The Sanctuary

Working with you to be an indispensible channel of hope and help to the residents of Pickering/Ajax, Durham Region and beyond.

We have big dreams about what we can do together!  Every big dream starts with a decision.  We've made our decision --- have you?

News

Here's a little look into some of the events/activities we have been involved with so far. It's here so you can get the flavour of what we are about.

Santa Claus Parade

The weather was beautiful for the holiday spirit of the people who participated in and watched Pickering's Santa Claus parade on Saturday, November 13. For the third year in a row, The Sanctuary Pickering provided hot chocolate and coffee for those organizing and marching in the parade. Just one more way we are working to be a channel of hope and help to our city!

Free Thanksgiving Dinner!

The members of The Sanctuary are preparing another opportunity to bless our community! During Thanksgiving week, October 11-15, we are hosting five Thanksgiving dinners (6-8pm each evening) for low income families, newcomers to Canada and people who have no one else with whom to share the holiday.

We are providing these Thanksgiving meals for three main reasons:

  • To express our love for the often overlooked people of our city.
  • To help people who would not ordinarily be able to participate in a Thanksgiving feast find joy and hope through this Canadian tradition.
  • To increase a sense of community among people/families that are often left at the fringes.

There are two ways you can participate:

  • Join us for dinner! It's free and we'll have a great time together. If you would like to join us, please email (ignition@thesanctuarypickering.ca) or phone us (905-231-3269) to let us know you're coming.
  • Lend a hand! We could use some extra help with cooking turkeys, food prep and table service so let us know when you can be available and we'll be happy to have the extra hands.

Hockey for Fun and Skill-Building

Looking for a place for your child to learn the game and pick up some skills without the high cost and busy schedule of many hockey programs? We can help! Your child can learn and play on Monday and/or Saturday afternoons from October through March in a safe, fun environment. It's the latest offering from Ignition's partnership with SUSportz!

For more information and to register, call (905) 427-5844.

Re-ignite with Ignition (Monday Nights at Westcreek)

Ignition at The Sanctuary Pickering hosts a FREE sports drop-in programme every Monday night (during the school year) in partnership with Westcreek Public School.

Where: Westcreek Public School (Pickering)
When: Monday Nights 6:30pm to 7:30pm

Please come and join us for an hour of fitness, fun and friendships!!!  All are welcome --- families, children, parents, friends and neighbours!  We hope to see YOU there!

Food Drive

The newly formed Sanctuary-Pickering launched a series of community-service events by going door-to-door in one community of Pickering, seeking donations of non-perishable food items for the Ajax-Pickering Food Bank run by St. Paul's on the Hill. We were warmly received by many residents and we were able to gather over 750 pounds of food for those in our city that need a little helping hand.

Garbage Cleanup

An energetic group of bag-carrying Sanctuarians swept through Fieldlight Park and Beverley Morgan Park picking up all kinds of garbage. We were participating in Pickering's 20-minute Makeover, but beat the clock by a couple of hours. Our folks were easily identifiable by the orange Sanctuary ball caps we wore and by the bags of garbage we left behind to be picked up by the City. Not only was the effect noticeable, but we had a good time doing it and were happy to serve our community.