During his annual luncheon with the lakeshore boards of trade and chambers of commerce, Durham Regional Chair and CEO John Henry share some of the defining moments of his two terms in the role.
The list of Chair Henry’s defining moments included:
- Durham Region being named Community of the Year by the Intelligent Community Forum in 2025, over places in Brazil, Türkiye, Spain, Canada and the United States.
- Expansion of broadband access to serve northern communities through Durham with OneNet, which is now in its fourth year of operation
- Shovels in the ground for the Lakeshore East Extension to Bowmanville—with four new stations and a future regional rail connectivity.
- $43 million secured towards 11 major transit projects, including the Highway 2 Bus Rapid Transit corridor connecting Oshawa to Scarborough —currently under construction.
- Modernization of Durham Region Transit—expanding on-demand services, introducing electric buses and maintaining reliable operations.
- Tolls permanently removed from the provincially owned section of Highway 407 East—eliminating a direct cost burden on residents and businesses, while strengthening the movement of goods across the region.
- Expansion of the Port of Oshawa, modernizing supply chains, supporting agri-food exports and creating local jobs.
- Championing the nuclear industry and Ontario Power Generation’s innovative Small Modular Reactors at their Darlington site OPG’s Small Modular Reactor program at Darlington—a multi-billion-dollar investment, creating good-paying jobs for generations and solidifying Durham as the Clean Energy Capital of Canada.
- Maintaining a Triple-A credit rating in the face of tariffs, reinforcing investor confidence and ensuring long-term financial stability.
- Securing provincial funding for a new 200-bed long-term care home in Pickering.
- Investment in healthcare in our communities with a new hospital coming to Durham with a preferred site in Whitby, and redevelopment of hospital and healthcare campuses in Bowmanville, Oshawa, Ajax and Pickering.
- The opening of the shelter at 1635 Dundas Street East in Whitby strengthening investment and support as the pressures on people experiencing homelessness grows.
- Clear public commitments to equity, anti-racism and inclusion.
- Welcoming newcomers and refugees—advocating successfully for federal investments, alongside targeted funding for veterans’ homelessness and emergency treatment supports.
