: • new space for outdoor recre- ational opportunities, such as skating; • 2 additional pool lanes, with a 2nd floor spectator viewing area, which would make the Whitby Sports Complex home to the largest pool in Durham Region; and • a double gymnasium. Town staff will be developing a final design concept for Council approval later this year. If ap- proved, construction on the site could begin as early as Spring 2023. QUICK FACTS • Whitby's population is expected to grow by approximately 40% over the next 11 years. • The new complex will be locat- ed on the west side of Baldwin Street South, south of the inter- section of Highway 407. • Amenities that will remain as part of the design of the complex include: • A twin-pad arena with 85' by 190' ice pads • Indoor aquatics centre • Leisure pool • Indoor walking track • Flexible spaces to support com- munity programs, meetings, and arts and cultural activities • To align with Council's strate- gic vision on climate change, a variety of environmental sustain- ability initiatives will be explored during the design process for the complex including LEED Gold and Zero Carbon Building Certi- fications. • View the full results of the sur- vey in Attachment 2 of Staff Re- port CMS 09-21. Town Revises Sports Complex Design