Spring 2018
Newsletter
Alex Monaghan
I usually start these updates with good news stories in Pickering, but this time I wanted to express my deepest sympathies to Councillor Kevin Ashe and his partner, Karen O'Brien, on the loss of Karen's son, Alex Monaghan. Alex took his own life at the age of 27 this past Easter weekend. He had been battling mental health issues. I knew Alex, he was a lovely person.

In Karen's touching eulogy for her son, she said, "To any of [your] friends that may need someone to talk to please reach out. If we can save one soul for Alex, make one person feel a little better, Alex's death won't be in vain. Let's make a difference - listen - talk - take action."

As the Chair of Health and Social Services for Durham Region, I have provided some information on suicide - the warning signs and risk factors, as well as resources for assistance. I encourage anyone who witnesses these warning signs - in yourself or others - to reach out.
Suicide: Warning Signs & Risk Factors
Many people who are at acute risk for suicide or suicide-related behaviour show warning signs; these individuals will most often:
  • Threaten to hurt him or herself, or talk of wanting to hurt or kill him/herself.
  • Look for ways to kill him/herself by seeking access to firearms, available pills, or other means.
  • Talk or write about death, dying or suicide, when these actions are out of the ordinary.

Additional warning signs are below. These should alert the clinician that a mental health evaluation needs to be conducted in the very near future and that precautions should be put into place immediately to ensure the safety, stability, and security of the individual.

  • Increased substance (alcohol or drug) use
  • No reason for living; no sense of purpose in life
  • Anxiety, agitation, unable to sleep or sleeping all the time
  • Feeling trapped - like there's no way out
  • Hopelessness
  • Withdrawal from friends, family, and society
  • Rage, uncontrollable anger, seeking revenge
  • Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities, seemingly without thinking
  • Dramatic mood changes
Available on the Durham Region website is additional information, documents, and resources - including details on available suicide prevention apps. Click here to access.
Durham Live World Class Resort - Coming to Pickering!
I am pleased that on April 3rd, Ontario Gaming GTA LP announced Durham Live as the new casino site. This is great news for businesses and taxpayers and will have positive impact across Durham Region.

It started in December 2012 with my and Councillor Ashe's motion to make Pickering a willing host for a casino. We had a vision of bringing jobs, businesses, revenues, and other opportunities to the City.

Durham Live  will be a $1.6 billion project on 200 acres at the northwest corner of Bayly Road and Church Street in Pickering and a major tourist attraction bringing thousands of new jobs and millions in combined revenues to both the City of Pickering and Durham Region each year. It will not only be a casino but a dynamic multi-use complex with a 5-star hotel, convention centre, performing arts centre, waterpark, film studios, cinema entertainment complex, amphitheatre, boutique hotel, office tower, outdoor recreation space, and a wealth of dining opportunities. We will continue to work with Durham Live to bring  Durham Live  to life!
Job Growth and Economic Development in Pickering
The City of Pickering has finalized agreements with Kubota Canada Limited and other anchor tenants in the Pickering Innovation Corridor, which will be the catalyst for future job growth and economic development along Highway 407 in Durham Region. 

Kubota Canada Limited, a subsidiary of Kubota Corporation - Japan, will be constructing a 500,000 square foot facility, plus an additional 65,000 square feet of head office space in its first phase. This new state-of-the-art facility will feature enhanced testing and training, as well as increased warehousing and logistics. Kubota Canada Limited has purchased 50 acres of land and looks to expand its campus to over a million square feet in future phases.

Red Crest Developments will be building two adjacent office buildings totaling almost 300,000 combined square feet. As such, there will be opportunities for small, mid-sized, and large businesses to lease office space in the Pickering Innovation Corridor. The office towers will be strategically located with easy access to Markham's high tech sector and Durham Region's EN3 super-cluster of ENergy, ENvironmental, and ENgineering companies.

The Behar Group will be building a 4-star hotel with an adjoining convention centre. The 30,000 square foot convention centre will be able to accommodate industry conventions, trade shows, corporate meetings, weddings, and social events. The developer has committed to creating a convention centre with the ability to meet the needs of all faiths, cultures, and ethnic backgrounds.

The Pickering Innovation Corridor is comprised of 800 acres of provincially owned lands in Seaton, located along Highway 407 between York-Durham Townline Road and Brock Road. The City of Pickering undertook the extraordinary approach of buying select prime acreage from the Province in order to directly market, sell, and manage the economic development opportunity.

"The City of Pickering's bold and innovative approach of purchasing and managing a portion of these Provincial lands was instrumental in signing the Innovation Corridor's first anchor tenants. It demonstrates that we're hungry and are willing to do what it takes to earn your business," said Mayor Dave Ryan. "More importantly, these initial investments will kick start immense commercial and industrial growth along Highway 407, which will create thousands of new jobs and strengthen both Pickering and Durham's economy over the next two decades."

Out and About
I was pleased to recently meet with Zak and Brayden, two of the Pickering representatives on the Youth Council. It's great they are taking a participatory role in the community. Welcome aboard!

As one of the judges in the Pickering Markets "I love Canada because.." essay contest, I recently toured the Pickering Markets visiting Vendor's including The Beefy Pickle! One of the entries is shown above on the Pickering Markets wall.
I had the pleasure of wishing Ed Fry a happy birthday in person recently! Still going strong as the President of the South Pickering Seniors.
Keeping in Touch
Thank you for taking the time to read this eNewsletter - and I welcome your feedback and comments. You can reach me at 905.420.4605 or by email at [email protected]. To continue the conversation between eNewsletters, I invite you to follow me on Facebook and visit my website

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