Rickard Releases FOI Report on Pickering's $1-Million Naming Rights Deal with Dorsay

Pickering, ON — Shaun Rickard, candidate for Mayor of Pickering, has released a plain-language report on the City of Pickering's naming rights agreement with Dorsay Development Corporation, obtained through Freedom of Information Request No. 2026-38.

The agreement covers the community centre at 2365 6th Concession Road, now named the Dorsay Community & Heritage Centre. The full record was released without redactions, allowing residents to review the actual contract terms for themselves.

What the Agreement Shows

• Dorsay agreed to pay the City $1,000,000 plus HST over a 15-year term, equal to annual installments of $66,666.66 plus HST.
• The first payment is $133,333.32, covering the first annual payment and a refundable security amount tied to possible sign-removal costs.
• The City is required to use Dorsay's chosen name exclusively for the building for the full term, from June 1, 2025 to May 30, 2040, with a possible further 15-year extension if both parties agree.
• The City must maintain comprehensive general liability insurance of at least $10,000,000 per occurrence and add Dorsay as an additional insured on that policy.

Details That Deserve Public Scrutiny

The contract states it was made as of June 23, 2025 and that the term began June 1, 2025. The signature page, however, shows the agreement was not signed by the City or Dorsay until August 31, 2025, nearly two months after the term had already started.

The agreement also includes a broad termination clause that allows either side to treat the other as in default over an event or communication connected to the agreement that, in that party's opinion, acting reasonably, is immoral or offensive or may result in a negative public perception of that party.

On paper, the City receives $1,000,000 toward a facility reported to cost approximately $65,000,000. The report notes that Dorsay is a real estate developer with business interests in Northeast Pickering, the same growth area the new centre is intended to serve, and that residents can reasonably ask whether the naming rights value reflects that long-term exposure.

Questions Still Outstanding

• Did the underlying staff report include a market valuation or comparable naming rights benchmarks supporting the $1,000,000 figure?
• What is the actual insurance premium cost to the City for the coverage required under the agreement?
• Why was the agreement signed after its term had already begun?
• Was Schedule B, the signage and drawing schedule referenced in the agreement, included in the City's file?

This release is based on records obtained directly from the City of Pickering. It is not a legal opinion and does not allege that any individual or organization acted improperly. It is intended to help residents understand the actual terms of a long-term agreement made using public assets.

Shaun Rickard

Candidate for Mayor, City of Pickering