Our Community

SoRo Good Neighbours was established in 2013 as part of the City of Pickering’s Celebrating Sustainable Neighbourhood Program. Our community of approximately 1000 homes is bound by Highway 401 to the north, the Rouge River/Park to the west, Petticoat Creek Conservation Area to the east and Lake Ontario to the south. This is where nature meets nurture. 

A team of 45 families from the South Rosebank area of Pickering committed to organizing a variety of sustainable initiatives including: community cleanups, restoration of the garden/front yard of Rosebank Road Public School,  maintaining bridge flower baskets, creating a blog to communicate with their neighbours about events, partnering with Abbeylawn Manor Retirement Home to promote volunteerism, organizing special events for the Manor (dog therapy sessions and paint 'n sip events), working with the Durham Regional Police to form a neighbourhood watch group, setting up a walking group to improve health, neighbourhood safety, and so neighbours could get to know each other.

Many of us have lived in the neighbourhood for a long time, but it takes leadership to inspire us and the collective involvement of many to form a community. A passionate advocate for our neighbourhood, Gail Lawlor has helped build the foundation for a collaborative, connected and engaged community we call SoRo (South Rosebank).

A strong believer in listening, Gail is well connected to her neighbours, the City of Pickering and local businesses and is able to forge mutually rewarding relationships with all. 

Gail regularly organizes discussion groups where residents explore ways to enhance our neighbourhood. In 2013 Gail planted the seeds for what are now fully grown neighbourhood groups and initiatives - SoRo Good Neighbours, Neighbourhood Watch, SoRo Safe Streets, Pollinator Gardens to name a few. She inspires others to share ideas, supports projects and is a mentor to many in our community.

Share your ideas with Gail

A contest was facilitated to create a logo representing our South Rosebank community. The winning submission: SoRo Good Neighbours, Where Nature Meets Nurture. 

Elliott Gunn’s logo and Holly Lynden’s slogan were the winners - chosen by community votes at our first SoRo Family Fun Day in 2016. SoRo (sow-row) is our shortened name!

Our aim is to deepen the connection to our home, widen our reach to those in our neighbourhood and to strengthen the fabric of our community, creating a safe place for young and old to thrive. 

SoRo Good Neighbours recognizes that a strong community is essential to the health and well being of a person’s life. Our mission is to inspire every resident to get connected through involvement in numerous local events and causes that reflect and nurture our core values: kindness, safety, diversity and creativity.