A Message from - Doug Dickerson

Pickering Retail News - January 2010

They say time flies when you're having fun. Well I must have had a lot of fun last year because 2009 has simply flown by and here I am already planning for 2010 - probably just like most of you!

New Year's resolutions have been made and promised (and some broken so soon); we cherish the presents, the pictures, and the time we shared with family and friends over the festive Christmas season; we hope and pray that peace will settle in far-off lands of conflict and we will no longer need to stand on bridges over the Highway of Heroes honouring our fallen.

New Year is also a time of hope, a time to reflect on what has passed and, more importantly, a time to envision what lies ahead. 2010 will see the new office tower nearing completion and the pedestrian bridge over the 401 taking shape. The year will see the first mixed-use tower rising at San Francisco By The Bay and the next component of Liverpool Rd being "nauticalized" between Annland St. and Wharf St. Look to the Home Depot site for new stores, including Shoppers Drug Mart and Future Shop, opening in new building locations. The Brock Rd. widening will be completed and the infrastructure servicing required for Duffin Heights will commence. The Region will continue with the widening of Altona Rd. and the completion of expansion to the sewage treatment plant at the foot of Squires Beach Rd. Along with the Region, Veridian is investigating the possibility of the City's first bio-mass energy from waste being incorporated into the plant's design.

And Veridian is also looking to move outside of its' core business of electrical distribution and on into alternative power generation through roof mounted solar installations. With the Province's Feed In Tariff (FIT) program just beginning, the line-up has already begun with companies looking to fixed, 20-year contracts to feed more green power into the hydro grid. I am thrilled to be heading up this new venture - both as a Veridian Board Member and because it perfectly aligns with my city role as Chair of Sustainable Pickering.

Now that the Province has introduced new legislation making October 25th, 2010 the day for all municipal elections across Ontario, I doubt that there will be any truly, city wide contentious issues which will come before Council.

Durham Transit, far from being a perfect model of anything, will continue to evolve as new plans are rolled out and consultation with the affected communities takes place. Particularly the east-west servicing along the Hwy 2 corridor across the Region and ultimately into the new transit hub which will be created on Pickering Parkway at the northern terminus of the new pedestrian bridge leading directly into the GO Station.

Another wish is that early in the new year we will have a response from MPP, Wayne Arthurs, regarding the open letter I sent to him printed in last month's issue of Retail Pages. The City wishes to honour our solders with appropriate banners on the light poles on each of the four bridges spanning the 401 in Pickering; the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) does not seem to like the idea and have so far refused permission - providing absolutely no reason whatsoever! And if we had similar banners up during our Millennium Year celebrations with no problems or MTO comments, I fail to see how this picture has changed for those who gave all.

For those readers waiting for local construction news, let me tell you that to the end of November, 2008, there were 544 building applications received generating some $98.5 million in spending. The same period covering this year has seen only 397 applications but generating nearly $108 million - even in spite of the fact that the whole global economy had been in melt-down mode the entire time.

During the Christmas (Christian), Chanukah (Jewish) and Kwanzaa (African-Canadian, African-American, Pan-African) festive seasons, I had the distinct pleasure of attending a host of events. One of the questions I was asked on a good many occasions was how I thought the municipal elections would go in October, 2010. While I will not be making any individual predictions, I will tell you it is my belief that there will not be any acclamations. Personally speaking, I have heard of two - one woman and one man - who will be contesting me for the Ward 2 local seat. And this reflects a very healthy, democratic society participating in the democratic process. Healthy races for all Council positions ensure choices are real and choices are clear. I certainly wish any opponents I have all the best; I just don't wish them success! (lol)

In closing, please accept my warmest and most sincere wish for you in 2010 - that you and your family remain safe and have your good health. God bless you.