Pickering Heritage & Community Centre

Share Pickering Heritage & Community Centre on Facebook Share Pickering Heritage & Community Centre on Twitter Share Pickering Heritage & Community Centre on Linkedin Email Pickering Heritage & Community Centre link

The City of Pickering is making an investment in arts, heritage, and culture with the Pickering Heritage & Community Centre. This innovative project will bring the Museum, Library, and Community Centre into one dynamic facility.

Construction of this 44,000 square-foot facility has commenced, and is being undertaken by J.R. Certus Construction Co. Ltd.


What amenities will the new facility have?

  • Exhibit gallery
  • Program room
  • Multi-purpose hall (with a stage)
  • Kitchen suitable for public programs
  • Storage for the museum artifact collection (over 11,000 artifacts), City's archives, and the Public Library's local history collection
  • Gift shop
  • Outdoor program spaces (with an art garden and patio)




Library Spaces

The Pickering Public Library is designing two valuable spaces within this new facility: the Local History Experience Centre and the Library Express Kiosk.

The Experience Centre will be a destination for a wide variety of visitors, offering access to collections and innovative programming. Educators, students, researchers, and family historians will be able to comb through a wealth of documents and photographs that illuminate the rich tapestry of Pickering's history.

And for residents of Central Pickering, essential Library services will be available through the Library Express Kiosk. This innovative service prototype will offer the best of the Library's collections, comfortable spaces, holds pick up, and access to essential technology.


Where will the facility be located?
The facility will be located on the Pickering Museum Village site. #1 on the map marks where the Pickering Heritage & Community Centre will be located.

During construction, the Pickering Museum Village, located on the lower site of the property, will remain open. Vehicular traffic can enter the site via Gate #3 from Greenwood Road.



Invest in Culture

  • Work towards reconciling our histories through interpretation, participation, and displays in partnership with Indigenous communities.
  • Conserve and promote Ontario’s diverse heritage with dedicated climate-controlled collections storage and exhibit display spaces for Pickering Museum Village.
  • Offer year-round access to arts, heritage, and culture, expanding the scope of culture-based programs and services available in the community.
  • Connect people and communities by sharing and celebrating diverse pasts and bright futures through public programming and events.

Invest in Infrastructure

The City is committed to maintaining safe and accessible infrastructure for all community members, and as such, replacing the aging Greenwood Community Centre, which dates back to 1970, has been identified as a priority for the City.

Located immediately to the east of the Museum's lower site, at 3551 Greenwood Road, the Greenwood Community Centre is a roughly 8,400 square-foot, two-storey structure built of concrete block and steel framing. It was constructed in 1970 and has no wall insulation. Lack of insulation, aging windows, and the poor condition of the building envelope also makes it expensive to heat and cool.

By replacing with the Pickering Heritage & Community Centre, the City will be able to provide a modern an accessible space for community groups to gather and host a variety of programs, services, and events.

Serve the Community

  • Transform the Museum into a year-round operation, significantly increasing access to programs, services, and spaces.
  • Improve access to Local History collections and other community collections by centralizing in one location.
  • Improve public access to Library services, technology, collections, programs, and spaces.
  • Be more accessible. The new facility is expected to welcome up to 300 users at one time.



This project is guided by the City’s Cultural Strategic Plan(External link), which sets a vision for the place of arts, culture, and heritage in the City and identifies strategic directions for policy, investment, partnerships, and programs.

The Pickering Heritage & Community Centre has a strong vision and seven guiding principles in place (Belonging & Wellbeing, Learning & Storytelling, Innovation, Adaption & Responsiveness, Discovery & Play, Sustainability, and Decolonization). View the entire PHCC Vision & Guiding Principles document here.



Engagement Opportunities

Stay tuned to this project page for upcoming community engagement opportunities!

The City of Pickering is making an investment in arts, heritage, and culture with the Pickering Heritage & Community Centre. This innovative project will bring the Museum, Library, and Community Centre into one dynamic facility.

Construction of this 44,000 square-foot facility has commenced, and is being undertaken by J.R. Certus Construction Co. Ltd.


What amenities will the new facility have?

  • Exhibit gallery
  • Program room
  • Multi-purpose hall (with a stage)
  • Kitchen suitable for public programs
  • Storage for the museum artifact collection (over 11,000 artifacts), City's archives, and the Public Library's local history collection
  • Gift shop
  • Outdoor program spaces (with an art garden and patio)




Library Spaces

The Pickering Public Library is designing two valuable spaces within this new facility: the Local History Experience Centre and the Library Express Kiosk.

The Experience Centre will be a destination for a wide variety of visitors, offering access to collections and innovative programming. Educators, students, researchers, and family historians will be able to comb through a wealth of documents and photographs that illuminate the rich tapestry of Pickering's history.

And for residents of Central Pickering, essential Library services will be available through the Library Express Kiosk. This innovative service prototype will offer the best of the Library's collections, comfortable spaces, holds pick up, and access to essential technology.


Where will the facility be located?
The facility will be located on the Pickering Museum Village site. #1 on the map marks where the Pickering Heritage & Community Centre will be located.

During construction, the Pickering Museum Village, located on the lower site of the property, will remain open. Vehicular traffic can enter the site via Gate #3 from Greenwood Road.



Invest in Culture

  • Work towards reconciling our histories through interpretation, participation, and displays in partnership with Indigenous communities.
  • Conserve and promote Ontario’s diverse heritage with dedicated climate-controlled collections storage and exhibit display spaces for Pickering Museum Village.
  • Offer year-round access to arts, heritage, and culture, expanding the scope of culture-based programs and services available in the community.
  • Connect people and communities by sharing and celebrating diverse pasts and bright futures through public programming and events.

Invest in Infrastructure

The City is committed to maintaining safe and accessible infrastructure for all community members, and as such, replacing the aging Greenwood Community Centre, which dates back to 1970, has been identified as a priority for the City.

Located immediately to the east of the Museum's lower site, at 3551 Greenwood Road, the Greenwood Community Centre is a roughly 8,400 square-foot, two-storey structure built of concrete block and steel framing. It was constructed in 1970 and has no wall insulation. Lack of insulation, aging windows, and the poor condition of the building envelope also makes it expensive to heat and cool.

By replacing with the Pickering Heritage & Community Centre, the City will be able to provide a modern an accessible space for community groups to gather and host a variety of programs, services, and events.

Serve the Community

  • Transform the Museum into a year-round operation, significantly increasing access to programs, services, and spaces.
  • Improve access to Local History collections and other community collections by centralizing in one location.
  • Improve public access to Library services, technology, collections, programs, and spaces.
  • Be more accessible. The new facility is expected to welcome up to 300 users at one time.



This project is guided by the City’s Cultural Strategic Plan(External link), which sets a vision for the place of arts, culture, and heritage in the City and identifies strategic directions for policy, investment, partnerships, and programs.

The Pickering Heritage & Community Centre has a strong vision and seven guiding principles in place (Belonging & Wellbeing, Learning & Storytelling, Innovation, Adaption & Responsiveness, Discovery & Play, Sustainability, and Decolonization). View the entire PHCC Vision & Guiding Principles document here.



Engagement Opportunities

Stay tuned to this project page for upcoming community engagement opportunities!

  • Project Updates

    Share Project Updates on Facebook Share Project Updates on Twitter Share Project Updates on Linkedin Email Project Updates link
    16 Jul 2024

    Are you keeping up with the latest on the Pickering Heritage & Community Centre? Construction is well underway for this 44,000 square-foot, zero-carbon facility, which is slated to open in Spring 2026.

    November

    • Facility construction on schedule.

      The floor deck install on the ground floor is nearing completion. Concrete pouring of slab-on-grade is taking place over the next month. Metal stud framing of the walls has started, with sprinkler rough-ins taking place. The roof deck installation is expected to start in early November.



    • Community consultation on the programming of facility to begin this month.

      There are three Open Houses planned:

    • Wednesday, November 13 at Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex
    • Wednesday, November 20 at Greenwood Community Centre
    • Thursday, November 21 at Dr. Nelson F. Tomlinson Community Centre

      A survey will be live at LetsTalkPickering.ca/PHCC on November 8.

      Consultation will seek input from Pickering residents regarding program options, program times, and desired use of the facility.

    • New renderings showcase the facility spaces.

      1. The rendering below showcases the teaching and catering kitchen. Culinary programs will be offered in this space. The kitchen will also support programs and events that take place in the multi-purpose space.


      2. The rendering below showcases the program room. This space will be used for a variety of programs, from kids camps to music and language instruction; this program space will be suitable for many uses for all ages.


      3. This rendering showcases a concept of an art exhibit in the exhibit gallery. The exhibit gallery will feature rotating exhibits, including community-based exhibits.


      Regular project updates can also be viewed at pickering.ca/PHCC(External link).

    July/August

    • The foundation of the facility continues to be constructed.

      Over the summer, delivery and the first installation of the structural steel began. Progress was made on the foundation walls, and everything remains on schedule.



    • The heritage building (Harvey House) was moved over the summer and now rests in its permanent location.

      The Harvey House has been placed over a new, full basement, which will ensure the long term preservation of this building. The building is planned to undergo a full rehabilitation after the opening of the Pickering Heritage & Community Centre, and will be used for public programs and available for rentals.

      This building is an Aladdin House Co. Ltd. mail-order bungalow with craftsman-style features.

      This building was originally constructed in 1927, as the retirement residence for Albert (Bert) Harvey and his wife Susanna. The building originally sat south of the Bentley House in Brougham (south-west quadrant of the Brock Road/Highway 7 intersection) before being relocated to the Museum in 2012.


      Bert Harvey (1869 - 1945), born in England, was a vaudeville entertainer, who immigrated Toronto when quite young. In 1893, Bert married Susanna Matilda Almond (1874 - 1956). Research indicates that Bert travelled across Canada, the United States, and to England to perform. Susanna is said to have accompanied him on stage as his pianist.

      They had three sons: Robert (1894 - 1974), Charles (1896 - 1918), and Albert (1907 - 1966). His sons Bob and Al became singers and comedians.

      Bert and Susanna Harvey moved to Greenwood, Pickering Township, in 1919, having visited friends in the hamlet in 1918. They rented the original Green House on Greenwood Road (south of the museum property). In November of 1919, Bert purchased the local general store in Greenwood from M. Gleeson, proprietor, and operated it under the name Harvey and Son until 1928.

    June 2024

    • The concrete placement for all foundation walls continues, and is expected to be complete by the end of July.

    • The Pickering Museum Village continues to run programs on the lower site of the Village, with access from Gate 3.

    • Staff continue to meet regularly with the TRCA to discuss archaeological work.

    • Log cabin was moved.


    May 2024

    Heritage Schoolhouse was moved to a new, permanent foundation.

    This building has been the space for many of the Museum's educational programs - in its new location, it will receive upgraded heating, air conditioning, and ventilation to allow for year-round use.


    April 2024

    • site excavation took place
    • trenches for footings were ug
    • footings were poured


    March 2024

    J.R. Certus Construction Co. Ltd began site preparation. This included:

    • installing a perimeter fence
    • installing construction signage
    • clearing and grading the sit


Page last updated: 09 Dec 2024, 06:33 AM