News and Announcements

August 19, 2022 - Pickering Council has green lit a ‘Build Back Better’ enhancement project for the Pickering Soccer Centre, following the roof collapse and subsequent flooding damage that occurred earlier this year.  This exciting and innovative undertaking will see the installation of a new and modernized roofing system, as well as a fundamental change to the soccer pitch configuration to facilitate the installation of a permanent, multi-purpose hard court surface that will accommodate four integrated pickleball courts within an official sized futsal court.

The ‘Build Back Better’ project was developed in partnership with the Pickering Football Club, which has leased the Pickering Soccer Centre from the City since 2014.  The City and Pickering Football Club executive have been meeting regularly over the past half year with respect to the roof replacement as well as brainstorming how to provide more functionality and sports and recreational opportunities for the community.

April 26, 2022 - After a 28-year career in municipal politics, 19 of which spent as Pickering’s longest serving mayor, Mayor Dave Ryan announced at last night’s City Council meeting that he has decided to officially retire at the end of this term of office when the new Council is sworn in on November 21.

March 31, 2022 - A new project is underway at Pickering Museum Village.

The museum received $100,400.00 from the Digital Museum of Canada and $33,000.00 from Young Canada Works to create a free virtual exhibit and educational resource. The website invites users to explore the evolution of blacksmithing in Ontario and includes curriculum links and lesson plans for grades 7-12.

Available in both English and French, the website will feature an interactive timeline that takes users on a journey from the 1860s to today to discover how blacksmiths adapted their trade to meet the changing needs of their communities. The website will launch December 2022.

March 22, 2022 - As a result of the City of Pickering’s advocacy on broadband investment and Bell Canada’s recent expansion of pure fibre Internet in Pickering’s hamlets and rural areas, Grammy award-winning producer, Boi1da, can now collaborate with top music artists like Drake, Eminem, Rihanna, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, and Jack Harlow directly from his home studio in north Pickering.

Two and a half years ago, global hip-hop and entertainment icon, Drake, took to social media to call on the ‘Mayor of Pickering’ to fix the Internet issues where his regular producer, Boi1da, lives and works. In turn, the City of Pickering issued a clever, tongue-in-cheek response referencing a myriad of Drake’s song titles and lyrics to address the connectivity issue, while also communicating some of the City’s key accomplishments and priorities.

September 28, 2021 - The City of Pickering, together with the Indigenous Relationship Building Circle (IRBC), has approved the installation of an orange crosswalk at a prominent intersection in Pickering.

The commemorative crosswalk will stand to honour the lost children, survivors, their families, and communities affected by the residential school system.

June 21, 2021 - The City of Pickering has finalized an agreement with William F. White International Inc. (WFW), a Sunbelt Rentals company, for the lease of City-owned lands, which will be used as a movie and television filming backlot, commencing October 1, 2021 for up to a 9-year period.

The lands, located north of Green River, have been transformed into the largest backlot of its kind in Canada and are currently the principal filming site for a major streaming service’s new television series. As of October 1, 2021, WFW will be taking over exclusive operation of the backlot at a lease of $30,000/month, until December 31, 2026, with an option of two further renewal terms of two years each. This agreement could potentially generate approximately $3.5M in lease revenue for the City.

February 1, 2021 - City Pickering Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Marisa Carpino, as its permanent Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).

An executive search consultant conducted a nation-wide search that attracted nearly 100 candidates.  Carpino’s proven leadership track record, as well as her vision for a progressive, prosperous, and inclusive Pickering ultimately won the endorsement of the Mayor and Council.

July 14, 2020 - Last night, members of the Planning & Development Committee refused a condominium development proposal for Liverpool Road south. This unanimous decision will be formalized at the July 27 City Council meeting.

The applicant, Pickering Harbour Company Ltd., originally proposed a mixed-use development at 505 and 591 Liverpool Road, consisting of two 23-storey buildings, containing 498 residential units, and 1,900 square metres of grade related commercial uses, which was subsequently revised to two 15-storey buildings, containing 377 residential units, and 1,400 square metres of commercial space.

March 20, 2020 - Today, the City of Pickering is claiming a landmark victory in preserving the unique character of its waterfront with the Local Planning Appeals Tribunal’s (LPAT) dismissal of a condominium development application for an 8-storey condominium building at Frenchman’s Bay.

After considering the evidence and submissions over the past two years, the LPAT sided with the City of Pickering and ruled that the development application for 1280-1294 Wharf Street and 607 Annland Street did not conform sufficiently to the intended direction, legitimate land use planning framework, and vision set out in the City of Pickering’s Official Plan.  In essence, the City had successfully argued that an 8-storey condominium building was just not appropriate for its waterfront.