“In addition to filming and production, there will be post-production facilities as well. “Upon full build-out, the film studios will be the largest of its kind in Canada,” notes Pickering Mayor Dave Ryan. It will be the first purpose-built studio district in the region. The second phase of the venture will include 150,000 square feet of restaurants or food offerings, another 350-room hotel with a 100,000-square-foot convention centre, and 250,000 square feet of film studios to be operated by TriBro Studios. The vision is for the area to become the premier entertainment, recreation and tourism district east of Yonge Street in Toronto. It is all part of the first phase of a $2-billion, 240-acre, multi-use development known as Durham Live. An adjoining five-star, 225-room hotel and concert venue with 2,500 seats is expected to open in the fall.
The casino, designed by CDA in association with CGL, will feature 2,350 slot machines, 100 live table games and dining and entertainment facilities. The 330,000-square-foot gambling venue, aptly named Pickering Casino Resort, is being built by One Toronto Gaming and is expected to open in April. Construction of a large Las Vegas-style casino on a sprawling parcel of property in the east end of the City of Pickering is moving along and should be completed by spring.
