Council Meeting Highlights: September 29, 2025

Council approves 2026 Committee and Council Meeting Schedule

The 2026 Committee and Council Meeting Schedule is as follows:

• Section 05.02 of the Procedure By-law provides for all regular meetings of Council to be held on the fourth Monday of each month at 7:00 pm unless otherwise provided by resolution of Council. If a Council Meeting falls on a public or civic holiday, Council shall meet at the same hour on the next following day, which is not a public or civic holiday. 
  
  
• Section 05.03 states the Executive Committee shall meet on the first Monday of each month at 2:00 pm, and the Planning & Development Committee shall meet on the first Monday of each month at 7:00 pm, unless otherwise provided by resolution of Council. If an Executive Committee and Planning & Development Committee Meeting falls on a public or civic holiday, the Committee shall meet at the same hour on the next following day, which is not a public or civic holiday.
  
  
• Section 06.05 states Statutory Public Meetings under the Planning Act, shall be held on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 pm. If a statutory public meeting under the Planning Act falls on a public or civic holiday, the meeting shall be held at the same hour on the following day, which is not a public or civic holiday.

Education and Training Sessions, In-Camera Meetings, and other Special Council Meetings are not included in the Meeting Schedule. If required, these meetings can be called by the Mayor, or by petition of a majority of Members of Council in accordance with the provisions of the Procedure By-law.

Adopting and posting the City of Pickering’s annual Committee and Council Meeting Schedule ensures advance notice is provided to the public, fostering openness, transparency, and accountability. 

Read Report CLK 04-25.

Council endorses preferred design for Seaton Recreation Complex & Library

Council endorsed the preferred schematic design for the Seaton Recreation Complex & Library (SRCL), including design modifications to accommodate future amenities, and authorized staff to proceed to the design development phase of the project. 

These modifications include rough-in servicing for outdoor washrooms, a pavilion and event space, and a full-size, lit soccer pitch with irrigation system.

The facility is designed at an estimated gross floor area of 223,980 square feet, with a total project cost of $266,365,000 (Net HST).

Indoor amenities:

• 25 metre, eight lane rectangular pool, and separate warm water pool
• triple gymnasium supporting basketball, pickleball, volleyball, badminton, and other sports
• arena with two NHL-sized ice pads
• indoor/outdoor walking track
• multi-purpose program rooms and children’s program areas
• fitness centre with weight-training space and group fitness studios
• full service library
• administrative and office spaces
• supporting spaces such as program viewing, reception area, lobby, mechanical and storage

Outdoor amenities:

• four pickleball courts
• two tennis courts
• destination playground
• splash pad
• community-size skateboard park
• one basketball court
• community gardens
• approximately 500 public parking spaces, including accessible spaces

To fund this project, an estimated future increase to the City’s property tax levy of 11.71% is projected (6.21% for construction-related debt and 4.95% for operating costs of the facility). City staff will pursue grants and other funding opportunities and partnerships to support the next phases of the project.

With Council’s approval of Report CAO 14-25, staff will commence the detailed design phase of the project, in preparation to tender SRCL for construction.  Staff estimate seeking Council’s approval to award the construction of SRCL in Q2 2027. Subject to Council’s approval to construct, SRCL is estimated to be completed and open to the public in Q3 2030.

Staff were also directed to decommission and declare surplus Don Beer Arena once SRCL is operational. 

Read Report CAO 14-25.

Council endorses public art commission for Dorsay Community & Heritage Centre

Council endorsed the commission of public art at the main entrance of the Dorsay Community & Heritage Centre be awarded to Hooman Mehdizadehjafari. 

The artwork, titled ‘Heritage Tree’, was selected through a competitive open call process, where it received the highest juried score among submissions. It embodies the cultural, historical, and natural assets that are inherited from past generations. 

The total net cost of the project is $112,566.43, and will be funded by a transfer from the Public Art Reserve, as approved in the 2025 Current Budget.

The artwork will be fabricated from sandblasted stainless steel, with an expected lifespan of 30 years.

Located along Highway 7, the Dorsay Community & Heritage Centre is envisioned as a key cultural hub for Pickering, to serve as a cornerstone of civic identity and artistic expression.

Read Report CS 22-25.

Council executes licence agreement with Pickering Pickleball Club

The City of Pickering has entered a new Licence Agreement with the Pickering Pickleball Club, for the use of the six new pickleball courts located at Diana, Princess of Wales Park.

The courts will be open for use from May 1st to October 31st each year (weather permitting), with access to the courts being shared between the Pickering Pickleball Club and the general public.

The schedule, determined by the City, will be reviewed annually and posted by April 1st each year to pickering.ca/Pickleball

Council approves design and construction of new Skateboard Park

Council approved the Request for Proposal No. RFP2025-13 for the design and construction of a new community-sized skateboard park, as submitted by Radius Skateparks Inc., in the amount of $943,550.00 (HST included).

The new skatepark will be built within the hydro corridor, north of Diana, Princess of Wales Park. As part of this project, the existing skateboard park in Diana, Princess of Wales Park will be demolished and the site restored.

The City will enter into an amended licence agreement with Hydro One Networks Inc. to include the hydro corridor lands north of Kingston Road that will be necessary for the new skateboard park, parking, and amenities.

The total project cost of $1,064,460.00 includes the proposal amount, a contingency and other associated costs, and will be funded through the Capital Budget and transfers from both the Development Charges City Share Reserve and the Development Charges Parks & Recreation Reserve Fund.

Read Report ENG 18-25.

City to update Frenchman’s Bay Watersheds Stormwater Management Master Plan

Council has awarded Request for Proposal No. RFP2025-11 to Aquafor Beech Limited to undertake the comprehensive update of the Frenchman’s Bay Watersheds Stormwater Master Plan (FBWSWM). 

Originally completed in 2009, the FBWSWM addressed issues related to erosion and water quality within the watershed. However, a thorough update is now essential to evaluate and revise the Plan, in response to anticipated future growth and climate change challenges.  The updated Plan aims to enhance environmental protection, infrastructure resiliency, and community safety.

The total project cost is $555,401.00 (net HST). $499,861.00 will be funded by a transfer from the Development Charges – Stormwater Management Reserve Fund (as approved in the 2025 Current Budget) and the sum of $55,540.00 will be funded from property taxes.

Read Report ENG 17-25.

Council approves concession operations at two City facilities 

Council approved Request for Quotation No. Q2025-234 for the operation of the Don Beer Arena Concession in the amount of $91,570.68 (HST included), and Request for Quotation No. Q2025-24 for the operation of the Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex Arena Concession in the amount of $58,452.64 (HST included), both submitted by Cashew & Clive Catering Inc.

The Don Beer Arena Concession will be located on the main floor of the Don Beer Arena. At the Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex, the concession will be located on the main floor, with a secondary concession space on the second floor inside the Delaney Rink.

The concessions will offer a variety of food and beverage options, including sandwiches, wraps, salads, fruit, French fries, hot dogs, muffins, coffee and tea, and soft drinks. Cashew & Clive Catering Inc. also has a partnership with Pizza Pizza to sell slices on site.

To facilitate this, the City will enter two Licence Agreements with Cashew & Clive Catering Inc., to permit their operation in both facilities.

Read Report CS 26-25.

Council approves Playground Reconstruction and Equipment Replacement

Council approved Tender No. T2025-12 for the Playground Reconstruction and Equipment Replacement 2025 as submitted by Gray’s Landscaping & Snow Removal Inc. in the amount of $1,372,982.86 (net HST) or $1,524,637.02 (HST included). 

A total of seven playgrounds are included in this project and are located in Lynn Heights Park, Bonita Park, Bayshore Tot Lot, Chickadee Park, Whitevale Park, Claremont Memorial Park and Diana, Princess of Wales Park. The playground area in Claremont Memorial Park will be relocated adjacent to the tennis courts, over the south half of the existing rink facility as per the approved Claremont Memorial Park Master Plan. 

Three of the playground replacements (Lynn Heights Park, Bonita Park and Bayshore Tot Lot) will receive this funding from the Province of Ontario through the CSRIF, in the total amount of $95,689.00.

Read Report ENG 19-25.