Hey Pickering, it’s Mayor Kevin Ash. I’m here for my monthly recap of councils going on of our meeting of May 25th. I want to give a shout out to the volunteers that really impact our city. We had five reports last night for our 2025 year end as well as our work plans for 6 for our Heritage Pickering, our waterfront visioning exercise, our accessibility advisory committee, our community safety and well-being committee, and finally our anti-black racism task force. Very important information that comes from the grassroots of our volunteers in our city. It makes our city stronger and more vitality to it, and I want to give a thanks to the volunteers that sit on those committees.
Conservation Preservation Environmentalism
Last night in our meeting we asked for the Toronto Region Conservation Authority to transfer a large parcel of land called the Osler Track to the urban park that’s in the Uxbridge Provincial Park. Again, I think it’s a great step forward in terms of conservation.
We also had a report from our CAO, our city manager, on equity, diversity and inclusion. Our city is very diverse. I think that diversity makes us stronger. Something we embrace and having an update on some of those initiatives is important and well received by council last night.
Nitty Gritty Parts Of Government
New buildings, new infrastructure. We’re building a brand new animal shelter and bylaw office right beside our new fire hall headquarters on Brock Road, a place for our furry friends to feel safe. And again a big shout out to a number of the community members that are fundraising for that new animal shelter.
Durham Meadowy is going to be along the Hydra Corridor a group of trails connected all the way from Scarborough through to Oshawa Really exciting program.
We also approved the design for our brand new city center, Urban Park, right across from City Hall. Think Nathan Philips Square, but better. In the summertime, a misting station, a place to gather. In the wintertime, a skating trail rather than a skating rink. We put out our concepts to our public. We heard back. We made some changes. We think we’ve made it bigger and better. And I look forward to welcoming people in two short years to put on their skates and enjoy maybe some hot chocolate at the shops at City Centre and our new urban park.
And last and certainly not least Pickering has endorsed a land use study for the former airport lands the federal lands We are calling on the federal government to transfer 7 acres to the Rouge Park National Park Almost 80 of the lands that are available transfer to the park. The remaining 20%, we want some economic activity to lessen the burden of the taxpayer on the residential. But 7,400 acres is a significant milestone and will have a lasting legacy in regards to conservation, agriculture, as well as the environment.
So that’s it for this month, sorry. If you have any questions, mayor@pickering.ca. Issues or concerns with the city, customer care at pickering.ca. And I look forward to seeing you at one of my favorite events in the coming weeks, Father’s Day weekend, right here at Esplanade Park, Rotary Pickering Rib Fest. Yum, yum.
Thanks and have a great day.
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