Dear Friend,
I hope you had a delightful summer, cherishing moments with family, friends and loved ones.
As the warmth of summer gradually gives way to the cool embrace and vibrant colours of autumn, I am delighted to write to you and provide some updates on the exciting work happening in our City. In recent months, we've achieved significant milestones in our efforts to enhance our wonderful community.
The month of September has brought forward a new chapter for Pickering students, staff and faculty in Pickering. I am thrilled to see Pickering students, staff and faculty return back to school and wish them all another exciting school year filled with promise, opportunities and new adventures. Along with Pickering students, City Council members have reconvened council and committee meetings.
I’m excited to continue working with my colleagues and Pickering residents over the coming months to continue our progress and ensure Pickering continues to be an amazing to live, work, shop, and play.
As always, I enjoy listening to your insights and suggestions regarding our community. 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
|
|
Click on the video above to watch my Back to School Message |
|
IN THIS NEWSLETTER
Facebook Live Townhall with Mayor Ashe
Pickering City Centre
Recognizing Community Benefits from OLG Gaming Revenue
FGF Brands is Coming to Pickering
Porsche Experience Centre
Snow Removal Program
Engaging with the Community
|
|
Facebook Live Townhall with special guests Chief of Police Peter Moreira and Inspector Shaun Carter, DRPS |
Join me as I welcome Chief of Police, Peter Moreira, and Inspector Shaun Carter from the Durham Regional Police Service to discuss important topics relating to safety, protection, and crime prevention in Pickering.
This is your opportunity to discuss local issues with local leadership and law enforcement.
Date: Thursday, September 28
Time: 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
You can submit your questions in real-time during the live event through the comment section or email them in advance to mayor@pickering.ca.
|
|
Exciting news coming to Pickering!
I had the pleasure of joining CentreCourt, a private developer, as they announced the Pickering City Centre, a new mixed-use community right at the heart of our downtown core in Pickering.
As part of the development application process, the City negotiated that CentreCourt will convey ten percent of their land to the City for parkland (Developers are required to convey five per cent of their development land to the City for parkland or other public recreation purposes).
The proposed facilities and amenities for the City Centre include:
- A new Central Library.
- A new Community Centre with dedicated seniors & youth spaces.
- A new Performing Arts Centre.
- Expanded City Hall administration space.
- A new Public Square.
- New connected green spaces to create a ‘campus’ concept, and
- Residential development.
A rigorous public and stakeholder consultation process is anticipated to ensure that community feedback is incorporated into the park design.
As a leader for growth, the new facilities on the park will maximize on our City’s progress and transform it into a thriving, sustainable city where residents can live, work, shop and play.
|
|
I had the privilege of celebrating the significant economic and community benefits of serving as a host gaming alongside members from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) and my fellow City Council members at the Pickering Food Truck Festival!
Since Pickering Casino Resort opened in July 2021, the OLG has issued non-tax gaming revenue payments, totaling $24,484,059 (up to March 31, 2023), to the City of Pickering for hosting the facility, as part of its Municipal Contribution Agreement with OLG.
The City is reinvesting these revenues in the community to support local programs, initiatives, and infrastructure!
|
|
The organizers behind the Pickering Food Truck Festival were just one of the many community recipients to benefit from the agreement, receiving funds to support the 3-day food truck festival that welcomed over 25,000 visitors. |
|
The future of Pickering is looking bright!
Earlier this year, the City of Pickering and the Province of Ontario completed the sale of 151 acres of provincial lands in Pickering's Innovation Corridor to FGF Brands!
FGF Brands is looking to develop a high-tech, food manufacturing campus, which will be known as the Wonderbrands Innovation Business Park. Brands like Wonder Bread, D’italiano, Country Harvest, Stonefire, and more will be made right here in our City.
The first phase of development will consist of three manufacturing plants and a distribution centre. Once full build-out is complete, the business park will be the largest food manufacturing campus in the GTA, as well as one of the largest employers in Pickering with its 3,000 new jobs.
This is truly an exciting time for our City as this deal represents just one of many that will bring jobs, prestige, and economic strength to Pickering. We are committed to investing in partnerships and economic development initiatives that will attract as many jobs as possible for our residents now and into the future.
|
|
Watch Mayor Ashe’s tour of the FGF Brands’ Headquarters and Manufacturing Facility
to get a sneak peak of what’s coming to Pickering!
|
|
The Porsche Experience Centre is on it's way!
I had the pleasure of visiting the construction site of the Porsche Experience Centre which is being built in Pickering's Durham Live Entertainment District.
Opening in 2024, the Porsche Experience Centre is the third of its kind in North America and the tenth official Porsche Experience Centre in the world. The Centre will feature a driving circuit over 2 kilometres in length, carefully crafted to showcase the exceptional technology of the Porsche sports cars in their natural habitat.
Not only will the Porsche Experience Centre provide enthusiasts with a complete immersion in the Porsche universe, but it will also generate employment opportunities, stimulate economic growth, and enhance tourism in our city.
|
|
The City of Pickering offers senior citizens and people with a permanent physical or cognitive disability a snow clearing service to assist them with their sidewalk snow clearing responsibilities, and access to their home.
The registration period for the 2023/2024 program is open now up until October 13, 2023. The snow removal program will operate from November 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024.
Program Details
- the program accommodates 750 qualified applicants.
- priority will be given to residents with proof of permanent disability.
- qualified applications will be selected by the use of an electronic lottery system, if applicable or necessary, and applicants will be notified accordingly.
- the program fee is required with the application, by cheque, made payable to the City of Pickering - see below for fee structure.
Fee Structure
The fees will be based on your taxable income found on line 260 of your Tax Assessment. If there are two names registered on the title for your home, staff will require a copy of both Tax Assessments, as the incomes will be combined.
|
|
Raising the Every Child Matters Flag at City Hall ahead of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day |
|
Joined members of the Whitevale Golf Club as they donated $2,500 to St. Paul's on-the-Hill Community Food Bank in Pickering |
|
Speaking with VIVA Pickering Retirement Community residents as I shared key updates about our City |
|
I invited DIVYA, a local youth volunteer club, to City Hall to express gratitude for their Hunger Action Month food drive efforts |
|
Pleasure meeting with community members at the Pickering Islamic Centre's Annual Carnival |
|
Participated in the Annual Pickering Terry Fox Run alongside community members and cut the opening ribbon to kick off the event |
|
Raised over $240,000 for the Ajax-Pickering Hospital Foundation alongside Mayor Shaun Collier of Ajax at our Annual Mayors' Charity Golf Classic |
|
Joined MPP Peter Bethlenfalvy and Neil Lumsden, MPP and Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sports, in the announcement of $119,800 in grant funding for the Pickering Football Club |
|
I had a delightful time at the Annual Tamil Street Festival with members of the Tamil community, where I had the opportunity to prepare and savour some delicious Kothu Roti |
|
|
|
|
|
|
