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It’s that special time of the year when we delight in coming together with our loved ones to commemorate the season. We observe this festive period in diverse ways, guided by our individual faiths and customs. This holiday season let’s extend our hands to those in our midst. Let’s seek out those who may require assistance or simply a warm gesture. My heartfelt wishes go out to you all for a season filled with serenity, festivity, tranquility, and happiness. In the tradition of my family I wish you a Merry Christmas.
Councillor Butt and I have also prepared a December 2024 hard copy newsletter for distribution to all Ward 3 households. Unfortunately, due to the Canada Post disruption we are uncertain as to when you will receive that newsletter in your mail.
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With our Christmas Tree in the foyer of Durham Region Headquarters | |
Winter has arrived, and snow is on its way! | | |
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Stay up to date with snow clearing progress by visiting pickering.ca/snowclearing for
- Interactive Winter Operations Map (track snow clearing operations)
- Winter Reminders and Safety Tips
- Order of Operations for Snow Clearing
- Seniors & Persons with Disabilities Snow Clearing Program
On-street parking restrictions Parking is prohibited during any winter control operations in accordance with the
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Traffic & Parking By-law 6604/05. Vehicles parked on the road during snow clearing operations are subject to being ticketed ($90) and/or towed (at the owner's expense).
Emergency Overnight Warming Centre (Operated by DARS - Dedicated Advocacy Resource Support)
Location: Peace Lutheran Church, 928 Liverpool Rd., Pickering.
Hours: Saturday to Thursday: 8:00 pm – 8:00 am and Friday: 10:00 pm – 8:00 am
Contact Information: Supervisor on-site can be reached at 289.314.2261
The Centre will open if temperatures reach -8°C or colder and/or wind chills of -11°C or colder. Visit the Region of Durham for additional information on local shelters and warming centres.
Customer Care Centre
Our Customer Care Centre and after-hours service may experience high call volume. We thank you for your patience and understanding as we respond to questions and reports.
Phone: 905.683.7575
Email: customercare@pickering.ca
Power Outages and Restoration Resources – Elexicon Energy
Safety Tips:
- Do not attempt to remove a tree or object from a power line.
- Always consider downed power lines to be live and dangerous. Electricity can travel through water and the ground around downed power lines. Stay back at least 10 metres (33 feet) or the length of a school bus.
- If your vehicle makes contact with an energized line, stay inside until help arrives.
- Keep a flashlight handy, avoid using candles for lighting.
- Ensure portable generators are kept a good distance from your residence to avoid carbon monoxide entering your home.
- Ensure cooking appliances or portable heaters are switched off/unplugged in the event of a power restoration they may re-energize when you are unaware or not home.
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New School Coming to Seaton in 2025 | |
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I stopped by several days ago to see progress on the new unnamed - as of yet, school at Burkholder and Azalea in Seaton. I understand DDSB expect the school to be completed to welcome students at the beginning of the new school year next year 2025.
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New Seaton Long-Term Care Home | |
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The Region of Durham is building a new long-term care home in the City of Pickering. This 200-bed home will be located within the beautiful Seaton community on Alexander Knox Road. It will be financed, owned and operated by The Regional Municipality of Durham, with substantive funding provided by the Province of Ontario.
The new home was designed with five 32-bed Resident Home Areas (RHA) that can function as two independent, 16-bed RHAs on days and evenings. The smaller 16-bed RHAs are not only for Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) purposes, but also for enhanced social interaction for residents. There are also two 20-bed RHAs that will be more specialized; one for behaviours and one for more medically complex residents.
The design will be dementia-friendly and enhance the emotional philosophy of care.
Common spaces – such as a resident bank, café/store, hair salon, worship centre, dentist/clinic space, fitness area – are all organized around a main street for resident social interaction and the feeling of going to a main street as a destination and experience.
Construction of the home began with an official groundbreaking in September 2023. The build is moving along nicely. This is in keeping with the schedule for the anticipated completion date of fall of 2026.
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Pickering Heritage & Community Centre | |
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Several days ago I took a tour of progress on our new Pickering Heritage & Community Centre. We are well underway and this exciting community facility for all our residents use is coming along nicely.
The Pickering Heritage & Community Centre is being constructed on the upper site of the Pickering Museum Village. This new 44,000 sq. ft. facility will celebrate the city’s rich heritage by bringing the Museum, Library, and Community Centre together into one dynamic space. Construction began in March 2024, and is expected to be complete in November 2025.
Facility Amenities
- Exhibit gallery
- Program room
- Multipurpose Hall, including a stage
- Kitchen suitable for public programs
- Collections storage for the museum artifact collection, City’s archives, and the Public library’s local History collection
- Gift shop and coffee bar
- Outdoor program spaces include an art garden and patio Community Benefits
This facility, anticipated for 2026, will be located on the upper site of the Pickering Museum Village and will:
- Serve as a new Visitor’s Centre for the Pickering Museum Village and replace the small, aging administrative building that currently exists on the site. The existing Museum Administration Building, also known as the Robert A. Miller Building, is a hybrid structure including a 1867 post and beam wood framed barn with a 1967 wood frame addition.
- Preserve local history and provide much-needed storage space for over 11,000 artifacts, with special environmental and lighting controls, for collections, artifacts and records for the Library, Pickering Museum Village, and City Hall.
- Replace the aging Greenwood Community Centre, and provide a modern and accessible space for community groups, programs and services, and events and exhibition space.
- Include the first public exhibit/art gallery to Pickering to showcase travelling exhibitions, and artworks by local artists.
- Be more accessible to the broader community. It will serve more residents and visitors than what the facility can currently accommodate. We anticipate to welcome up to 300 users at one time.
- Be zero-carbon – meaning the facility will be highly energy-efficient and minimize greenhouse gas emissions from building materials to operations, and support Pickering’s journey of becoming one of the most sustainable cities in Canada!
For more information and to stay up to date with construction information, please visit pickering.ca/phcc
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FGF Brands Construction Update | |
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Recently I was pleased to visit the FGF campus with FGF staff, contractor staff, and the City’s economic development staff to see progress on construction.
This is a significant development and investment we are welcoming to Pickering. The first two buildings are enclosed and work continues inside. As well a historic home on the site has been moved to a prominent location and will serve as part of their training and meeting space. The site is on the Northwest corner of Highway 407 and Whites Road with the entrance from Hwy 7.
FGF Brands, a technology company that bakes, is developing their new campus facility in Pickering, opening phase one in 2026. It will include manufacturing plants, a distribution centre, a learning centre, and more.
The first phase of development will consist of three manufacturing plants and a distribution centre, with an overall gross floor area of over a million square feet and the creation of 1,000 new jobs, with another 2,000 jobs coming in the second phase. The entire site will included 2.5 million sq feet and thousand more jobs.
FGF Brands is the largest producer of fresh breads, rolls, croissants, fully baked muffins, and sweet goods, in North America, and has become a global leader by replacing low tech equipment with robotics, integrated AI systems, machine learning, and supply chain innovations. Some of its brands include Wonder Bread, Stonefire, ACE, D’Italiano, Country Harvest, and Casa Mendosa. As you can see in the photos they like the thumbs up for photos.
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City's Streetlight Maintenance Program | | |
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As you may have already been advised, coming out of the pandemic the Streetlighting industry as a whole has experienced significant challenges in its supply chain contributing to many delays for the City’s Streetlighting Maintenance program. While component availability has improved in general, some delays do remain.
With this noted, the City also acknowledges that we are transitioning into a Streetlight Maintenance Contract with a new Contractor,
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with optimism for improved service and maintenance response levels, as laid out in our Contract. The City will be working closely with this new Contractor to focus on addressing outstanding service requests and appreciates your patience as we navigate the changeover.
Once the Contractor is onboarded in January 2025, we should be able to provide more accurate timelines for any outstanding issues.
The City continues to work with our current contractor until the transition is complete.”
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the Customer Care Centre by email at customercare@pickering.ca or by phone 905.683.7575.
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Peter Matthews Drive Extension | |
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Last week, I visited with Region of Durham staff the ongoing construction of the Peter Matthew’s Drive from Seaton to Brock Road.
The new span bridge conveying Peter Matthews Drive over Gandatsetiagon Creek just east of Brock Road is planned for completion in 2026, including adjacent roadworks and storm water management facilities. In the photos you can see the new concrete bridge footings in place in the valley. Construction windows are regulated for environmental protection.
Similarly, the grade separation bridge conveying Peter Matthews Drive over the Canadian Pacific Railway (now Canadian Pacific Kansas City – CPKC) and associated roadworks is also planned to be opened to traffic in 2026. In the photos you can see the concrete walls and ramp approaches on either side of the railway.
This section of Peter Matthews Drive will convey four traffic lanes and have a paved asphalt multiuse path in the south boulevard, providing a vehicle, pedestrian and cycling connection from this southern portion of Seaton to Brock Road and Rossland Road/Third Concession Road.
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The windows at City Hall and the Chestnut Hill Recreation Centre have been painted with seasonal displays.
In 2023, City staff engaged a local artist to paint a winter scene on the exterior front lobby windows at CHDRC and City Hall. The Winter Window Painting program has continued in 2024. Jacob Headley hand painted a winter scene at City Hall and the CHDRC. Under the theme “An Inclusive Canadian Winter,” this project aims to highlight the beauty and diversity of winter across Canada.
Starting November 14, 2024, and running through February 1, 2025, the artist's work will transform the main windows of these iconic buildings, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for residents and visitors alike. This initiative not only enhances the aesthetic of our public spaces but also celebrates the rich cultural tapestry of our community during the winter months.
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Wing-Stop Grand Opening!
It was a hot enthusiastic opening with a line up to get in at the opening of Wingstop at the Home Depot Plaza today. Wingstop management and the whole team made a fun opening. We sampled a few types of tenders and wings, all delicious! Honey Garlic and Louisiana Rub were my favs. I will be back. Best of luck and congrats Wing-Stop. I was pleased to give greetings on behalf of Mayor and Council.
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Hindu Heritage Month Celebration!
Mayor Ashe and I were pleased to attend this Hindu Heritage Month event hosted by the Hindu Affinity Network of Durham (HAND) with the DDSB and the Pickering High School. A great turn out with great performances, food and vendors. We came across many friends and made some new ones.
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Garo Jewellers Grand Reopening!
Congrats to Garo Jewellers on the their Grand Reopening at the Shops of Pickering City Centre on Saturday, December 2. Mayor Ashe, Councillor Butt and I were pleased to attend with your many friends and supporters. A great celebration of a small family business.
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Pickering Poinsettia Tea!
Another great event with the band, dancing, prizes, treats, and of course a poinsettia to each attendee. I was pleased to once again attend this great event with my colleagues Mayor Ashe and Councillors Butt, Cook and Nagy. A great time to catch up with many Pickering friends and residents. Enjoy these photos!
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Holiday Makers Market!
I visited this great market at Biidaasige Mandarin Public School in Bay Ridges. It was great to see so many great original gifts by local artists and youth. I bought a snowflake and a painted pickle rock made by youth.
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Holiday Market
I dropped by for some stocking stuffers, was successful in getting a couple of things, lots of good local products. Located in the Walmart plaza at Brock Road across from Mark’s Work Warehouse.
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At Regional Council last week, we got a presentation from the Durham Regional Police Services Board and Durham Regional Police Service Chief Moreira. The recording of the meeting is available online - click here. I had my regular meeting with DRPS earlier this week and met with Chief Moreira last week. These are opportunities for me to raise local matters I see and hear from residents as well as hearing the Chief’s updates including successes and challenges. The presentation is ongoing but while auto thefts are down, violent/organized crimes are up. We will be discussing police services and resources to best serve the community. The bail system continues to be a priority issue, many of those arrested for car thefts and violent crimes are out on bail for having been already charged for similar offences. | |
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Priority Health is located at the Jerry Coughlan Health and Wellness Centre on Brock Road. They are relatively new to Pickering but they are serving many of our residents and doing a great job and have a great reputation already. I and economic staff met with them one evening (as they have long busy shifts) at their office to discuss their successful and expanding services and about developments and opportunities in the city. It is great to have these additional skills in family medicine and urgent care in our community.
The photo left to right Dr. Dhillon, me, Dr. Samiee, Dr. Westbrook.
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Thank you for taking the time to read this eNewsletter. I welcome your feedback and comments. You can reach me by email at dpickles@pickering.ca. To continue the conversation between eNewsletters, I invite you to visit my Facebook and website pages.
I also invite you to forward this eNewsletter to other Pickering residents. If they, or someone you know, wishes to subscribe to my eNewsletter or any other City related eNewsletters, visit pickering.ca/eNews to sign-up. eNewsletters are sent out a maximum of once per month and you can unsubscribe at anytime.
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