Mayor Dave Ryan

Dave Ryan
Mayor, City of Pickering

Mayor David Ryan and his wife Anne have raised their two daughters in Pickering since 1985. In 2003, he retired from a 33-year career in general business and management at IBM. He is also a past Director of the American Marketing Association Toronto Chapter and a past member of the Advisory Committee at Seneca College Business Administration Faculty.

Prior to elected office, Mayor Ryan was active on the executive of many community organizations including the Rouge Valley Community Association, Pickering Waste Reduction Committee, Pickering Ajax Citizens Together (PACT), Pickering Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Citizens Task Force Against Dumps.

Mayor Ryan was first elected to Pickering City Council in 1994. In 2003, he was elected Mayor and re-elected for a second consecutive term in 2006.

Mayor Ryan currently represents taxpayers as follows:

Municipal and Ad Hoc Committees:

• Ex Officio all City of Pickering Committees
• Chair, Canadian Association of Nuclear Host Communities
• GO Transit, Board of Directors
• Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance, Board of Directors
• Durham Regional Police Services, Board of Directors
• Durham Strategic Energy Alliance, Board of Directors
• Durham Region Planning Committee
• Honourary Chair, Durham West Arts Centre Foundation
• Mayor’s Gala Committee
• Mayors’ Charity Classic

Mayor Ryan has identified Business Development and Responsible Growth as the priorities for his office. In the June 2006 issue of Profit magazine, the City of Pickering received nation-wide recognition as one of the Top 10 Cities in Canada to Start and Grow a Business.

Intensification and revitalization of the downtown core are high priorities for Mayor Ryan. The Province of Ontario has designated Pickering’s downtown as an Urban Growth Centre and future Mobility Hub, which together will help transform this key area. Construction has commenced on a 132,000 square foot landmark LEED-Silver, Class “A” office tower to rise in the downtown. A fully-enclosed pedestrian bridge is also under construction that will span Highway 401 and link the office tower to the Pickering GO station.

Community Building is what Mayor Ryan is most proud of. In 2007 and 2008, the City of Pickering was awarded consecutive 5 Booms in the Communities in Bloom program. In November 2005, the inaugural Pickering Mayor’s Gala was held. Since then, this annual event has raised over half a million dollars for community outreach, veterans, the future construction of the Durham West Arts Centre, local youth initiatives, Special Olympics Ontario and the Rouge Valley Ajax-Pickering hospital – one of our community’s most valuable assets.

As Chair of the Race Relations Committee for three consecutive terms, Mayor Ryan has successfully worked with the various faiths and cultures in Pickering to create a more vibrant and accepting community. For the past three years, the Masjid-e-Usman has held its Eid celebrations at the Pickering Recreation Complex. And every year since 2006, City Hall Pickering has raised India’s flag to mark its Independence Day.

Sustainability and the environmental stewardship are hallmarks of Mayor Ryan’s terms of office. In 2008, the City of Pickering received the FCM-CH2M Sustainability Award in Planning for its nation leading work in sustainability and the environment. In 2010, Mayor Ryan was recognized by Alive magazine as one of Canada’s greenest mayors.

Mayor Ryan has an open door policy and welcomes all of your concerns, questions, ideas or comments. He can be reached at 905.420.4600 or by email at mayor@cityofpickering.com .