Why Pickering
Pickering is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada, positioned directly east of Toronto within the Regional Municipality of Durham. Covering an area of 231 square kilometres at an elevation of 89 metres, the municipality is bounded by Lake Ontario to the south, Uxbridge to the north, Whitby and Ajax to the east, and Toronto, Markham, and Rouge Park to the west. Its geography shifts from suburban neighborhoods in the south to predominantly rural, agricultural landscapes across the north.
Indigenous communities inhabited the region for thousands of years, including the Iroquoian-speaking Wendat, who maintained a major village at the Draper Site before relocating toward Georgian Bay. In 1669, a French missionary documented the Haudenosaunee settlement of Gandatsetiagon along Frenchman's Bay. British immigration expanded during the late 18th century, bolstered by United Empire Loyalists following the American Revolutionary War and later by Quaker settlers led by Timothy Rogers. Formally designated as a township in 1792 and named after a town in Yorkshire, England, the region developed along Duffins Creek and the Kingston Road before officially becoming a city in 2000.
Travelers can explore several distinct districts and communities within Pickering. On the waterfront, Frenchman's Bay hosts the Nautical Village, which features a boardwalk, an art gallery, eateries, shops, and a playground. In the rural north, historic hamlets such as Whitevale, Greenwood, and Brougham showcase restored heritage estates and traditional churches. The scenic historical architecture of Whitevale has also made it a frequent filming site for television series. Throughout the area, preserved rural settlements serve as provincially recognized historic sites and museums.
The city offers a mix of modern facilities and quiet rural countryside. Key landmarks include the multi-billion-dollar Pickering Casino Resort complex and the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station located along the lake shore. Visitors can also observe historic remnants such as the deserted community of Altona or visit protected green space in the hamlet of Cherrywood, which lies within the regional Greenbelt.
01 Weather
73°
63°
70°
57°
61°
50°
☔ 20%
67°
51°
61°
49°
64°
50°