Pickering celebrates opening of first new community centre in decades

Pickering’s first new community centre in decades had its moment in the sun Monday with the grand opening of the Dorsay Community & Heritage Centre.

Designed to bring a community centre, museum and library together within one dynamic space, the $65 million facility serves as the gateway to the Pickering Museum Village and is home to the new Greenwood Heritage Library, creating a civic hub that connects residents to local history while offering modern amenities and programs for all ages.

Located at 2365 Sixth Concession Road, the Dorsay Community & Heritage Centre is Pickering’s first new community centre since Petticoat Creek Library and Community Centre opened in 2001.

The facility was renamed the George Ashe Library & Community Centre in 2017 in honour of former mayor George Ashe, the father of current Pickering Mayor Kevin Ashe.

“The Dorsay Community & Heritage Centre reflects Pickering’s vision for a connected, caring, world-class city by investing in the social, cultural, and community infrastructure needed to support a growing and diverse population,” Ashe said. “As new neighbourhoods continue to take shape, facilities like this will play an important role in strengthening community identity, expanding access to cultural experiences, and creating welcoming spaces where residents can come together. We are proud to open the doors of this beautiful landmark facility and invite community members to discover a new shared space that will serve Pickering for generations to come.”

The public grand opening welcomed residents, community partners and stakeholders for an evening of guided tours, hands-on program demonstrations, teaching kitchen activities and opportunities to explore the facility’s inaugural exhibit, Forever (Bird-Botanicals) by David Constantino Salazar, in the John E. Anderson Exhibit Gallery.

With its distinctive architecture and picturesque setting, the Dorsay Community & Heritage Centre will serve as an ideal venue for weddings, celebrations, corporate functions and other milestone events and is replacing the ageing Greenwood community centre building, which will be torn down later this year.

Venue highlights include a banquet hall with stage, a library express kiosk and local history experience centre, central courtyard and garden space, gift shop, catering kitchen and fully accessible event space. Operators are already booking wedding packages along with more intimate ceremony settings within Pickering Museum Village.

Designed by award-winning Hariri Pontarini Architects, the facility features distinctive architecture and a scenic setting overlooking Duffins Creek. It will serve as an ideal venue for weddings, celebrations, corporate functions, cultural events, and other special occasions.

Dorsay Development Corporation agreed to a $1 million, 15-year agreement naming rights agreement last year.

“We are honoured to see the Dorsay Community & Heritage Centre open its doors to the residents of Pickering,” said Dorsay Development CEO Geoffrey Grayhurst.” At Dorsay, we believe great communities are built through places that bring people together. We are proud to be part of a facility that will foster connection, learning, and a sense of belonging for generations to come.”

Facility amenities include:

• John E. Anderson Exhibit Gallery
• Dorsay meeting room
• Program room
• Banquet Hall (with stage)
• Teaching kitchen
• Collections storage
• Gift shop and coffee bar
• Garden & patio
• Local History Experience Centre

The federal government contributed $16.5 million to the community centre, including $12.5 million through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings fund and $4 million through the Canada Cultural Spaces fund.

“Social infrastructure is more than just the materials it is comprised of. It is the heart of communities and offers the space required for people to connect with others,” said Pickering-Brooklin MP Juanita Nathan. “By supporting projects like the Dorsay Community & Heritage Centre, the Government of Canada is investing in building strong communities across the country.”

Additional federal funding supported improvements to the Redman House Program Centre within Pickering Museum Village, including green retrofits and accessibility enhancements.

“Local community projects strengthen both the cultural and economic vitality of our regions. Our $4-million investment in the Dorsay Community & Heritage Centre will create a dynamic space where stories are shared, cultures celebrated, and communities brought together, while supporting educational and cultural programming for generations to come,” added federal Culture Minister Marc Miller.

Visit pickering.ca/DCHC to learn more about the facility, including hours of operation, space rentals and wedding packages, upcoming events and program registration.