Pickering Ready to Welcome 35,000 New Jobs to Seaton

Today, the Province of Ontario announced its immediate plans to sell all of its employment and residential lands in the Seaton area. The City of Pickering looks forward to working with the eventual purchaser(s) to achieve the 35,000 new jobs target as prescribed in the Central Pickering Development Plan.

The Province of Ontario formalized the Central Pickering Development Plan on May 3, 2006. Since then, the City of Pickering has been working closely with the Province and the Region of Durham to ensure that Seaton becomes a sustainable, urban community with a strong focus on economic development, livability, and the protection of the natural heritage system.

Seaton is planned to accommodate 70,000 new residents and 35,000 new jobs. To ensure the community attracts high-quality employment opportunities, the City of Pickering has commissioned a comprehensive sector analysis study which will identify specific sectors of the economy that would be attracted to the 800 acres of employment lands in Seaton.

The sector analysis will be completed and released this spring. Interested purchasers are encouraged to meet with the City to discuss the sector analysis findings, and develop ways of working together to attract business and jobs to the Seaton lands.

Seaton is located adjacent to both Toronto and Markham. The Seaton employment lands run parallel to Highway 407, and are situated directly south of the Pickering Airport lands - making them highly accessible and extremely desirable for industries and businesses looking to expand their footprint in the Greater Toronto Area.

"The City of Pickering is open for business; and on behalf of Council, we thank the Province of Ontario for taking this major step in allowing the private sector to get started on the creation of 35,000 well-paying, new jobs in Seaton," said Mayor Dave Ryan. "Pickering boasts one of the strongest clusters of EN3 (Energy, Environmental, Engineering) companies in Ontario, and I would be thrilled if Seaton helps attract even more of these progressive and innovative companies to our city."

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As the gateway to the east GTA, Pickering (population 94,000) is strategically located where Toronto, York and Durham Regions meet. An award-winning municipality, Pickering is slated for significant economic and residential growth; offering an unparalleled quality of life for those who live, work, and play here. Its dynamic City Centre has been designated by the Province of Ontario as both an Urban Growth Centre and Mobility Hub, and continues to evolve as a preferred destination for creative learning, memorable events, and unique experiences at the heart of a vibrant, connected, and engaged community.

Media Contact:
Mark Guinto
Coordinator, Public Affairs | Office of the Mayor
905.420.4660 ext. 2013 | 1.866.683.2760 | TTY 905.420.1739
mguinto@pickering.ca