BUSINESS ROARING
What better confidence building blocks than Grand Openings, or Grand Re-openings, testament to growing companies right here in Pickering.
Just in the past 4-6 weeks, I've had the pleasure of participating in the opening of Olsen Europe, ladies fine-wear located in the PTC - lower level; ISN/ISEC - a team of professionals offering investigative services and conducting potential employee security screening on behalf of clients - find them located in the Dairy Queen mall (Dixie Rd); Kenectrics on Brock Rd. S. bringing highly skilled employees to assist OPG; Ennis Traffic Solutions - manufacturer to the world of the most advanced road paints - on McKay Rd.; St. Cinnamon, opened by founder & President Andy Winter and located inside Sobey's Grocery; Medical Supply Store at 635 Kingston Rd.; Dynamic Dispute Resolutions at 1895 Clements Rd.; and newly renovated Allen's Independent Grocery emporium at Finch & Dixie.
Taken together, this represents hundreds of jobs - thus more opportunities and more spending - here at home. Working with the city's dynamic Economic Development team, more and more executives are visiting Pickering and we show them what they're looking for. Fill in a few more blanks, assist with other approving bodies, and demonstrate a respect for the range of jobs, wages and skill sets their investments bring. Do all of that and it's a good bet another Grand Opening will be happening in the near future.

CONDOLENCES
To my many Polish friends and those of Polish descent, I would like to offer my most sincere condolences on the death of President & Mrs. Lech Kaczynski, and so many other highly valued and highly placed government officials. From this grief, a stronger Poland will emerge. How proudly the world has watched democracy play itself out in the huge vacuum created moments after that horrific plane crash.
Your country's constitution worked exactly as intended in such eventualities - the country was left without a leader - but not without a President. Exactly the same democracy we witnessed following JFK's assassination and the passing of the reigns of power, aboard Air Force One, to Vice-President Lyndon Johnson.

EASTER PARADE
'Tis the rare event that can bring every member of council out for a lengthy, fun-filled route to walk and wish 'Happy Easter' to thousands of residents. Pickering's Legion Br. 606, the Legion's Ladies Auxiliary and the city's special event staff did an absolutely outstanding job of making the 6th Annual Easter Parade the best watched ever, with most participants ever. While I personally thought my seven young Pickering Princesses - their carriage pulled along by a single horse; guarded by a fully armoured knight - was without a doubt, absolutely no question in my mind, (a grand-father's prerogative) the #1 offering -- it must be said every individual, every team, every group and association that participated were all #1 and all of the residents watching were the winners.
A City's "thanks" to all the event organizers, participants and Durham Police Auxiliary for an amazing event! My personal "thanks" to the many local businesses and individuals who responded to my request for financial assistance on behalf of the Ladies Auxiliary. Without you, this isn't possible.

MAY AWARENESS
May is a month which many worthwhile causes use to raise awareness of who they are and what it is they offer.
Child Find Ontario has completed preparations for the 19th annual national Green Ribbon of Hope Campaign and set aside May 25th as National Missing Children's Day. In 2008 in Ontario alone, the RCMP report that 20,526 children went missing. This organization is committed to assisting families and police in the search and recovery of every missing child. The Canadian Hearing Society is celebrating its 70th national Hearing Awareness Month which promotes public understanding of the needs of culturally deaf, oral deaf, deafened and hard of hearing Canadians, and to emphasize the importance of protecting our hearing.
May has also been proclaimed as Asian Heritage Month. Begun in 2002, it recognizes the important contributions of Asian Canadians to the settlement, growth and development of Canada, their diversity, their significance to this country, and like a tapestry, how they have woven themselves into being a part of our everyday lives.
The City of Pickering celebrates the first week of May as Youth Week. Its a fun, interactive celebration of youth - intended to bring together stronger ties between youth and their communities and to showcase the issues, achievements and contributions of Youth. It is now in its 15th year calling to action youth in arts, recreation, drama, sport, civic engagement, volunteerism and leadership.

CONSTRUCTION
As if to keep on proving how well positioned this city is for new investment, consider that to the end of March, our construction value totalled $75.5 million compared to $37 million same time last year (and that was up from 2008). New residential units jumped from just 2 at the end of March last year to 445 units this year - the entire Durham Region had only 486 new units and we have 445 of those. This song will only get better and better and trust me, it's music to my ears. That's how we've come from the days of near 10% property tax increases just 7 years ago to 2.9% this year. And the hope is to bring that down even further next year. An early election promise??