Pickering, ON
When Pickering first became a town it was mainly British colonists that settled here, though much of the city’s growth started after the Second World War. Since then, Pickering has received immigrants from all over the world, and today it is a melting pot of different cultures. More recently, it has had quite a lot of growth, with new developments popping up everywhere. This is partly because of its strong economy, with the electronic, pharmaceutical and nuclear electricity industries being highly present. In addition to this, it is also a beautiful city that sits along Lake Ontario just north of Toronto, with parts of it being within the Rouge National Urban Park.
Pickering is often pegged as a suburb of Toronto, with numerous commuters opting to live here; taking advantage of the short commute. Go trains link the city to downtown Toronto, as does Highway 401. Still, it is much more than just a suburb thanks to its amenities, infrastructure and greenery. As well, the Town Centre area, which is just next to the Go station, is home to shopping centres, restaurants and numerous apartment buildings. It is also where Durham College is located, making it quite a trendy neighbourhood to live in.
In addition to having a lively student population, Pickering is also home to a large amount of families. Part of this is due to the residential developments, making it an affordable city for young families. Another factor is that the job market in Pickering is quite good, especially with all of the new communities and developments. In terms of school, there are 25 elementary schools and 3 secondary schools in the city, as well as a few private institutions. There is also a French school, although nearly 80 percent of Pickering’s residents use English as their mother tongue.
Over 30 percent of the population is a visible minority, which is another reason why Pickering is a great city to live in. With multiculturalism comes a wide range of authentic restaurant options and a lot of diversity. Most of the restaurants are within the city centre, though most residents will tell you to be sure to go to the Pickering City Centre Farmers' Market. Pickering also features the Pickering Museum Village, the Herongate Barn Theatre and Dreamscape. The picturesque Nautical Village is more of a tourist site, although residents should not live through a summer without visiting the area and enjoying its live entertainment, great shopping, trendy boardwalks cafés and art galleries. There are also cycling trails, hiking trails, pathways and parks to enjoy.
Don Beer Memorial Park
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