A place to honour courage, sacrifice and service of Oshawa firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty was approved unanimously earlier this month, with Memory Gardens at the Oshawa Botanical Gardens – located just south of Oshawa Fire headquarters – as a permanent home on Monday’s council agenda.

The $600,000 memorial is planned for construction later this year.

The intent of the project is to create a permanent civic space for remembrance, ceremony, and reflection honouring firefighters who have fallen in the line of duty.

The memorial will include a bronze firefighter feature and an integrated illumination feature to function as components within a broader civic commemorative space.

Oshawa Councillor Tito-Dante Marimpietri said he was “honoured” to have supported the initiative to recognize the “family sacrifices made in delivering an unwavering commitment to public safety to Oshawa residents.”

“Our city is grateful.”

A permanent place to honour the sacrifice and service of Whitby firefighters is also coming to Civic Park this fall, thanks to $135,000 in federal funding to create a Fallen Firefighter Memorial.

The memorial will recognize the seven Whitby firefighters who paid the ultimate price while on duty and serve as a lasting tribute to the men and women who put themselves at risk to protect the community every day. It will also mark the 175th anniversary of Whitby Fire and Emergency Services, connecting past sacrifice with present-day service.

“Whitby’s firefighters accept extraordinary risks in service to our community, and this memorial will stand as a lasting tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Whitby Mayor Elizabeth Roy, who thanked Ottawa for the funding support to create a “dedicated place” at Whitby Civic Park for families, colleagues, and residents to honour the service of Whitby’s fallen firefighters.

The memorial will feature a bronze sculpture of a kneeling firefighter at the centre of a circular plaza. Designed as a space for remembrance and learning, the memorial will offer families, colleagues, and residents a meaningful place to pay their respects and learn about the history and legacy of Whitby Fire.

Metrolinx is sending out notices of appropriation letters to two dozen property owners in Oshawa’s east end in preparation for two new GO stations as the transit agency extends train service into Bowmanville.

In most cases Metrolinx is not looking to kick the residents out of their homes but acquire a small portion of land abutting the railway tracks as the extension requires a widening of the tracks for the GO trains.

The method of communication, however, has left Oshawa Councillor Brian Nicholson, as well as residents who responded to his post on Facebook, a little concerned.

“Once again Metrolinx would rather roll over residents than negotiate a fair compromise,” Nicholson said after receiving a “confidential” letter from the provincial agency. “I wish to make it clear that I do not support the aggressive approach Metrolinx is taking with area residents. They seem to think that either residents agree with them or the answer is OR ELSE.”

Expropriation letters are being sent out Thursday, with 17 of the affected properties in a small neighbourhood off Dean Avenue, located between Ritson Road and Wilson Avenue.

I hope this message finds you well. I’m writing to notify you that Metrolinx will soon be issuing Notices of Application for Approval to Expropriate Land (NOAs) for properties related to the Bowmanville Extension project.

This work supports the broader goals of the Lakeshore East GO rail corridor extension from Oshawa to Bowmanville which will bring nearly 20 kilometres of two-way all-day rail service to communities in eastern Durham Region; providing reduced travel times and improved connections to rapid transit.

To deliver this important infrastructure, Metrolinx has identified certain property interests required for project construction. While we have been working with affected property owners to negotiate amicable agreements, it is necessary to initiate the expropriation process in parallel to meet project timelines and safeguard delivery.

The impacted properties include:

We want to emphasize that the launch of the expropriation process does not preclude continued negotiation – our aim is always to reach a fair and mutually agreeable resolution with property owners. Owners are encouraged to seek legal or appraisal support, and reasonable costs for these services will be reimbursed under the Expropriations Act.

We kindly ask that this information be treated as confidential until formal public notice is provided. We would be happy to offer a briefing should you be interested in discussing this further or have any questions. Thank you for your continued support as we advance the Bowmanville Extension for the benefit of communities across Durham Region.

“They have asked me to keep their plans secret but they seem to forget that I work for the residents and not for them,” Nicholson said. “I feel it is my responsibility to make their actions known to the public. Their assumption of my support in their letter is totally off base.”

Metrolinx drew plenty of unfriendly fire (and even death threats) for their decision to close a portion of busy Simcoe Street in January for two years to build a new bridge just west of the new Central Oshawa GO station. While the vitriol was not severe, the expropriation letters did not receive any public praise either.

The City of Oshawa and Ontario Tech University welcomed a $2 million provincial investment in automotive technology and smart mobility solutions this week.

The city and its partners were at the north Oshawa university’s Automotive Centre of Excellence for the announcement, which will see the province invest up to $2 million in the Durham Region Innovation and Vehicle Ecosystem (DRIVE) one of Regional Technology Development Sites designated by the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN).

The funding is part of a $17.5 million investment in nine technology development sites, with $32.8 million in matching industry investment and more than $19.3 million from the broader public sector, for a total of nearly $70 million.

The centres provide a network for Ontario-based small- and medium-sized enterprises to drive the development, testing, and commercialization of automotive and smart mobility solutions across the province, said Ontario Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli, who declared the regional sites will provide Ontario businesses with the “tools, infrastructure and expertise” they need to commercialize made-in-Ontario solutions faster.

“By fostering the conditions for industry, municipalities and academia to collaborate, we will continue to position Ontario at the forefront of automotive and mobility innovation and fuel opportunities for economic growth and investment.”

The nine sites in Oshawa, Hamilton, Kingston, Ottawa, Simcoe, Waterloo, Windsor-Essex, York Region and in northern Ontario are physical sites that connect post-secondary institutions, regional innovation centres, incubators and accelerators, industry partners, and municipal and regional resources.

The Oshawa-Durham site is led by the City of Oshawa in partnership with Ontario Tech and is supported by key regional partners including the ACE Climatic Aerodynamic Wind Tunnel, Brilliant Catalyst, 1855 Technology Accelerator, the Region of Durham and the Town of Whitby.

The regional hubs provide businesses with access to state-of-the-art equipment, hardware, and software, such as the ACE Climatic Wind Tunnel in Oshawa; the Impact Chemistry Advanced Laboratories in Kingston; and NORCAT Underground R&D Mine in Sudbury, while also offering business and technical advisory services to expedite the commercialization of technologies developed at regional sites.

“The City of Oshawa and Durham Region are at the forefront of Canada’s mobility transformation, and OVIN’s support for the Durham Region Innovation and Vehicle Ecosystem is a powerful endorsement of our region’s strengths,” said Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter. “By bringing together industry, academia, and government, DRIVE is helping entrepreneurs accelerate innovation in electric and smart mobility, advanced manufacturing, rail, AI, cybersecurity, and micro-mobility—areas where Durham already excels.”

The result, said Ontario Centre for Innovation CEO Claudia Krywiak, is a province-wide network that turns regional innovation into “real economic impact.”

“We’re giving SMEs access to world-class infrastructure and expertise that helps them commercialize faster, strengthen supply chains, and compete globally. This investment ensures that made-in-Ontario mobility solutions drive jobs, growth, and long-term competitiveness across the province.”

The total investment in Oshawa and Durham is nearly $7 million, with more than $2.4 million in matching industry investment and $2.5 million-plus in public sector supports that includes access to municipal pilot opportunities for real-world demonstration zones, mentorship, workspace and co-location services, and acceleration support.

The funds will help position Oshawa and Durham as leaders in next-generation mobility, advanced manufacturing, and smart transportation innovation, said Oshawa Councillor Tito-Dante Marimpietri, who chairs the city’s Economic Development Services committee.

“This investment strengthens Oshawa’s position as a global leader and driving force in Ontario’s innovation economy – accelerating job creation, supporting our local SMEs and driving long-term economic growth across our metropolitan city and the broader Durham Region.”

DRIVE is led by the City of Oshawa in partnership with Ontario Tech and is supported by key regional partners including the ACE Climatic Aerodynamic Wind Tunnel, Brilliant Catalyst, 1855 Technology Accelerator, the Region of Durham and the Town of Whitby.

OVIN boss Raed Kadri said the key to the program is the network of support and expertise for small and medium-sized businesses and reduce barriers for start-ups and companies to create” homegrown solutions” to meet not only Ontario’s needs, “but those of customers all across the globe, to drive our economy forward.”

“As a global leader in the automotive and mobility sector, Ontario is driving the transformation towards a connected, electric future,” he said.

Durham College will receive an investment of $5,472,600 to support critical infrastructure upgrades, including a roof replacement, boiler replacement, and HVAC improvements.

It will also expand training capacity and enhance skilled trades and technology education through workforce-ready welding technologies, new equipment for Carpentry and Construction programs (such as ladders, clamps, sanders, and routers), and the addition of an autoclave to support Biotechnology and Environmental Technology programs.

“The Ontario government’s investment in Durham College will have a direct and meaningful impact on our students and communities, strengthening our ability to support sectors vital to the province’s economic growth,” said Durham College President Dr. Elaine Popp. “This funding ensures learners are training in state-of-the-art facilities with industry-standard equipment, preparing them to be workforce-ready on day one.”

Ontario Tech University will receive $3,574,100 to support facility upgrades, including a Building Automation System upgrade, HVAC replacement and the installation of a new heat pump. It will also enable the development of a new Engineering Training Lab, expanding hands-on learning opportunities and strengthening skills training for students.

Ontario Tech President Dr. Steven Murphy said the investment will provide a “meaningful boost” that will help Ontario Tech University continue to deliver in-demand STEM education.

“By renewing critical infrastructure and expanding our first-class engineering facilities for students, this funding will expand our hands-on training labs and strengthen the learning experience that our job ready graduates receive while we prepare them for Ontario’s future workforce needs.”

The investment is part of the government’s $242 million plan to upgrade classrooms and equipment at publicly funded colleges and universities across the province. Institutions can use the funding for major building systems upgrades, heating and ventilating system upgrades, as well as mechanical and electrical system upgrades. The funds can also be used to buy educational tools, such as modernized computers and software for teaching purposes, specialized equipment, or machinery for use in labs, shops and classrooms. As a shared responsibility, part of the capital infrastructure program requires colleges and universities to make matching contributions.

“In the face of economic uncertainty, Ontario’s world-class colleges and universities are integral to building and protecting Ontario’s future workforce,” said Ontario Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn. “Through this investment, (we) are ensuring that students have the modern tools and facilities they need to stay on the cutting edge of our critical industries in their future careers.”

Whitby MPP Lorne Coe said the funding will strengthen the Region of Durham’s pipeline of highly skilled workers by ensuring students have access to the latest equipment and state-of-the-art learning spaces to learn the skills they need for good-paying jobs after graduation.

“By upgrading classrooms, modernizing equipment, and expanding hands-on training opportunities, our government is ensuring local students graduate with the skills and experience needed to succeed in in-demand fields,” Coe said. “This funding will strengthen our regional workforce, support economic growth, and help protect Ontario’s future.”

The Ontario government is investing more than $2 billion in capital grants for colleges and universities by modernizing facilities with upgraded technology, critical repairs and improved energy efficiency through three programs: