Brock Ridge, Pickering Neighbourhood Guide: Relish Great Location

Brock Ridge, Pickering is a relatively newer neighbourhood with an advantageous location near Pickering’s centre and right next to Ajax. Its proximity to many amenities offers residents countless options and convenience. The area is enclosed by West Duffins Creek to the west and south, the hydro transmission corridor to the north, and the Pickering-Ajax border on the east. 

The name of the neighbourhood is a tribute to Sir Issac Brock, a former Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada. The area’s topography is a hilly ridge, so the name Brock Ridge is also indicative of the land’s structure. Unlike much of Pickering, the neighbourhood does not have an old residential history, with development beginning in the 1980s and expanding through ongoing, new projects. 

Although development began in the 1980s, most of the homes in the area were built in the 1990s and early 2000s. The housing stock consists of primarily detached and semi-detached builds. A small number of townhomes exist in the northeastern section of the neighbourhood on Clearside Court. There are ongoing developments on the east side of Brock Road, notably with more townhouse options.  

The City of Pickering has a strong presence of the arts, shown by several groups and organizations that facilitate city- or region-wide participation. Pickering has an official youth dance company known as SynchroniCity that performs at various annual and special events. Local organizations like Durham West Arts Centre and PineRidge Arts Council host events and rally behind ensuring that the arts are accessible for the community. 

Located in the nearby Pickering City Complex is the Central Branch for the Pickering Public Library. The branch features a unique Maker Space, an artistic facility that lends residents access to a 3D printer, sound booth, green screen, DJ mixing kit, and much more. Some of these items are available for loan, and the library hosts workshops to teach people how to use the technologies. 

Pickering also hosts multiple summer concert series and grand annual events to promote community connectivity through art and celebration. The City uses Esplanade Park behind City Hall, Millennium Square by the waterfront, and Bay Ridges Kinsmen Park on Sandy Beach Road to host concerts and Canada Day festivities.

The main shopping centre within the neighbourhood is the Brock North Plaza at Dellbrook Avenue and Brock Road. It includes convenience stores, animal care services, professional offices, and dine-in and take-out restaurants. Further down Brock Road on Kingston Road, a small plaza features a No Frills, health-care services, and dine-in and take-out restaurants. 

The SmartCentres Pickering outdoor mall is slightly further south on Brock at Pickering Parkway and has many retail shops, such as Walmart, Lowes, Canadian Tire, PetSmart, Toys ‘R’ Us, clothing stores, home stores and services, grocery stores, restaurants, and more. The Pickering Town Centre is also very close to Liverpool and Kingston, a hub for the city with over 200 stores available for any other needs.

The small plaza on Kingston near Brock includes restaurants like a Mandarin buffet, Manyaman Foods Filipino Cuisine, and more. SmartCentres Pickering offers numerous dining selections like AllStar Wings & Ribs, Boston Pizza, Kandahar Kabab, McDonald’s, Royal Paan, Bamiyan Kabob, and Cora Breakfast and Lunch. No matter what Brock Ridge locals crave, satisfaction is never too far away. 

Brock Ridge is full of green space, one of the largest areas being Brockridge Community Park located at the southern edge of the neighbourhood, off Brock Road. It is a beautiful park in a valley, and its facilities include hardball and softball diamonds, mini soccer fields, picnic tables, and walking or cycling trails.

The neighbourhood is surrounded by the West Duffins Creek and East Duffins/Ganatsekiagon Creek, both part of Pickering’s Natural Heritage System. They serve as habitats for flora and fauna, and corridors for wildlife movement. For the community, they offer scenic backdrops to adjacent residential properties and a valuable resource for relaxation, exercise, bird watching, education, and meditation. Residents can also visit the creeks to access the Trans Canada Trail. 

Several parks within Brock Ridge include baseball diamonds, which the Pickering Baseball Association uses. The organization has programs for different age groups, house leagues, and competitive play. They consider the Brockridge Community Park their home spot while using diamonds across the city. 

For other recreational needs, the Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex is less than a five-minute drive from the neighbourhood. The facility is on Valley Farm Road, across from Esplanade Park, and boasts amenities like a multi-lane swimming pool, ice rinks, fitness studios, community rooms, banquet halls, as well as racquetball, squash, and tennis courts.

Brock Road provides residents easy access to the 401, allowing travellers to reach Downtown Toronto in 30 minutes by car. The neighbourhood’s proximity to Pickering’s city center also means that commuters using public transit can quickly get around the Greater Toronto Area. Two bus lines service the community — the 916 down Brock and the 112 weaving through subdivisions — and both travel to Pickering GO Station. A trip to Union Station should take just over an hour. 

Being on the edge between Pickering and Ajax means Brock Ridge residents can enjoy the offerings of both with ease. The area is ideal for families and offers countless activities, parks, and amenities nearby.