Corporate Strategic Plan

The City has developed its first Corporate Strategic Plan, which identifies a vision, goals, and key actions to be achieved over this term of Council and beyond.

The Plan was endorsed by Council at the December 11, 2023 Council Meeting. Read Report to Council.

While this plan originated from extensive discussion and collaboration between Mayor Ashe and Members of Council, community engagement lies at the heart of it, and has helped shape the fundamental principles that underpin the strategy.

What We Heard

From mid-June to September 30, 2023, the City hosted a community survey and various engagement opportunities, where members of the public were able to learn more about the process and provide their input. Please view 'Letter of Thanks' from Project Manager and City Solicitor/Director of Corporate Services, Paul Bigioni.

View our 'What We Heard' Report.

The Vision reflects a commitment to innovation and leadership.

Pickering: A complete, world class city…inclusive, connected, caring, and prosperous.

To provide meaningful municipal services to Pickering’s growing and diverse community, efficiently, effectively and responsibly.

The City’s Strategic Plan is built on a solid foundation of customer service excellence. Without good governance, it would be impossible for the City to deliver on the six strategic priorities* identified in this Plan. Good governance (fiscal prudence, open and transparent decision making, customer-focused programs, services and infrastructure that are accessible and inclusive of all) is key to building a complete, world class City.

Key Achievements Spotlight

Strategic Focus - Be financially sustainable

The 2024 Budget reflects a significant investment of funds that enable the delivery of critical services, programs and infrastructure to serve our dynamic and growing community. Adopted on March 1, 2024, the budget represents a residential levy impact of 3.99% on the City’s share of the total tax bill. The City has also prepared a 9 year Capital Budget forecast to responsibly plan for our future and guide the City’s infrastructure investments over the long term.
Council approves Fire Communications Services Agreement to outsource fire call taking and dispatch services to the City of Oshawa, streamlining dispatching and emergency communications and saving money.
Council approves recommended 2025 User Fee increase of approximately 3 percent to address various City cost pressures while keeping fees affordable.

Strategic Focus - Be an Employer of Choice

Pickering’s first ever Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy is endorsed by Council, enabling staff to begin its implementation from 2024-2034.
Council endorses IT Capability Assessment, enabling staff to incorporate the recommendations of the IT Capability Assessment into future planning and budgeting processes for the City of Pickering.

Strategic Focus: Provide Exceptional Customer Service

Council endorses schematic design for renovations to the Council Chamber (Pickering Civic Complex), authorizing staff to proceed with next steps related to building and construction requirements.

Strategic Focus - Help business to succeed and add innovation and value

Council endorses the Community Visitor Plan, which will serve as a guide to City staff, local business, tourism attractions and regional partners in welcoming visitors to Pickering and offering them an opportunity to enjoy all our city has to offer.
City launches Pickering Forward, beginning work on the Official Plan Review

Strategic Focus - Leverage existing City assets and attributes

The City of Pickering and Durham Region Transit team up to offer a FREE weekend shuttle, making it easy to access our waterfront.
City retains MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects Ltd. for design and construction services for the new Pickering City Centre Park.

Strategic Focus - Improve quality of life

Pickering celebrated the opening of Jerry Coughlan Health & Wellness Centre, a new state-of-the-art Surgical Centre and health-care facility.
Construction is underway on a new 200-bed long-term care home in Pickering.
City renews partnership with DARS to support community members in need.
To help fund meaningful City projects, City staff will be taking advantage of Federal and Provincial grant opportunities, including the Green & Inclusive Community Building Program (GICB), the Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund and Stream 2 of the Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund (CSRIF).

Strategic Focus - Celebrate community diversity

City of Pickering invests in arts, heritage, and culture with the start of construction of the new Pickering Heritage & Community Centre.
On the Backs of Fish, Pickering’s new permanent public art, opens at Pickering Museum Village.
Artist, Linfeng Zhou, awarded poppy marker public art commission.

Strategic Focus - Promote community safety

Pickering Fire kicks off its annual fire education campaign, ‘FireSafe Pickering’, to educate residents about fire safety and fire-related issues in the community.
Local Fire Departments launch ‘Spring into Summer Safety’ Campaign to share critical fire safety tips to keep community members safe.
Council endorses Community Safety & Well-Being Plan.
City approves security camera investments at City Facilities and Parks, enhancing the level of security for both the public and staff at City parks and facilities.

Strategic Focus: Provide equitable access to municipal services and programs

St. Mary Park Playground reopens with accessibility upgrades that are fully compliant with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
City enhances Pothole Repair Program with the addition of two additional asphalt hot boxes, equipping staff with resources needed to fix potholes in a timely manner
Council endorses schematic design for renovations to the Council Chamber (Pickering Civic Complex), authorizing staff to proceed with next steps related to building and construction requirements.
City of Pickering and Town of Whitby partner on pre-approved design program for Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs).

Strategic Focus: Advocate for and work with partners to increase access to health care facilities and medical practitioners

Memorandum of Understanding among the City of Pickering, the Regional Municipality of Durham and all Durham local municipalities is approved to fund, create, and deliver a family physician recruitment program in Durham.

Strategic Focus - Promote and support responsible planning and sustainable growth

City of Pickering invests in arts, heritage, and culture with Pickering Heritage & Community Centre as its first zero-carbon Community Centre.
At the December 16, 2024 Council Meeting, staff receive Council’s enactment of the City-wide final Consolidated Zoning By-law.

Strategic Focus: Promote community connectivity and accessibility

Council approves City’s Recreation & Parks – Ten Year Plan (2024 – 2034), which will help guide future investments for community centres, ice rinks, sports fields, pools and splash pads, playgrounds, and more.
City to develop a 2025 Road Needs Study, which is required to establish lifecycle funding requirements and determine the improvement needs of the City’s road system (both hard and loose surfaces) over the next 10 years.
Pickering explores e-Scooters through a Shared E-Scooter Pilot Program.
The High Frequency Rail (HFR) project completed its second phase and Council endorsed the Corridor Design for a proposed station stop in Pickering.

Strategic Focus - Build environmental and infrastructure resilience through proactive climate change mitigation and adaptation measures

Pickering Council approves the new modernized Tree Protection By-law.

The City of Pickering completed its Pine Creek Erosion Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Study (Class EA), enabling staff to identify and prioritize erosion-related risks within the study area, and to develop a list of high priority sites in need of rehabilitation.
Sustainability efforts are highlighted in Pickering’s 2023 Sustainable Year-in-Review; efforts included tree plantings, pollinator projects, litter cleanups, the Pickering Farmers’ Market, educational webinars, and more.
The City of Pickering begins developing its first Community Climate Adaptation Plan, to help community members prepare for, and adapt to, extreme weather-related events.

Strategic Focus: Build Relationships

Pickering introduces Ratepayer Association Registry to better profile and support local Ratepayer Associations.

Strategic Focus: Act as a community connector and community builder through partnerships and collaboration

Council approves expansion of parking area for Valley Plentiful Community Garden, enabling Valley Plentiful Community Garden users to better access the site.

Strategic Focus - Make information and services readily accessible and available to all community members

Pickering Council endorses the Digital Readiness Assessment and Strategy, outlining an investment and implementation framework to leverage digital technology to improve operational efficiency and service delivery.

Strategic Focus - Promote civic education and pride

Launched Conversations in the Community page to provide community members with accurate information around topics of interest.

Special Meeting of Council

Members of Council participated in a facilitated discussion on strategic focus areas, goals, priority actions, responsibilities, and success factors.

Monday, March 20th, 2023 (View Agenda)
11 am
Watch on the City's YouTube channel