Each week more and more people are turning to foodbanks. No longer is it just those on social support programs. With costs of rent, mortgages, food, and other necessities rising, makings ends meet is a real challenge.

With help from the community, the Pickering St Paul's On-the-Hill Food Bank was able to restock 3.5 tonnes of food donated by the Islamic Council of Northeast Ontario.

Thank you to all of the volunteers who work tirelessly to make this all possible!

Join us on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 for a Special Town Hall meeting to discuss Surviving the Tariffs where Connecting GTA will be a special guest! The meeting will begin at 6:30 pm and be held in Meeting Rooms 2 & 3 of the Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex located at 1867 Valley Farm Road. Residents may enter through the main doors and visit the second floor via the elevator or stairs. The meeting rooms are located beside the physiotherapy clinic. We look forward to seeing you there!

With the impact of tariffs looming over Canada. Now more than ever it's important to support local businesses.

Do you have a product or service that can be used by the municipal sector? Pitch your business at the Business Showcase. This multi-day event is hosted annually by the Region of Durham, in collaboration with local area municipalities and community partners. The online event is a great opportunity to feature your business products and service solutions directly to municipal staff.

When: Tuesday, April 29, Wednesday, April 30, and Thursday, May 1

Where: This is an online event. Registration is required by Tuesday, April 15

What: Once registration is approved, businesses are grouped into one of the following key product/service themes. Each theme supports Regional and municipal program and service areas to provide innovative solutions for:

• General administration and business services
• Health and social services
• Information technology and Smart Cities
• Operations (facilities and emergency services)
• Transportation (transit and roads)
• Water, wastewater and solid waste management

Businesses will be provided a designated time slot and 10 minutes to introduce their company and provide a product/service overview to relevant staff from the Region, local area municipalities, and community partners. Next steps must follow established procurement policies or applicable by-laws and policies put in place by participating partners. This project aligns with Durham Region’s Intelligent Communities framework.

For more details, including information about priorities for each sector, visit: durham.ca/BusinessShowcase.

Answering your questions - A new segment dedicated to answering some of your most pressing questions! Often times I have residents requesting the same information over a hot topic, issue or event. Connecting with our neighbours and sharing information to Pickering residents is some of my favourite duties associated with being your Councillor. This platform will allow me to do just that!

Send an email to mbrenner@pickering.ca with your questions on City & Regional matters to see if your inquiries were chosen as a hot topic in our next eNewsletter release - anticipated early Q3.

A big shout out to the City of Pickering’s Fire Services Department and our amazing fire fighters who are equipped to respond to any situation.

Recently a dog broke away from their owner, and jumped into the fast moving high waters of Petticoat Creek.

Thanks to the quick response of Pickering Fire Services, and their extremely resourceful and strategic actions, the dog was rescued and later reunited with it's owners!

Take a look at the photo on the right to see staff live in action. Thank you Pickering Fire for always being there when an unexpected emergency occurs. You are true heroes and we sing your praises.

Join us as we have an assortment of great events to engage in all year round. The City of Pickering's Events Calendar is a great resource to see upcoming City and Community Events. 

I would like to highlight some events that are proudly being offered:

Saturday, April 19, 2025: Easter Parade

Join the City of Pickering and the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 606 on Saturday, April 19 to celebrate the annual Easter Parade in Bay Ridges. Bring your Easter baskets and bonnets down to the parade route and partake in a spectacular welcome to Spring.

When available updates will be posted to: pickering.ca/easterparade

Saturday, May 10, 2025: Petapolooza

We're bringing together together pet owners and enthusiasts within our community at Esplanade Park on Saturday, May 10 from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm! Petapolooza gives our community the opportunity to meet industry professionals, rescue groups, and others in the pet industry. Learn more at: pickering.ca/petapolooza

Saturday, May 24 - Sunday May 25, 2025: Artfest

Celebrate all things Arts & Culture at this Spring Festival! This event will run on both days from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm in Esplanade Park.

Sunday, June 1, 2025: D-Day Parade and Ceremony

Please join the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 606 for their annual D-Day Parade and Service at the City Hall Cenotaph. Time anticipated is 10:45 am - 12:00 pm, check the website for the most up to date information. 

The Engineering Services Department is undertaking the City Centre Transportation Master Plan study to identify transportation needs and challenges within the City’s downtown core for future intensification over a 10-year and 20-year development horizon. The study is a technical analysis to assess the future needs of the following:

• multi-modal travel needs of the redevelopment plans
• road network operations within the study area
• transit, bicycle, and pedestrian networks

A Public Information Centre meeting will be held on:

Date: Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Time: 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Location: Pickering City Hall (Main Lobby, One The Esplanade, Pickering, ON.  L1V 6K7)

For additional information, view the Notice of Public Information Centre and website.

As Council Members we have a commitment to participate in a number of Committee and Council meetings annually.

The Executive Committee typically meets virtually once monthly on the first Monday of the month at 2:00 pm. Likewise, the Planning & Development Committee meet virtually on the same day of the month at 7:00 pm. The last Monday of the month typically, we meet virtually for Council meetings at 7:00 pm.

Please follow the links below for the City's website calendar, to view the most up-to-date scheduling, including any dates affected by the Easter holiday.

As part of our commitment to open, transparent, and accessible municipal government, we continue to post online recaps of the decisions made at our Council Meetings to help residents better understand municipal affairs and directions set by Council. 

Members of the public may observe the meeting proceedings by viewing the livestream. The official meeting minutes are also publicly available through the City's website calendar and Corporate Records webpages. For more information on attending meetings and registering as a delegate, you may visit the City's website.

A breakdown of our Council Meeting Highlights are available on the City's website here. Alternatively, you may check out the City's Facebook page.

Each month the City of Pickering Building Services division generates an activity report which includes statistics of new applications received within the month, permit fees received to date, estimated construction valuations, projected building permit revenues, and comparisons to the previous year.

You may view the Building Permit Activity Report for February 2025 and March 2025.

For more information, visit the Building Services web page here.

Visit LetsTalkPickering.ca/Development to learn more about the planning process.

As part of the City’s ongoing Official Plan Review, City Development Department staff will be hosting upcoming in-person and virtual public information centres (PICs).

This will be the fifth round of PICs undertaken for Pickering Forward. The topic for the PICs will be “Community Elements and Infrastructure”. This topic includes parks, transportation and cultural heritage. These events will be held on:

• Tuesday, May 6 (in-person): Purpose Church, 1527 Bayly Street. Doors open at 6:00 pm. Presentation at 6:30 pm.
• Wednesday, May 7 (virtual): 7:00 pm – Register at: pickering.ca/pickeringforward

Should you have any questions about this project, you are encouraged to contact the City Development by emailing: PickeringForward@pickering.ca or calling 905.420.4617.

The City of Pickering has implemented a new process for Statutory Meetings. Beginning April 2025, all Statutory Public Meetings will be held separately from the regular monthly meetings. Statutory Public Meetings will continue to be Chaired on a rotating basis by each Councillor in alphabetical order starting Tuesday, April 22, at 7:00 pm, where I will be Chairing.

These meetings are opportunities for the public to hear from staff and applicants on their proposed applications, prior to any recommendations and or decisions.

Check out the details for the April 22 meeting, by viewing the Council Calendar. Do not forget to register as a delegate, if you have any questions and comments you would like to make before the application is heard in front of the Committee for a recommendation or decision.

Please see the attached Notice of an upcoming Statutory Public Meeting under the Planning Act scheduled for April 22, 2025 at 7:00 pm to consider the following matter:

Files: Official Plan Amendment Application OPA 24-002P, Zoning By-law Amendment Application A 02-24

Applicant: Tribute (Brookdale) Limited

Property Location: 1101A, 1105 and 1163 Kingston Road (Brookdale Centre) Located on the south side of Kingston Road, south of Walnut Lane and north of Highway 401.

Ward: 2

The Region of Durham Council continues to be a champion for our community, and leverages it's voice through memberships with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). It advocates for change on current Provincial legislation that negatively impacts our residents.

The Region plays a significant role in providing essential services and resources to all of their corresponding municipalities. Check out the February 26, 2025 and March 26, 2025, Durham Region CAO Briefing Notes summary to learn more. 

Submit your nominations for the DECAC Environmental Awards

Do you know someone who has made a positive impact on environmental conservation and/or climate action through projects completed between October 1, 2023 and June 1, 2025? The Durham Environment and Climate Advisory Committee (DECAC) invites you to nominate individuals and organizations for the 2025 DECAC Environmental Achievement Awards.

Submit your nominations by Friday, June 27, 2025

Established in 2003, the DECAC Environmental Achievement Awards is held every other year to recognize individuals and organizations in Durham Region’s public, private and non-profit sectors who are committed to protecting the environment and addressing climate change. The award ceremony will take place in the Fall, celebrating the efforts of those making a positive impact in our community. Learn more about DECAC and the Awards.

The Abilities Centre, in partnership with The Region of Durham, invites you to attend the Durham Accessibility Conference.

When: May 28, 2025, in-person from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and virtual from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm. Registration is required. To register, visit the Eventbrite page and register by May 22.

Where: Abilities Centre, 1 Jim Flaherty Street, (formerly 55 Gordon Street), Whitby.

What: The theme for this year’s conference is “Fostering an Accessible and Inclusive Durham Region: Employment and Beyond.” The conference will provide an intersectional lens on current systemic challenges surrounding accessibility and inclusion within the employment sector, public spaces and service delivery. Featuring Keynote Speaker Anthony Lue, a panel discussion, and exhibitors, this conference will provide perspectives from people with lived and industry experience.

Why: This free conference supports creating and maintaining accessible and inclusive practices which can be used across our Region.

Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) and American Sign Language interpretation will be available.

Durham Region Health Department will begin West Nile virus (WNV) surveillance and control program for the 2025 season on May 12. This program includes adult mosquito trapping to test for WNV, surveillance for larval mosquito activity, and administering larvicide in catch basins and surface water sites throughout Durham Region.

For a fully exhaustive list, including resources to help better equip you and keep you safe, I encourage you to read the full article linked here.



The Region of Durham has published a substantial list of funding opportunities available to residents. If this is of value to you, I encourage you to sign up for their eNewsletter. For more information, please visit their Funding Opportunities website.

Additionally, the Region outlines more than 40 benefits in Ontario, specifically for low-income residents. To learn more about these resources, check out their Income-Boosting Benefits website.

Council adopted the Durham Region’s 2025 Strategic Plan. This important document will act as a compass to guide the Region’s work for the next 10 years.

The Strategic Plan is ambitious. It considers the stories, priorities and voices heard throughout the year-long consultation process that shaped it. Five strategic directions have been identified to achieve the vision of “Connected communities. Connected to you.”

1. Connected and Vibrant Communities
2. Environmental Sustainability and Climate Action
3. Healthy People, Caring Communities
4. Resilient Local Economies
5. Strong Relationships

You can view the new Strategic Plan here, and additional details at the website: durham.ca/StratPlan 

The Lobbyist Registry is up and running, and it is now mandatory for those that lobby Public Officer Holders. The team from the Clerks Department has played a lead role in not only preparing the Lobbyist Registry By-law, but also the tools that will assist Public Office Holders and Lobbyists to understand the definition of a Public Officer Holder.

Connect with our Customer Care team, Monday to Friday (8:30 am - 4:30 pm), by telephone at 905.683.7575, or email customercare@pickering.ca.