The City of Pickering

Want to hear a secret about Pickering? It's got its own micro-climate. So

says resident Martin Avery. "We had snow about four times this

past winter," he says. "We're usually a couple of degrees warmer than

Toronto." Avery is a high school teacher, columnist, and writer-in-residence at the

Pickering Public Library.

Avery feels the location of Pickering is one of its

best features. "I love being half an hour by GO train

from downtown Toronto," he says. "Half an hour

north, it feels as though you're a hundred miles

from the city."

Pickering offers residents a wide range of

housing options. Catherine Hodge, business associate

with Pickering's Economic Development

Department, says it has "everything from rental

apartments and condominiums to small townhouses,

downtown row houses, detached houses, and

million-dollar executive homes."

It's easy to keep busy in Pickering. Its website lists

an impressive offering of events throughout the year,

such as Artfest, free waterfront concerts, Winterfest,

and June's Dragon Boat Challenge.

Frenchman's Bay is one of several waterfront

attractions in the city. Residents and visitors enjoy

the 12.7 kilometres of waterfront trail along the

shoreline where they can walk, run, in-line skate, or

ride their bicycles.

Avery says "Pickering Beach, by the biggest wind

generator in North America, and the wetlands

area beside it are treasures, too, and it seems very few

people know about them."

The Seaton Hiking Trail is a more rugged venue for

the outdoors enthusiast. Three separate trails span

10 kilometres of scenic land through the West

Duffin Valley. Petticoat Creek and Greenwood

Conservation Area offer further opportunities to

commune with nature.

Pickering Museum Village, located in the north

Pickering hamlet of Greenwood, is a fascinating

attraction for those wanting to learn a little history.

Guides dressed in period costumes bring you back to

the Pickering Township of the 1800s as they lead you

through buildings such as the blacksmith's shop,

woodworking shop, and general store.

Pickering is home to approximately 95,000 people,

but Hodge says this number is poised to change over

the next three to five years when development

will likely begin on the Seaton Lands, situated in central

Pickering. She says this area will become home to

50,000 to 60,000 residents. "In 10 to 15 years," she

predicts, "Pickering will have doubled in size."

In balance with this planned growth is Sustainable

Pickering, the city's plan for "innovative projects

covering topics such as greenhouse gas emissions,

sustainable communities, and monitoring/measuring

our progress in sustainability."

The largest group of immigrants within Durham

Region is in Pickering. Hodge says "this is probably

because of our proximity to Toronto."

Avery also makes this observation: The multicultural

makeup of this city is great, too. I usually hear at least

four different languages on the way into the apartment

building where I live."

He's also in a good position to judge the quality of

schools in Pickering. As a high school teacher, he says

"the high schools here are first class. I've taught in lots

of schools around here and up North...and I'm pretty

picky when it comes to high schools."

Avery says the shopping is excellent, as well. "The

Pickering Town Centre has everything I've ever

wanted to buy," he says. "There are fabulous grocery

stores here and they're open late."

Hodge says there are two additional shopping

areas in Pickering. Besides the Pickering Town

Centre, with over 200 stores, there are First Pro and

Pickering Annex.

Avery also enjoys the Pickering Recreation Centre.

It is an "unbelievable bargain with a huge swimming

pool, which I make good use of," he says.

"My friends get tired of me talking about ?perfect

Pickering'," says Avery. "That's the nickname they've

given it because I've raved about it so much."

Community Resources

City of Pickering website

www.cityofpickering.com

City of Pickering

905-420-2222 or

1-866-683-2760

Pickering Central Library

905-831-2789

Pickering Recreation Complex

905-831-8604

Pickering Museum Village

905-683-8401

Durham Catholic District School Board

905-576-6150

Durham District School Board

905-666-5500

Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade

905-686-0883