About Rocky Varcoe
Rocky Varcoe has the experience, the understanding, the energy, and the concept that is needed to lead Whitby and get it working again ! The same Whitby that was the preferred choice to live in Durham
Rocky Varcoe wants nothing more than to make both the Town of Whitby and the Region of Durham a better place to live, to work and to raise a family. He is a 50 Year old, father of 4 who has spent decades leading by example in both his professional, family and volunteer life.
In his business life that has covered 25 years, Rocky has made community stewardship one of his fundamental beliefs and tenants of success. For example, as owner of Class Act Dinner Theatre in Whitby, Rocky has created a specific fundraising opportunity for community charities and organizations. Over the past 10 years these fundraisers have been so successful that Rocky has been able to give back over $1 Million to organizations such as the Humane Society of Durham Region, Support our Troops, numerous Churches, seniors groups and many others.
With that said, Rocky Varcoe has still always understood that community leadership goes well beyond the ability to simply write cheques. Rocky has been an active member of the Whitby Chamber of Commerce and has spent 7 years on its Board of Directors. His tenure on the Board was highlighted by his term as President of the Chamber which he served in 2008. During his time on the Board of Directors, Rocky played an instrumental role in the Chamber becoming the first organization of its kind in Durham to achieve 1000 members. Rocky successfully lead the Chamber as it achieved its ‘Accreditation with Distinction” Award, which is given by an independent review committee. The award is representative of the highest standards of professionalism and is awarded to less than 10% of all Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade in Canada. Lastly Rocky, during his time as President, was successful in increasing the participation rate of all networking events throughout the calendar.
Rocky is also a proud Rotarian as a member of the Rotary Club of Whitby Sunrise. He has recently served a term as President and in that role he led one of the most dynamic Service clubs anywhere. The Rotary Club exists for one reason: To make the World, our Country, our Province, our Region and our Town a better place to live in. With a motto of “Service above Self” one would certainly expect nothing less.
When the Ontario Special Olympics Spring Games came to Durham Region in 2008, Rocky was a key member of the organizing committee. Working closely with Durham Regional Police Service, he helped raise more money than any other Special Olympic games in Ontario had ever done.
Rocky has spent time as a Board member for the Lakeridge Heath Whitby Foundation. He eventually took on the role of “Director of development” and worked to raise money that allowed for the renovation of the entire Palliative Care Wing, as well as a $1 Million purchase of a dialysis machine.
Durham Region has been growing as a tourism destination and Rocky is part of the Durham Tourism Leadership Team. In this role he has worked closely with Regional staff for many years to ensure Durham Region positions itself well in order to bring many events and attractions to the Region.
Rocky fully understands the significance of higher education as part of an overall blueprint to municipal success. As former Chair of the Durham College Whitby Expansion Fund, he worked closely with staff to assist in fundraising for the 3 phase expansion project at the Whitby Campus. This expansion is bringing additional jobs to Whitby as well as revitalizing, enlarging and creating an eco-friendly campus.
Rocky has served as Chair of the “Mr. and Ms. Community Living Comedy Auction” and in so doing, directed his team thru two large events that raised over $180,000 to assist the “Make a House a Home Campaign”. This purpose of this campaign was to update and renovate 22 group homes in our area, making them fully accessible in the process.
The above are but a few examples which focus in on a key issue, which is that Rocky Varcoe is a leader and tireless community worker in both Whitby and Durham Region. He has a unique business sense and an undeniable ability to get things done. He sets goals and doesn’t rest until those goals are met.
Rocky’s vision for Whitby is one that has Town Hall working with its citizens to solve problems and to satisfy their needs. He wants to return to Whitby a sense of Community that many believe has been on the decline during the last 10 years. A key tenat in achieving this goal is to make Town Hall friendlier, as well as more approachable and certainly more positive. Rocky will use the skills he has learned over the past many years to balance our budget and to ensure that every dollar is spent as if it were our own money. To him this makes sense since in effect it is, is it not?
Whitby needs a proven leader like Rocky Varcoe as its Mayor. While there isn’t anyone on the Rocky for Mayor Campaign team that would doubt the sincerity and good intentions of his opponents in the race, including 2 incumbents, we all know that the status quo for the past 13 years has not worked. Whitby cannot afford another 4 years in this era of changing and evolving economies without new ideas, a better vision and a proven business leader as its Chief Executive Officer. Rocky Varcoe IS the right candidate to take on this role.
Vision Passion Leadership
