Contacts
Pickering is a long standing 'film friendly' city, ready and willing to become the perfect backdrop for your production.
Why Pickering?
We are in the 'zone'! Our diverse locations truly offer a flavour for almost every taste. With our emerging, modern downtown and intimate waterfront gem, Pickering is the perfect marriage of metropolitan city life with cottage country landscape and vibe.
Permit Process and Fees
Permit fees are a flat rate of $250 plus HST. Submit the completed Film Location Permit Form to our Economic Development Office by fax at 905.420.6064 or by email.
The Pickering Fire Service shall be present for all special effects that are fire or incendiary-based. In the event Pickering Fire Service personnel are not available, no other private fire service or personnel will be allowed as a substitute.
Hot Locations
Pickering is unique. In addition to having a waterfront backyard, we offer a landscape of rolling farmlands, country roads, and miles of pristine hiking trails. Our varied woodlands, meadows, creeks and streams provide for a colourful collection of picturesque backdrops all in one city.
Pickering Museum Village
Take a walk through time. The Pickering Museum Village brings the pioneer experience to life. It is the largest living history museum in Durham, and a cherished historical secret that we've shared with residents, visitors and the film making community for many years.
The village, nestled on the banks of Duffins Creek in the quaint hamlet of Greenwood, provides a truly distinct setting. Scenic paths wind through the village's 19 heritage buildings dating from as early as 1810, including a blacksmith's shop, log barn and house, school house, temperance house, steam barn and chapel. White picket fences and period gardens lace the dusty street corners where the orchards and apple trees grow wild. The beautiful streetscape of perfectly preserved and restored historical buildings with broad verandas and rustic porches are accompanied by a lush green countryside dotted with wildflowers.
This enchanting place offers infinite possibilities for your film vision.
Filming fees: $200 per hour for production hours (HST included). An on-site museum staff person is included in this fee.
Map & Description of Village Buildings
Hamlets
Pickering is dotted with vintage hamlets and surrounded by natural beauty. We've retained all the charm and character of a small town, while making huge strides in maturing as a city. The special character of the Hamlet of Whitevale has been maintained and enhanced since its settlement in the early 1800's. The hamlet, located along the banks of Duffin's Creek, provides a distinctive setting with much of the original Victorian influenced architecture still in place.
Read the Whitevale Filming Guidelines
Nautical Village
The busy city pace slows down as you enter our beautiful Nautical Village. A perfect pathway dotted with shops and cafes that seamlessly merge with Lake Ontario. Here, you'll also find the sparkling waters of Frenchman's Bay, the largest natural bay on Lake Ontario.
An Accessible Community
Pickering is an easy and convenient film location. It is the first municipality east of Toronto with access to both Hwy. 401, and Hwy. 407 ETR, and 30-minute access to 4 different airports - Pearson, Billy Bishop, Buttonville and Oshawa.
We are here to help!
The City has long been a favourite location for filmmakers. We aim to make your experience as seamless as possible through a number of services including:
- location scouting assistance
- providing information about neighbourhoods, organizations, and properties
- providing contacts for other governments and agencies
- coordinating necessary approvals within City Departments
- notifying the community on filming activity
Testimonials
Don't just take our word for it...
I know that I can call Economic Development staff any time and get all the help and cooperation anyone could ask for. My phone calls are always answered promptly and answers are sought out if not readily available. We in the film business have some spectacular requests at times and the City of Pickering is always there to help.I have been working with the City for many years, going back to my first job as a Location Manager on Road to Avonlea in 1990.
- Arthur Clarke, Location Manager
Sunshine Sketches of A Little Town
When scouting for film or TV in the GTA, one always has to consider the 'zone'. Pickering offers country looks, farms and farmland, quaint village looks, suburban and upscale homes and a spectacular waterfront. Finding all this in one area keeps us on budget and the City's efficient permit process keeps us on time. Pickering is always one of the first places I look when I need a diverse cross-section of "looks".
- Ingrid Fielden, Location Scout/ Manager
SPY FILMS
I have been privileged to live in a wonderful Pickering century farm house for the past 42 years, during which, my family and I have hosted many film shoots. It has been a great experience on many levels.
Firstly to bring awareness to a genre in Canadian history such as my house represents is an honour. This home is built with olden day care. It is solid and stately and has a barn that ignites the imagination. Helping foster the imagination of the viewing audiences is wonderful feeling.
We live in such a beautiful area, rich with wildflowers, growing crops and wildlife. To share this beauty is a great bonus of hosting the creative talents of film crew.
Almost every crew that has been here has left something to enrich this place...a new screen door, a great paint job, a back porch that they needed for a shot, a film platform in the barn that we use for other gatherings, etc. The film industry appreciates the hospitality of the hosting family and is always so careful at restoring the location in a meticulous manner.
I would highly recommend that we do everything we can to encourage the film industry to our area. The revenue to the area is always appreciated and people love to be a part of the excitement generated by the creative talent involved.
- Janet Robertson
Pickering resident
OMDC Property Registration
The Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC) has an online property registration kit where homeowners, businesses and property owners in Pickering can register their locations for filming.
Productions filmed in Pickering
- Commercials: Skittles, Fallsview Casino, Telus
- TV episodes: Suits, Rookie Blue, Hannibal Season 1, Flashpoint, Lost Girl
- Features Films: Wolves, An Officer & A Murderer, Dangerous Persuasion