Frenchman’s Bay: Summary of City of Pickering Statement
Source: City of Pickering news release, October 16, 2026
The City of Pickering says it has reached an important milestone toward bringing Frenchman’s Bay into public ownership and securing its long-term protection. The key parties needed to set up a funding agreement and management model are now in place. Final agreements are still being worked out, and the City describes the property transaction as historic and in its final stages.
Key Points
- Who is involved: the City of Pickering, the Government of Canada (Environment, Climate Change and Nature; Parks Canada), the Government of Ontario (Ministry of Energy and Mines), the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.
- Mayor Kevin Ashe: calls the Bay “the shimmering jewel of Pickering” and says work remains, including ongoing discussions with Indigenous community partners.
- Why ownership is unusual: large portions of the Bay have been privately owned by the Pickering Harbour Company since 1853 under a pre-Confederation Crown charter, while most water bodies are Crown-owned.
- Goal: protect, restore and enhance the Bay’s ecological functions. It is one of the most significant coastal wetlands on the north shore of Lake Ontario.
- Next: the City will share more details as the process advances. No price, timeline or closing date was given.
