A new community centre in Durham celebrated it’s opening on June 16th. The Dorsay Community & Heritage Centre is Pickering’s first new community centre in decades.
Located at 2365 Sixth Concession Road, the facility is designed to bring a community centre, museum, and library together within one space. It 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.
The facility’s inaugural exhibit, Forever (Bird-Botanicals) is by David Constantino Salazar, in the John E. Anderson Exhibit Gallery.
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.
Facility Amenities:
- John E. Anderson Exhibit Gallery
- Dorsay Meeting Room (available for public bookings, including community group meetings)
- Program Room
- Banquet Hall (with stage)
- Teaching Kitchen
- Collections Storage
- Gift Shop and Coffee Bar
- Garden & Patio
- Local History Experience Centre
The Government of Canada contributed $16.5 million to the community centre. This includes $12.5 million through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Fund and $4 million through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund.
Additional federal funding supported improvements to the Redman House Program Centre within Pickering Museum Village, including green retrofits and accessibility enhancements. These upgrades have helped ensure the building can continue providing meaningful visitor and volunteer services for the museum.
Mayor Kevin Ashe of Pickering said that “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. 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.”
