For nearly 30 years, Pickering has been my home — the place where I put down roots and built a successful business. Over the decades, I've come to deeply love my friends and neighbours here. They are what makes Pickering worth fighting for, and the reason I am running for Mayor.
I am not a career politician, but perhaps something better: an engaged citizen and committed community activist. I adhere to a powerful notion — that our elected governments exist to serve us, not the other way around. My values are straightforward: honesty, personal accountability, and fiscal responsibility.
I believe that every citizen deserves to be heard. I will hold City Hall to the same standard I hold myself — spend wisely, be transparent, and answer to the people who trust you.
A Proven Record of Standing Up
Many residents know me from the fight that defines our community's spirit.
I refused to sit on the sidelines when a proposed mega-project threatened Pickering's protected waterfront, marshlands, and public beach. I led the opposition by organizing residents, filing Freedom of Information requests, and uncovering bombshell documents that raised serious questions about city officials' dealings with Ontario Power Generation.
We brought those discussions into the public eye — where they belonged.
The fight drew significant provincial media attention, including coverage by CBC News and Global News, ensuring broader public scrutiny of the proposal. Together, we united our community — and ultimately stopped the project.
Media Coverage
CBC News — "Pickering residents fight waterfront condo proposal over safety concerns"
Global News — "Residents voice concerns over proposed Pickering waterfront condo development"
That experience taught me something I carry into this campaign: when residents are informed, engaged, and united, they can hold government accountable and win.
I don't just talk about transparency and accountability. I have fought for them — and delivered results.
Most recently, on June 24, 2026, I personally submitted formal Freedom of Information requests to the City of Pickering and to Durham Regional Police Service, seeking detailed financial data, council-conduct costs, crime statistics, and development records. I believe in building policy on verified facts, not guesswork — and I will publish everything I receive.
What I Believe In
Fiscal Responsibility
Families and businesses are expected to manage their budgets responsibly. City Hall must be held to the same standard. I will use the Mayor's budget authority to cap the City's portion of the property tax levy, demand a line-by-line review of municipal spending, commission an independent audit of City finances and casino revenues within my first 100 days, and ensure that growth pays for growth — not existing taxpayers.
Democratic Transparency
The people of Pickering deserve a City Hall that answers to them — openly, honestly, and without delay. I will restore in-person council meetings on day one, return public delegations to their full 10 minutes with Q&A, introduce plain-language annual budgets, and require public consultations before development frameworks are approved — not as an afterthought.
Responsible Growth
Growth must benefit the people who live here, not just the developers who build here. I will immediately move to pause implementation of the Northeast Pickering Secondary Plan until all environmental and financial impact assessments are independently verified and made public. I will fight to downsize and correct the proposed high-density development at Liverpool Road and Annland near our waterfront. Developers will be held to strict fiscal accountability. No project will proceed until the infrastructure can safely and fairly support it.
Protecting Our Waterfront and Green Spaces
As someone who has spent years enjoying Lake Ontario, Frenchman's Bay, our trails, conservation lands, and parks, I will fiercely protect the natural places that make Pickering unique. I will enforce zoning limits against out-of-scale development, pursue a concrete funded plan to bring Frenchman's Bay into permanent public ownership, and ensure future generations inherit the same natural treasures we enjoy today.
Healthcare Access
Finding a family doctor in Pickering should not be a crisis. I will design a municipal physician recruitment program, work to establish community health hubs on city-owned land, and actively partner with Lakeridge Health and the provincial government to ensure our growing population is matched by real healthcare capacity.
Public Safety
Safe neighbourhoods are a foundation of a healthy community. While Pickering is policed by Durham Regional Police, I will use our seat at the regional table to demand our fair share of frontline resources, introduce a public crime dashboard so residents have transparent, up-to-date neighbourhood safety data, and expand support for grassroots community safety programs.
Re-Enfranchising Residents
City Hall belongs to the people of Pickering — not politicians, insiders, or special interests. No resident should ever be made to feel that their voice is an inconvenience. I will restore meaningful public participation in local government and ensure that every person who walks through those doors is heard openly, respectfully, and fairly.
Why I'm the Right Person for This Moment
Throughout my career and community involvement, I have never been afraid to ask difficult questions, challenge the status quo, or stand up for what I believe is right — even when it was uncomfortable, and even when I stood largely alone.
I am running for Mayor because Pickering deserves leadership that is honest, accountable, and genuinely committed to the people it serves.
I am not running to become a politician. I am running to restore trust in local government, protect taxpayers, defend residents' right to be heard, and ensure that the city our children inherit is transparent, financially responsible, and proud of its democratic values.
Together, we can bring meaningful change to Pickering.
— Shaun Rickard