Former mayors to be honoured by Pickering with names on gymnasiums, art galleries

Honouring Wayne Arthurs with his name on a gymnasium in the future Seaton Recreation Complex seems quite appropriate for the happily retired and still fit-as-a-fiddle long-time mayor, who recently enjoyed his 76th birthday.

The demands of public life have long since melted away, to be replaced by golden sands under his feet, ocean breezes on his shoulder and the aromas of s’mores by the campfire as he and his wife of 55 years, Susan, spend their winters enjoying their golden years cruising the seven seas or exploring the warmer climes south of the border and their summers at the family cottage.

It’s been 14 years since Arthurs stepped away from the hustle and bustle of political life, and the City of Pickering plans to honour his legacy with his name on the gymnasium on the new recreation centre in north Pickering.

Wayne and Susan Arthurs

Arthurs, who was a phys-ed teacher and guidance counsellor before entering politics in 1982, was a ward councillor until winning the race for mayor six years later, defeating former mayor and Conservative MPP George Ashe (father of current Pickering Mayor Kevin Ashe) in 1988.

He served 15 years in the post before running for a seat at Queen’s Park and was elected as the Liberal representative for Pickering-Ajax in 2003. He was re-elected (now Pickering-Scarborough-East) in 2007 before announcing his retirement four years later.

His predecessor in the mayor’s chair, John (Jack) Anderson, will also be honoured in the coming years, with Council looking at naming of the Exhibit Gallery in the under-construction Pickering Heritage & Community Centre as the John E. Anderson Exhibit Gallery.

Anderson, who died three years ago at the age of 91, won the race for mayor in 1977 and led the town during explosive suburban growth and was “instrumental” in laying the foundation for the Town Centre as a commercial, institutional, recreational, and residential precinct.

“He saw the Pickering Recreation Complex from concept to completion and the Civic Complex was under construction at the time of his retirement,” the motion to honour him read. Known as a family man with a “great sense of humour” who was also a hard worker, his influence and leadership saw Pickering “evolve and grow as a suburban, residential community.”

Final approvals for both proposals are expected in the second quarter of 2025.

John (Jack) Anderson