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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCS 19-26 Report to Council Report Number: CS 19-26 Date: June 22, 2026 From: Laura Gibbs Director, Community Services Subject: Temporary Licence Agreement for use of Rotary Frenchman's Bay West Park Pickering Rouge Canoe Club File: A-1440-001 Recommendation: 1. That Report CS 19-26 regarding the Temporary Licence Agreement for the Pickering Rouge Canoe Club‘s Use of Rotary Frenchman’s Bay West Park be received; 2. That Council authorize the Director, Community Services to negotiate and execute a Temporary Licence Agreement with the Pickering Rouge Canoe Club subject to terms acceptable to the Director Community Services and City Solicitor; and, 3. That the appropriate officials of the City of Pickering be authorized to take the actions necessary to implement the recommendations in this report. 1.0 Executive Summary: The purpose of this report is to seek Council authorization for staff to negotiate and execute a temporary licence agreement with the Pickering Rouge Canoe Club (The Club) for use of Rotary Frenchman’s Bay West Park from June 29 to October 15, 2026, to support children’s summer camps and the sprint/flat-water bantam program while Rouge Beach and the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail remain closed for the Rouge Beach Improvements Project through the 2026 paddle sport season. The agreement will allow the Club to operate its summer camp and competitive programs at the site, supporting community recreation and continued partnership between the City and the Club. Staff recommend a limited, non-exclusive licence agreement that maintains public access to the accessible canoe and kayak launch and requires the Club to maintain the site by removing garbage daily and removing all equipment from the site at the end of the agreement. CS 19-26 June 22, 2026 Page 2 2.0 Relationship to the Pickering Strategic Plan: The recommendations in this report respond to the Pickering Strategic Plan Priorities of Advocate for an Inclusive, Welcoming, Safe & Healthy Community; and Strengthen Existing & Build New Partnerships. 3.0 Financial Implications: There are no financial implications arising from the recommendations in this report. 4.0 Discussion: The purpose of this report is to seek Council authorization for staff to negotiate and execute a temporary licence agreement with the Pickering Rouge Canoe Club for use of Rotary Frenchman’s Bay West Park from June 29 to October 15, 2026, to support children’s summer camps and the sprint/flat-water bantam program while Rouge Beach and the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail remain closed for the Rouge Beach Improvements Project through the 2026 paddle sport season. 4.1 Pickering Rouge Canoe Club The Pickering Rouge Canoe Club is a long-standing, non-profit, and inclusive paddling club that offers recreational and competitive canoe and kayak programs for all ages and skill levels, while promoting physical activity, youth engagement and athletic development. The Club has been in operation since 1958 and contributes to the community in the following ways: • Community engagement: every summer the Club’s camps provide hundreds of local children, adults and families with essential water safety skills and an appreciation for Pickering’s natural environment. • Youth employment: every summer the Club’s camps are staffed by local youth who have grown from camper to coach. • Inclusive programming: the PaddleALL and Special Olympics programs provide rare, accessible outdoor opportunities for athletes with disabilities in Pickering. The Club has operated out of Rotary Frenchman’s Bay West Park since 1993 on land owned by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). Following the extremely high lake water levels of 2017 and 2019, TRCA advised the Club that their operating location at Rotary Frenchman’s Bay West Park fell below the proposed new 100-year static lake elevation and was within the dynamic beach area. As such, the Club was advised that they would no longer be allowed to operate in that location. The Club submitted a proposal to the City to relocate programs to Progress Frenchman’s Bay East Park. In 2021 a public on-line survey was prepared in order to gauge public support of the Club’s use of Progress Frenchman’s Bay East Park for their programs. Notification of the CS 19-26 June 22, 2026 Page 3 survey was provided to the public through social media and through a postal walk to area residents, which was sent out on April 19, 2021. The survey was open and comments were received up to and including May 10, 2021. A total of 424 responses were received. The following is a summary of feedback received: • 66% of respondents were in support of the Club’s proposal to relocate and operate programs out of Progress Frenchman’s Bay East Park. This number dropped to 63% for Pickering residents only. • When respondents were asked which program they supported, the Special Olympics program received the highest support at 65% followed by Dragon Boats, Masters and Outrigger all at 60% and High Performance at 57%. • 73% of the respondents said that they would support the PRCC since they have programs for people with disabilities and to support the National/Olympic athletes. • Of the respondents that were not in support, parking was the number one concern for 51% of the local residents, followed by conflicts with other park users (46%), park cleanliness (43%), and noise (34%). In consideration of the public feedback supporting the relocation of the Club and the expressed concerns for parking, Council endorsed that a temporary lease agreement be entered into granting the relocation of the Club to Progress Frenchman’s Bay East Park for the operation of only their Special Olympics (PaddleAll) and Masters programs (Report CS 24-21; Resolution #627/21). This agreement was never entered into as it did not meet the needs of the club for a relocation of their complete program and club activities. In recent weeks, the Pickering Rouge Canoe Club has submitted a request to the City for temporary access to Rotary Frenchman’s Bay West Park for the 2026 summer season to operate children’s summer camps and the sprint/flat water bantam program while the Rouge Beach and Great Lakes Waterfront Trail remain temporarily closed. 4.2 Paddle Sport on Frenchman’s Bay In 2025, staff conducted discussions with stakeholders and engaged residents for feedback on a paddle sport rental service located in Frenchman’s Bay. Staff considered three locations, outlined in Report CS 05-25 that was presented to Council in May 2025. An online survey was posted on LetsTalkPickering on August 9, 2024, and was available until September 8, 2024. The survey was promoted on the City’s website and through various social media channels. A promotional postcard was distributed to 3,600 household within the immediate community surrounding east and west Frenchman’s Bay. Staff received 150 responses to the survey. Residents raised several concerns that included traffic congestion, accessibility and environmental impacts to the Provincially Significant Wetland. Residents requested that staff continue to investigate the east side of Frenchman’s Bay as a more appropriate location than the west side. Many residents (90%) responded to the survey in CS 19-26 June 22, 2026 Page 4 favour of a paddle sport rental service being available but preferred that the service not be located in Rotary Frenchman’s Bay West Park. Feedback from the Waterfront Visionary Advisory Committee on November 18, 2024, echoed the concerns of residents and re-iterated that a preferred location would be at Beachfront Park, west of Millennium Square. The design of Beachfront Park is now underway and will include a permanent location that will better serve a paddle sport rental service. Due to the concerns raised by residents through community engagement, staff recommend that any type of rental service be prohibited in the temporary licence agreement with the Club. 4.3 Temporary Closure of Rouge Beach and the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail From November 2025 until 2027, Parks Canada have closed the Rouge Beach area and Great Lakes Waterfront Trail bridge that crosses the Rouge River, connecting Scarbrough to Pickering, to permit construction of The Rouge Beach Improvements Project. The project will revitalize aging infrastructure, including beach facilities and visitor amenities. This construction activity has impacted the Pickering Rouge Canoe Club’s access to their former clubhouse as well as the mouth of the Rouge River and Lake Ontario where much of their summer camp activities were taking place. Although Parks Canada provided the Club with a temporary location for their programs at the Glen Rouge Campground, this site is not suitable for their programs that require a longer flat-water area to practice on. Construction in Rouge Park is expected to be complete in time for the 2027 paddle sport season. 4.4 Temporary Licence Agreement Staff recommend that the City negotiate and execute a temporary licence agreement to provide provisional space to the Pickering Rouge Canoe Club while their permanent location in Rouge Park is under construction. Staff recommend the following parameters for use of Rotary Frenchman’s Bay West Park will be included in the licence agreement: • The licence agreement will be for a term from June 29 to October 15, 2026. • The licence agreement will be a non-exclusive licence agreement, to allow public users to continue to access the bay via. the accessible kayak and canoe launch. • The Club will be responsible for keeping the site clean and free of debris. The Club will be responsible for garbage removal. • Paddle sport rental services including kayaks and paddle boards are prohibited. • A shipping container, approved by the City and TRCA may be placed on the site for the duration of the licence agreement, and must be removed before the agreement expires. • Proof of insurance must be provided to the City before operations commence. CS 19-26 June 22, 2026 Page 5 Staff have consulted with the Club and recommend a location in Rotary Frenchman’s Bay West Park close to the accessible canoe and kayak launch. A map of the location is included in Attachment 1. Staff are seeking TRCA approval for the placement of the shipping container which is required to store the Club’s equipment. The licence agreement will be negotiated between the Club and the Director, Community Services. The City Solicitor will review and approve the agreement before it is executed. Attachment: 1. Location Map Prepared By: Dan Finn, Manager, Parks & Property Prepared By: Karen Coleman, BA, Manager, Recreation Services Prepared By: Arnold Mostert, OALA, Manager, Landscape & Parks Development Approved/Endorsed By: Laura Gibbs, MBA, MSc., Director, Community Services LG:kc Recommended for the consideration of Pickering City Council By: Marisa Carpino, M.A. Chief Administrative Officer WE S T S H O R E B O U L E V A R D OKLAHOM A DRIVE Lake Ontario Frenchman's Bay Rotary Frenchman's Bay West Park SCALE: LOCATION MAP Jun. 16, 2026 DATE: Community Services Department 1:1,150 REPORT TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL F Temporary License Agreement Pickering Rouge Canoe Club Summer Camp Proposed Site Area Pickering Rouge Canoe Club Summer Camp Location on Rotary Frenchman's Bay West Park Attachment 1 to Report CS 19-26