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durhamregion.com | This Week | Thursday, May 26, 2022 | 4 Have Your Say: 2023 Budget What Town of Whitby services are most important to you? Which would you prioritize if you were building Whitby's 2023 Budget? We've launched community engagement to help inform the Town's 2023 Budget and we want to hear from you! Share your priorities with us from now to July 22 at connectwhitby.ca/Budget Register For Summer Programs Looking to register yourself or a family member for a program like swimming classes, Basketball or 55+ Art Classes? Browse ACTIVE Net and create a Wish List starting May 30 so you're ready for registration day on June 8 at 9 a.m. Sessions start June 27. whitby.ca/Active Things To Do In Whitby This June Next month marks and celebrates Pride Month, Bike Month, Recreation and Parks Month, Seniors' Month, National Indigenous History Month - and the start of summer! There are many ways to recognize these important awareness days and get involved. Learn more: whitby.ca/Calendar Last Call For 2022 Whitby Municipal Election Workers The Town is looking for nearly 300 election workers to support voting locations during the advanced vote (between October 20 and 23) and on Election Day (October 24). The deadline to apply is Sunday, May 29, at 11:59 p.m. Don't miss your chance to get involved! whitby.ca/ElectionWorkers On-Street Parking Did-you-know that the Town's three-hour on-street parking limit is in effect year-round? Have out-of-town guests and need more time? Don't forget to register for a short-term parking exemption. whitby.ca/Parking P: 905-430-4300 E: info@whitby.ca whitby.ca What You Need To Know This Week: Whitby, What AreYour Budget Priorities? An investigation into suspected drug trafficking has led to charges against a Whitby man. Officers arrested a suspect in Pickering on Wednesday, May 18 before executing three search warrants that led to the seizure of methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl with an estimated street value of $110,000, Durham police said. Shaffin Shariff, 45, of Whitby faces multiple counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking. DURHAM INVESTIGATION LEADS TO $110,000 DRUG SEIZURE A fire in a home on Brock Street in Whitby has forced tenants to find new lodgings. Whitby Fire and Emergency Services Chief Dave Speed said the blaze broke out on Sunday, May 15, at about 11:30 a.m. at 806 Brock St. N. There were six units and the tenants "have all been displaced. The fire was contained to the unit of origin, but the heat and smoke damaged the rest of the building," Speed said. He estimated the damage at about $1 million and said the building could be repaired. Speed said that one person was rescued by Whitby fire and taken to hospital with burns. He added that the person rescued was on the main floor, where the fire started and was contained. There were 24 firefighters and one platoon chief on the scene. "There's a lot of tasks that need to be done when we're involved in a rescue. There's the potential for more than one or two people trapped inside," Speed said. Firefighters were on the scene until the evening, he added. "Our efforts were on rescue, getting that person out." Crews had the fire out fairly quickly once the person was rescued. "It wasn't a particularly challenging fire once we determined the nature of it. So, it didn't take us long to knock it down," Speed said. The Ontario Fire Marshal's office is investigating the cause. Speed noted the need for smoke alarms in all homes. "I would encourage people to make sure that there are smoke alarms that are installed and tested and working. We're still investigating right now, but there's potentially several smoke alarms that weren't working or had been removed. Without that indication, especially in the middle of the night, you don't always get the time you need to escape. That smoke alarm gives you early warning. In lots of cases, you have two minutes or less to safely get out. You need that smoke alarm," he said. Tenants were forced out of a Brock Street North home on Sunday, May 15 following a fire. Whitby Fire and Emergency Services personnel rescued one person who had been trapped inside the house. Keith Gilligan/Metroland TENANTS FORCED OUT OF HOME IN WHITBY FIRE NEWS