President’s Message - December 2024

Now that we’ve returned to Standard Time, the days are very noticeably shorter. When I was working, I travelled to and from work in the dark, only glancing daylight briefly. Yet another perk of retirement is catching more daylight! Perhaps you can relate? The extension of hours of darkness truly affects a portion of the population who endure S.A.D, Seasonal Affect Disorder, aptly named.

I have been intrigued for a long time about the human response to this dark period of the year. Many cultures, philosophies, faiths and religions have traditions of light. In this darkest time of the year, we seek and celebrate light. Look around our homes and neighbourhoods, decorated inside and out with lights. Particularly luminous when reflected off the snow. It can seem merry and bright.

As we approach the Winter Solstice, those practicing Northern Paganism observe the longest night and shortest day as a celestial promise and hope of returning to the light and warmth. Indigenous communities have their own unique traditions to celebrate this occurrence.

Diwali derives its name from ’dipavali’ which means ‘row of lights’ and is a five day celebration by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs to celebrate the victory of light over darkness.

Kwanza is a week long celebration of seven principles that emphasize family and community bonds through candle lighting, poetry, music and food. The seven principles are : Umoja (Unity), Kujichaulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose),Kuumba (Creativity),and Imani (Faith).

Jews celebrate the miracle of a lamp that had only enough oil to remain lit for a day burning for eight days when they celebrate the eight days of Chanukah. A menorah holds nine candles, one for each day and a central candle called a shamesh.

Christians celebrate the birth of the light of God embodied in His Son, Jesus. A bright star guided the wisemen to the Infant. Many Christians have Advent wreaths with five candles. A candle is lit each of the four Sundays before Christmas to emphasize what is coming, what the birth brings to the world – Hope, Peace, Joy and Love and a central Christ candle. Of course this celebration has been overly commercialized and, for most people, bears little or no resemblance to the origin.

In all of these observances we gather with people who have a special place in our lives, who often bring light to our lives.

There is a word that describes light in darkness – chiaroscuro. According to the Miriam-Webster dictionary, chiaroscuro is “the pictorial representation in terms of light and shade; the arrangement of light and dark parts”.  The technique that gives a drawing or painting dimension, texture and interest.

Yes, that sounds like life. Light and dark together. Even the music of the Season, both sacred and secular, has the elements of joy and despair. Many people have very mixed feelings at this time of year for any number of reasons.

Best Wishes to each of you. I hope there is Light to keep the darkness at bay and an abundance of  Hope, Peace, Joy and Love in your homes for the season and coming year.

I look forward to seeing you at the Christmas lunch on December 13th. Please remember that there will not be a general monthly meeting in  December (the fourth Wednesday is Christmas Day). The next monthly meeting will be Wednesday, January 22, 2025.

January Speaker - Mayor Kevin Ashe

Mayor Kevin Ashe has been a resident of Pickering for over 55 years and comes from a family deeply rooted in local politics and community service. His late father, George Ashe, served as the first Mayor of the then Town of Pickering, in 1973, paving the way for Mayor Ashe’s own civic engagement.

Mayor Ashe was first elected as Ward 1 City Councillor in 2003 and was re-elected by Ward 1 residents in 2010 and 2014. In November 2015, he was appointed as Regional Councillor for Ward 1, re-elected in 2018, and remained in that role until he was elected as Mayor in 2022.

Mayor Ashe’s commitment to the community extends beyond politics. Prior to sitting on City Council, Mayor Ashe served as a Trustee on the Durham Catholic District School Board, representing Pickering from 1985 to 1997, and served as Chair of the Board in 1994. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association from 1991 to 1997. Additionally, Mayor Ashe played pivotal roles in various organizations, including the Rouge Valley Health System Foundation, Ajax Pickering Big Brothers and Sisters, and the Rotary Club of Whitby Sunrise. He is a passionate advocate for raising awareness on mental health issues. In November 2023, he co-hosted Youth Mental Health Chats. 

Under Mayor Ashe’s leadership, Pickering is experiencing a new energy, with a focus on creating more employment opportunities for residents. His dedication to making Pickering the best place to live, work, shop, and play is evident in strategic investments in infrastructure and economic development.

Mayor Ashe’s vision for Pickering is ambitious yet grounded, striving to harness Pickering’s potential for positive and progressive growth, fostering vibrancy, connectivity, and sustainability. Central to this vision is promoting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, and nurturing a compassionate and thriving community.

Mayor Ashe understands that achieving this requires strategic planning encompassing opportunities for housing supply and diversity, dedicated community facilities and spaces, essential service and infrastructure investments, and economic development initiatives aimed at bringing jobs closer to home.

With Mayor Ashe leading the way, it is his goal to set Pickering on course for a bright future, ensuring residents can prosper in a vibrant, flourishing, and inclusive community.