At the February 27th Council Meeting, I was honoured to be recognized by the Honourable Peter Bethlenfalvy,
MPP Pickering Uxbridge, having served over 25 years as a Municipal Councillor in the City of Pickering.
The award presented was on behalf of the Province of Ontario recognizing my contributions of building a strong community for over a quarter of a century. While not consecutive, I am proud to have served 1985-2006 and from February 2016-present. A total of 28 years making me one of the longest serving members in Pickering's history and currently the eldest sitting member on Council.
For me it's not a job, but a love and passion to help others and implement positive change, which is something I look forward to each and every day.
On a personal note, this could not be possible without the the support of my family: Anne, my kids and step-kids, who endured many sacrifices.
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Join us on March 16, 2023 at 7:00 pm |
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Residents are invited to attend the Ward 1 Town Hall Meeting on Thursday March 16, 2023 at
7:00 pm, in the Recreation Room of Abbeylawn Manor Retirement Home, located at 534 Rodd Avenue. This month's meeting is a “Fireside Chat” and is an opportunity to have open dialog on Regional and City matters that are important to you.
Please join us - all are welcome!
For future Town Hall Meeting information, including dates & locations, please contact the Council Office by email at council@pickering.ca or by telephone at 905.420.4605. |
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Rotary Frenchman's Bay West
Waterfront Construction
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If you have been hiking along this section of the Waterfront, you will see some construction work and temporary fencing along the Lake Ontario shoreline. This is a temporary measure to build up the sand dunes which will help minimize waves overtopping the spit. This work is necessary to protect our beautiful sand beach from being washed out, as experienced in previous years. The map shown above, identifies the area just opposite of the soon-to-be completed canoe/kayak launch. The contractor has erected construction fencing to keep residents safely outside of the work zone. This needs to be set back a few meters past the limits of work, to allow for adequate spacing to run their equipment. City staff are speaking to the contractor about completing this work prior to the opening of the 2023 season, to ensure there will not be any encroachments onto the beach come summer (or higher water levels).
Pickering Council and Committee meetings are open to the public and we encourage you to follow the agendas which are posted on the City of Pickering Council Calendar, found here.
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Council Chambers Renovations
and Audio-Visual Enhancements
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With the anticipated closure of Council Chambers during the summer recess, Council approved the work to replace the exterior dome which is beyond its lifespan. Direction was also given to use this allotted time to resolve the sound quality and streaming issues in the Chambers. We are hopeful to hear about the progress of this project in the early Fall of 2023. |
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City of Pickering's 2023 Budget |
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The City of Pickering has launched its public consultation on the 2023 Budget and invites residents to have their say on the service, program, and infrastructure needs that are most important to them.
Each year, the City undergoes an extensive budget process to plan for how it will use its financing to meet the needs of the community. This includes a Current Budget, also known as an Operating Budget, which covers the day-to-day expenses required to deliver service, and a Capital Budget, which is used for long term investments, like infrastructure, facilities, and equipment, that are paid off over time.
Whether you’re running a household, a business, or a government administration, we’re all tasked with managing our financial priorities while facing pressures from inflation which is why It is important that Pickering’s budget information and process is accessible, highlights opportunities for participation, and encourages residents to have their say.
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How to Participate:
- Attend or register to speak at the special meeting for budget deliberations (Executive Committee Meeting) - April 13, 2023.
- Attend or register to speak at the Council Meeting (where the 2023 Current and Capital Budgets will be formally adopted) - April 24, 2023.
- Connect with Mayor Ashe and Members of Council directly.
Residents can learn more about how municipalities build their budgets, how the City seeks out funding opportunities to help relieve the residential tax load, and more. Visit LetsTalkPickering/Budget to get involved.
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Important Message From Durham Region
Public Health Regarding the Importance of
Eye Examinations for School-Age Kids
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The Health Department encourages parents to book eye examinations for school-aged children. Durham Region Health Department is encouraging parents of school-aged children to book an appointment for their child with a local optometrist as vision screening is an important component of a child’s visual health.
The Ontario Association of Optometrists recommends that children should have their first eye examination at six-months old, another between two and five-years old and, subsequently, every year from that time on. The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) covers a comprehensive eye examination by an optometrist every year for children under 19-years old.
“Research shows that one in four school-aged children may have a vision problem that, if left untreated, could affect a child’s learning and development, and some of these problems can only be treated if found while children are young,” explained Yemisi Aladesua, a public health nurse with Durham Region Health Department.
Research has also found that vision problems in young children may be hard to recognize, with 61 per cent of parents mistakenly believing that they would be able to identify if their child was experiencing a vision or eye problem.
The Health Department has compiled a list of local optometrists in each Durham Region community to help parents find the support they may need. To obtain the list or for more information on the importance of eye examinations for children, please call the Durham Health Connection Line at 905.668.2020 or 1.800.841.2729. Information is also available at durham.ca/VisionScreening.
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Durham Region Council Updates |
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On March 8, members of the Durham Region Transit Executive Committee (TEC) met to discuss various Durham Region Transit (DRT) initiatives and updates. Details and highlights include:
PARTNERSHIP MOBILE CLINICS:
Partnering in Mobile Clinics for the Community Paramedic Program: During the pandemic, DRT collaborated with Region of Durham Paramedic Services (RDPS) to roll out three mobile clinics. The mobile clinics allowed RDPS to treat multiple patients at once through their community programs department.
Due to the success of this collaboration, RDPS is now seeking Council approval to expand its partnership with DRT, on a larger scale. This partnership will result in DRT transferring ownership for one of the existing mobile clinic buses to RDPS. The bus would be stored, serviced and maintained by DRT; with driver training and license certification—for RDPS staff operating the mobile clinic—to be provided by DRT.
More information about this initiative is available in the General Manager's Report - March 2023 ( 2023-DRT-06, Page 10).
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR 2023:
1. Environmental Sustainability: Continue to invest in innovative and alternative fuel vehicles, offering zero or near-zero emissions options, such as electric vehicles.
2. Community Vitality: Implement the Transit Service and Financing Strategy (2023-2032), which aims to improve access for all customers to a more frequent and reliable transit network across the region.
3. Economic Prosperity: Continue to investigate, test and make use of new mobility models and systems, to showcase Durham as an innovative and forward-looking jurisdiction.
4. Service Excellence: Continue the journey to ridership recovery, while maintaining customer confidence in DRT as a healthy, safe and preferred travel option. DRT will also implement service enhancements to promote healthy transportation choices through transit network improvements and demand responsive service. DRT will continue to ensure customers can easily access services, technology, and information in relation to the new demand responsive service that combines On Demand and Specialized Services.
All meetings of Regional Council and its Committees are open to the public and agendas are posted on the Durham Region Council Calendar, located here. |
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New One Stop Service Portal launches in Durham!
The myDurham 311 Customer Portal launched on March 11, 2023, as a new single self-service portal for customers within Durham Region to submit service requests or follow up on existing service requests. The portal is available 24/7 Visit myDurham311.ca
Residents can request a service or report an issue anytime, day or night.
Durham Region has launched an online self-service portal so residents can request a service or report an issue to the Region. Residents can use the portal to submit and track requests for many Regional services such as waste and recycling, water and sewer, and traffic inquiries. The self-service portal is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at myDurham311.ca.
Residents can submit a request online whenever it’s convenient for them, and set up alerts to track their request. Requests are automatically sent to a customer service representative for action. If a customer needs to call the Region about their request, staff will have all the information at their fingertips.
Residents can use the self-service portal to request a recycling blue bin or a garbage bag tag exemption, report a water issue, tell us if you see a traffic light not working properly, and more. The following list outlines the requests that are now live via myDurham311.ca:
· Waste Diversion Kit Request
· Waste General Inquiries
· Waste - Request School Programs and Outreach
· Bag Tag Exemption Form Request
· Report Water Issues
· General Traffic Inquiry
· Pedestrian Safety
· Emergency Management Inquiry Submission
· Contact the Office of the CAO
During business hours, residents can call 311 for access to Regional information within the geographical borders of Durham Region. People outside those borders can access information by calling one local number, 905.668.7711, or toll-free at 1.800.372.1102.
The self-service portal is part of the myDurham 311 initiative, a transformational project aimed at improving the customer experience at Durham Region.
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Durham Region Monthly Briefing |
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Durham Region government plays a significant role in providing essential services and resources to all of their corresponding lower-tier municipalities. Check out the March 1,
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Thank you for taking the time to read this eNewsletter. I welcome your feedback and comments. For more information on what's happening in Pickering and Durham Region, visit my social channels: mauricebrenner.ca, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter. You can also reach me by contacting the Council Office at 905.420.4605 or by email at mbrenner@pickering.ca.
Feel free to forward this eNewsletter to other Pickering residents, who may find this information helpful. To subscribe to future eNewsletters, visit pickering.ca/eNews and selecting the checkbox for Councillor Maurice Brenner Newsletter. eNewsletters are sent out a maximum of once per month and you can unsubscribe at anytime.
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City of Pickering Council Office | 905.420.4605 | www.pickering.ca |
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