Dear Nancy,

As we wrap up the month of October, I want to wish you a safe and Happy Halloween and extend my warm greetings to you.

Halloween is a day when the streets of Pickering come alive with creative costumes, spooky decorations, and haunting pumpkins. I encourage all those trick-or-treating and celebrating Halloween today to celebrate safely and responsibly.

I'm excited to bring you the latest remarkable developments that are unfolding within our City. October has been a busy month, brimming with council updates, new investments, and significant announcements that have shaped our community. Your support and engagement have played a vital role in fostering these positive changes, and I am eager to continue sharing these updates with you.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office at mayor@pickering.ca or 905.420.4600. Also, I encourage you to stay up to date on the latest news in Pickering by subscribing to my newsletter if you haven't already.

Yours Truly,

Kevin Ashe

Mayor, City of Pickering

IN THIS NEWSLETTER

Keeping Up With Council

Reopening of the Pickering Soccer Dome

West Shore Skate Spot Mural Unveiling

Restoring and Protecting Pickering Wetlands

Facebook Live Townhall

Engaging with the Community

Over the past few months, City Council has been busy at our Council Meetings to advance the key priorities, projects and initiatives that are important to our community.

To ensure that all residents of Pickering are involved and engaged in their community and local government, I have been providing monthly recap updates of our Council Meetings.

I'm delighted to share with you all my most recent "Keeping Up With Council" update for the October 23rd Council Meeting. I encourage you click on the video below for brief updates related to:

• Pickering's Snow Clearing Program,
• Toys for Tickets and Food for Fines,
• Fire Masterplan,
• Integrity Commissioners Report,
• and more!

Click here or on the video above to watch my Council recap!

I was thrilled to join the Pickering Football Club and City of Pickering staff to celebrate the full restoration and revitalization of our beloved Pickering Soccer Dome!

It's been over a year since catastrophe struck, but our Soccer Dome has since risen to new heights. Throughout the restoration process, we've made substantial improvements, including the replacement of the turf, netting, sports clock, track, and a beautiful skylight that adds an inviting and radiant touch to the facility.

But we didn't stop there, we also made significant safety and functionality improvements, such as:

• Relocating fire hose cabinets, in consultation with Pickering Fire Services,
• The addition of a second vehicle airlock for seamless facility to the facility and maintenance,
• Rearrangement of the turf field to increase programmable space, and
• The addition of a multipurpose hard court.

Congratulations to the Pickering Football Club! Your commitment to offering essential programs for Pickering's recreational and competitive soccer players is truly commendable. I can't wait to see the future soccer stars that will be trained right here in Pickering.

Our newly opened West Shore Skate Spot, which launched in June 2022, has become a vibrant hub for youth and skateboard enthusiasts in our community.

The Skate Spot was one of the many infrastructure projects that was identified in Pickering's Skateboard Park strategy that arose from our Recreation and Parks Master Plan.

I was delighted to join members of our community for the grand unveiling of the Skate Spot mural. The breathtaking mural, a collaborative masterpiece by the artistic talents of FATSPATROL and Mural Routes, truly exemplifies the remarkable work of these artists dedicated to crafting stunning outdoor public art that enhances our community.

The mural at the West Shore Skate Spot serves as a captivating representation of our community, encompassing the spirit of our residents, the cherished natural surroundings, and the environment and wildlife that we hold dear.

I encourage you to cruise by the Skate Spot and enjoy the mural with family and friends!

Here in Pickering, our natural heritage features and greenspaces are integral to the identity of our city.

Pickering boasts a variety of beautiful natural landscapes, from our shimmering waterfront, scenic trails and parks, and expansive wetlands.

I had the pleasure of joining the Hon. Andrea Khanjin, Minister of Environment, Conservation, and Parks, MPP Peter Bethlenfalvy, and members of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hustlers for an announcement to preserve and protect our Pickering wetlands.

The Provincial Government is investing over $925,000 to restore and enhance the health of our wetlands. As our community continues to grow, this funding will provide a safe place for our wildlife, at-risk species, and native plants to thrive.

This timely funding will guarantee that the natural landscapes and cultural heritage in Pickering will be preserved for future generations and wildlife, allowing them to experience and appreciate them, just as past and present generations have.

Click here for more information about the announcement.

Last month I hosted a Virtual Facebook Townhall with Chief of Police Peter Moreira and members of the Durham Regional Police Service. We discussed a variety of topics related to community safety and crime prevention.

If you didn't get a chance to tune in on the day-of, you can still watch the virtual event on my Facebook Page. I encourage you to click on the video below to join in on the conversation with local leadership and law enforcement in our community.

Click here or on the video above to watch my Virtual Townhall with DRPS!

Pleasure to meet with Pickering residents and amazing vendor booths at the City of Pickering's Fall Fling at Millennium Square!

Joined the Pickering Fire Services Crew for the Fire Safe Pickering Campaign to educate residents about the importance of fire safety in our households.

Honoured to welcome Ippon Japanese Ramen to Pickering! Their menu boasts a diverse selection of authentic ramen dishes.

Teamed up with Fairport Beach Neighbourhood Association and Pickering West Shore Community Association to plant over 140 native trees and shrubs at Douglas Park in Pickering!

Thrilled to attend the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade's Business Excellence Award.

Congratulations to Edgardo G. Gonzales, a longtime resident of Pickering, on the launch of his book, Somebody Believes!