Conversations in the Community

November 18, 2025: Pickering is growing. Our population is forecast to increase by 45 percent by 2034, fueled in part by new development in central Pickering and intensification in Pickering’s City Centre. This growth comes with opportunity – and responsibility. We must invest in new community amenities like arenas, libraries, parks, gyms, and pools.

November 18, 2025: Residents may have noticed construction activity at Orchard Villa Long-Term Care Home, located at 1955 Valley Farm Road. We understand there are questions and concerns about what is happening, who is leading the project, and what role the City of Pickering plays.

August 19, 2025: There is a video circulating online that makes false and misleading claims about the City of Pickering’s agreement with Enbridge Gas. The video incorrectly suggests that the City has access to household-level data, that residents are being tracked without their consent, and that private data has been sold for $10,000. These statements are entirely untrue.

June 11, 2025: As Pickering's love for Pickleball continues to grow, the City has identified a number of current and proposed outdoor and indoor pickleball courts to suit user needs. (Original post January 17, 2024)

June 10, 2025: We’ve noticed some chatter about property tax increases in Pickering ranging from 10 to 16 percent. Understandably, that sounds alarming - but we’re here to set the record straight! In reality, the average total residential property tax increase for 2025 is approximately 5.26% for Pickering homeowners.

January 17, 2025: The City has been alerted to anonymous flyers circulating in the community, including some soliciting money (e.g., from organizations like "The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms") and spreading misinformation. These materials contain false and misleading claims and are not associated with official City business.

January 2025: After considerable deliberation, we have decided to return official City meetings to a fully electronic format due to escalating threats of violence, harassment, and intimidation in our Council Chambers. This difficult decision was made by the City Clerk in consultation with the Chief Administrative Officer, Corporate Security Specialist, and the Mayor, in alignment with the City’s Procedure By-law, in order to safeguard the safety and well-being of Council members, staff, and residents.

August 20, 2024: Council Chambers play a central role in the democratic process for local municipalities, serving as a dedicated meeting space to conduct decision-making, welcome diverse community perspectives, experiences, and opinions, and foster meaningful engagement. That is why it is important to have clear rules governing the activities that take place within Chambers to ensure we can provide a respectful, safe, and welcoming environment for all participants.

August 16, 2024: Earlier this year, the City of Pickering announced the undertaking of a confidential Request for Proposal (RFP) to explore the potential sale of its municipally owned holdings in Elexicon Corporation. At this time, no sale has been made, the RFP process is still underway, and once complete, the City will provide an update on any next steps. The final decision to proceed with a sale will be made by the respective municipal councils.

May 1, 2024: Advancements in technology have tapped into every area of our lives, and with this, understandably, comes concerns about security and privacy. It is important that governments take a strategic approach to using technology to improve public service delivery, and this is exactly what the City of Pickering has done with its recently endorsed Digital Strategy.