Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honour the life of former Whitby mayor Des Newman, who passed away last week. On behalf of the people of Whitby, I want to pay tribute to a man whose love for his community was evident in everything he did. Des was a builder, not just of roads and rec centres but of relationships, trust and community spirit.
He helped bring people together, helped bring the town and the township of Whitby together, laid the foundation for the region of Durham and was instrumental in creating places that we treasure today: Iroquois Park Sports Centre, Lakeridge Health Whitby and the Station Gallery, just to name a few.
What I remember most is his warmth. When I was first elected, Des welcomed me like an old friend, generous with his stories, wise in his counsel and always encouraging. To his family and loved ones across Whitby and Durham region, I thank them for sharing him with us. Rest in peace, Des, my friend.