Pickering Beach, Ontario

Pickering Beach is a neighbourhood in the Ajax town of Ontario, Canada. Located on Lake Ontario east of Toronto, it was once an important cottage destination for Toronto's upper class.

In 1923, Toronto land developer James Tuckett bought an already existing proposed land development along the lakeshore in the Pickering Township to develop a seasonal cottage community. Previously a cottage and Beach resort named "Ontoro" had existed but not developed. Eventually the area post WW2 evolved into a permanently settled unincorporated community. The local residents formed an Association that organized events; raised funds for road maintenance and flood prevention; established a church, a school; operated a fire station as volunteers; and lobbied for municipal services such as electricity, garbage collection, and eventually sewage.

In the early 1970s, MTRCA acquired several lake front properties for a parkland. In 1974, Pickering Beach merged with the town of Ajax, within the Regional Municipality of Durham. Modern residences have now replaced the original cottages. The local beach is now called Paradise Beach, although the neighbourhood retains its original name.