Privately owned portion of Lake Ontario is being claimed by the public

Parts of a picturesque bay on Lake Ontario's shore, privately owned for almost 175 years, could soon be in public hands.

Frenchman's Bay in Pickering is a rare case of private ownership on Lake Ontario, with the Pickering Harbour Company (PHC) owning large portions of the sheltered bay since 1853 under a pre-Confederation Charter granted by the Crown. 

This unique arrangement has been a thorn in the side of the City of Pickering, which has worked behind the scenes for years to bring the privately owned sections of Frenchman's Bay under public ownership.

 

 

 

 

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In October 2023, PHC listed its stake in the bay for sale. The two listings combined for a purchase price of $80 million and an area of just under 40 acres. The City of Pickering ultimately offered just $30 million in a bid that was rejected by the owners, but efforts quietly continued behind the scenes, and it now looks like Pickering will be purchasing the bay for its initial bid price after all.

Last week, the City of Pickering reached a key milestone in this process, announcing on Friday that it had secured key parties "to establish the framework for a funding agreement and management model."

"Frenchman's Bay is the shimmering jewel of Pickering and an integral part of our identity. We are encouraged by the progress we have made and the shared commitment of everyone involved," said Pickering Mayor Kevin Ashe. 

"There is still work ahead, including ongoing discussions with Indigenous community partners, but we have a strong path forward toward bringing the Bay into public ownership and ensuring it remains a treasured part of our community," added Ashe.

Picking is working with several governments and agencies to secure the bay for the public, including Environment, Climate Change and Nature and Parks Canada, the Government of Ontario, including the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.

According to a press release, the City of Pickering and these organizations share a goal of protecting the body of water's natural and recreational value.

Next steps will see discussions continue between involved parties as they work through the final agreements required to complete the City of Pickering's acquisition of Frenchman's Bay.

The City of Pickering, as well as the provincial and federal governments, are each contributing $10 million towards the $30 million total acquisition cost via a tri-party funding model.