| Pickering | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Nautical Village on Lake Ontario | |
| Nickname(s): P-Town, P'ring | |
| Map showing Pickering's location in Durham Region | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| Region | Durham Region |
| Established | 1811 (township) 1974 (town) 2000 (city) |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | David Ryan |
| • Governing body | Pickering City Council |
| • MPs | Corneliu Chisu (Pickering—Scarborough East) Chris Alexander (Ajax—Pickering) |
| • MPP | Wayne Arthurs (Pickering—Scarborough East) Joe Dickson (Ajax—Pickering) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 231.58 km2 (89.4 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 83.8 m (275 ft) |
| Population (2009)[1] | |
| • Total | 100,273 |
| • Density | 379.3/km2 (982.4/sq mi) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC−5) |
| • Summer (DST) | Eastern (EDT) (UTC−4) |
| Area code(s) | 289 / 905 |
| Website | cityofpickering.com |
Pickering is a city located in Southern Ontario, Canada immediately east of Toronto in Durham Region. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area, the largest metropolitan area in Canada.
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This was Native Canadian territory for thousands of years. The first recorded history of this area was in 1669, when the French Jesuit missionary M. Fenelon noted reaching the Seneca village of Gandatsetiagon, on the shores of Frenchman's Bay. He wintered here, and started missionary work.[2]
Surveying of the township was probably completed by 1776.[3] An 1813 census gives a population of 180 -- 40 more than neighbouring Scarborough. A large influx of Quaker settlers from the eastern United States came in the early 1810s.[4] The main thrufare at this time was the Kingston Road, which cut through the south of the township on its way from York (now Toronto) to Kingston.
Pickering was involved in the Mackenzie Rebellion of 1837. One of the leaders, Peter Matthews had formerly been one of the most prominent members of the community.[5]
In 1941, the southeastern portion of the township became the independent town of Ajax. This has caused confusion, as one of the population centres of the original township, Pickering Village, is now found in Ajax, along with its eponymous secondary school.
| Census | Population |
|---|---|
| 1981 | 37,754 |
| 1991 | 68,831 |
| 1996 | 78,989 |
| 2001 | 87,139 |
| 2006 | 87,838 |
| Est. 2009 | 100,273 |
| 2011 | 94,200 |
Pickering has experienced rapid growth in the post-war period. Between 1996 and 2009, the municipality experienced a growth rate of 12 percent (78,989 people to 100,273). Population growth has slowed considerably in recent years, growing only slightly between the 2001 and 2006 census. This is due mainly to development restrictions on land in the northern portion of the city. Negotiations are ongoing to permit development in this area. Consequently, the city has estimated that by 2023, Pickering will be home to nearly 170,000 residents.[6] The province of Ontario has also designated Pickering as one of two municipalities in Durham Region as an urban growth centre.
A significant portion of Pickering residents are classified as visible minorities. According to the 2006 census, 15% of the city's population is Black, 9% South Asian, 3% Filipino and 2% East Asian. 60% of the population identifies as White.[1]
The southern part of the city is mainly suburban, with industrial areas mainly restricted to the area around Pickering Nuclear Generating Station. Most of the suburban areas were built as subdivisions after World War II, starting in the area around Frenchman's Bay. Prior to the war, the few suburban areas in the township were the communities of Dunbarton, Fairport Beach, Liverpool Market, and Rouge Hill. Squires Beach, located by the lakeshore in the southeast part of the city, is now a ghost town.
The northern part of the municipality is mainly rural, primarily used for agricultural purposes. However, a number of communities exist in this area, and the locally controversial Seaton area also falls within this part of the city. The primary rural communities in Pickering are Claremont, Brougham, and Whitevale; however, a number of smaller communities exist throughout northern Pickering. The abandoned ghost town of Altona is located there.
Pickering is home to the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, an eight-reactor facility with a capacity of 4,120 megawatts. The first station, Pickering A, opened with four reactors in 1971. Ontario Power Generation, the plants' operator, is the largest single employer in the city. In 2001, the wind-powered OPG 7 Commemorative Turbine was opened on the generating station site.
A number of manufacturers are also located in the city. Major employers include Yorkville Sound (audio equipment), the Canadian headquarters of Purdue Pharma (pharmaceuticals and health & beauty products), Hubbell Canada (electrical equipment), PSB Speakers - Lenbrook (stereo equipment) and Eco-Tec Inc. (industrial water purification and chemical recovery systems).
Pickering is also the home of the head office of the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation. MPAC is responsible for value assessment for property tax purposes for all municipalities in Ontario.
Pickering is a founding member of the Durham Strategic Energy Alliance or DSEA. The nucleus of the DSEA is primarily Pickering businesses such as Ontario Power Generation, Veridian, Wardrop Engineering, AECL, Intellimeter, Areva and Eco-Tec Inc.
In 2006, Profit magazine recognized Pickering as one of the top 10 cities in Canada to grow a business.
This picturesque popular summer tourist destination by the lake and Frenchman's Bay features free musical entertainment at Millennium Square, a playground and waterfeature for children, a great boardwalk along the waterfront as well as cafes, restaurants, shops and an art gallery. It is part of the Waterfront Trail in Pickering. Shoppes to explore in our Nautical Village by the Bay: Carberry Soap Co., Loran's Gifts, My Spa, SilverStone Gallery (featuring original works by Durham artists) Restaurants and Cafes: Cafe Crème Brûlée, Hy-Tea Teahouse, PORT on Frenchman's Bay
Pickering is home to several popular and unique restaurants that keep its residents and newcomers consistently returning as regular customers. Some of these enticing and relaxing restaurants include Lonestar, with its lively patio, Massey's, Wild Wing-with 101 wing flavours and Big M, a burger joint that consistently is voted as having the top hamburgers in all of Pickering. In addition, bars and restaurants such as The Harp, Fox and Fiddle Mansion, Shagwells, and The Bear and Firkin not only offer excellent bar grub such as wings and beer, but often provide nightly entertaining environments for residents to go out, enjoy live music and great food.
The city council consists of a mayor, three regional councillors and three city councillors. The mayor and regional councillors sit on the council and also represent the city at Durham Regional Council. The city councillors sit on city council only. Pickering is divided into three wards, with one city councillor and one regional councillor representing each ward.
The current mayor is Dave Ryan.
Police services in Pickering are provided by the Durham Regional Police from a division office located in the eastern section of the city. Officers from this location also patrol Ajax. Pickering Fire Services operates from four stations with a force of all full-time firefighters. Claremont Fire Hall is now fully staffed by full time firefighters 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Ambulance/emergency medical services are provided by Durham Region.
Pickering is served by the Durham District School Board and the Durham Catholic District School Board. As of early 2007, the public board operates 17 elementary schools and two secondary schools, Dunbarton High School and Pine Ridge Secondary School (Pickering High School was previously located in Pickering, but was transferred to Ajax when the city boundaries were changed). The Catholic board runs eight elementary schools and one secondary school, Saint Mary Catholic Secondary School. Blaisdale Montessori School, a private school chain, has several locations throughout Pickering serving children from preschool age to grade 8. There is also a private elementary and junior high school there called Montessori Learning Centre. Also serving the Durham Region is Durham Secondary Academy & Middle School, an inspected private high school and middle school for grades 5 to 12.
| Whitchurch-Stouffville | Uxbridge | Scugog | ||
| Markham | Whitby | |||
| Pickering | ||||
| Toronto | Lake Ontario | Ajax |
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