First new recreation facility in Pickering in 20 years set for 2026 grand opening

All systems are go for the $65 million Pickering Heritage & Community Centre, set to open on the Pickering Museum Village grounds by 2026.

All the building permits are in place, site planning approval is in hand and archaeological work has now been completed on the long awaited and much-delayed project, which had its ceremonial ground-breaking in April.

Staff provided project update at the final meeting before the summer break last month, telling councillors the site has been cleared and preliminary earthworks have begun, with the first footings and foundations now under construction.

The Pickering Heritage and Community Centre has been an ongoing project from a design perspective since 2018 and the City had already spent almost $2 million before any shovel hit the ground. COVID delayed the facility and the subsequent supply chain issues that plagued projects all around the world then conspired to drive the price up.

Pickering Council finally accepted a construction tender for the project in February after saying no to three bids in 2023 as being too far over budget.

The project will be funded through a variety of means, including $2.4 million from the Library Reserve Fund, $8 million from the Parks and Recreation Reserve Fund and the federal grants. Some $8.3 million will be financed through debentures, which are expected to be repaid by future development charges with annual repayment charges estimated at $759,359 per year.

“This milestone marks Pickering’s first new community centre in decades, and our first zero-carbon facility. This project reaffirms our steadfast commitment to preserving local arts and natural heritage, while spearheading sustainable initiatives to build a strong, more resilient community for generations to come,” Mayor Kevin Ashe said at the groundbreaking, while also thanking the federal government for $16.5 million in grants from Infrastructure Canada ($12.5 million) and Heritage Canada ($4 million) to get the project up and running.

Despite the delays, the project remains on schedule and is anticipated to open for public use in April 2026. Pickering has spent nearly $3.9 million on the project this year, with the taxpayer portion set at just under $52 million.

Construction of the 44,000 square-foot facility has been contracted to J.R. Certus Construction Co. Ltd. The innovative design is a collaborative effort between Hariri Pontarini Architects, City staff and the community and will boast an array of unique amenities, including:

• Exhibit gallery
• Program room
• Multi-purpose hall (with a stage)
• Kitchen (suitable for public programs)
• Collections storage
• Gift shop and coffee bar
• Outdoor program spaces

Archaeological field work, which was monitored by the Huron-Wendat Nation and Haudenosaunee Development Institute (both of whom also participated in the previous stages in 2023), was completed at the end of the June.

The Puterbaugh Schoolhouse and the Harvey House have also been relocated to new locations on site.

The community centre will feature enhanced insulation, triple glazed windows, solar panels, air source heat pumps and other similar features that in combination will meet the net zero design targets for the project.

It will also be Pickering’s first new recreation facility built since the community centre named for former Mayor (and father of the city’s current mayor) George Ashe more than 20 years ago.

The next milestone report is due in December.