Linda Cook

About Linda

Hello, I’m Linda Cook. I was born in Bay Ridges, in Ward 2, and have lived and raised my family here for more than 40 years.  

I believe the time is now for change. For working toward a smarter future. For our families, our environment, and our community.

This is why I am running to be your next Regional Councillor for Ward 2.

Raising a son with special needs we’ve had to navigate the labyrinth of education and municipal services – at times with success, but most times through trial and error.  These challenges created an opportunity to create our best lives and find a way to share our experience, use our voice and advocate for others.

We did so in finding community, through activism with the 9th Pickering Scout Group, our school communities, and my leadership role with PESCA, the Pickering East Shore Community Association where I was held roles as both President and Past President. I was also honoured to serve 1 term on the Durham Catholic School Board’s Special Education Advisory Committee as the Community Liaison.

Through advocacy and community building we found our way to the Special Olympics. I have been a competitive sport coach for Spec O for 8 years and was honoured to receive the City of Pickering Volunteer of the Year award in 2020.

I’ve also been an active volunteer at Pickering’s Legion 606 for the last 4 years.

Over the last decade I have been an active participant in our City proceedings, delegating at meetings on issues that concern city and through PESCA delivered multiple forums on Regional Transit, and Emergency Services.

In my professional career I have worked in high tech managing diverse teams as large as 32. I am head of Canadian marketing, brand and hyperscale growth for Cologix the largest data centre company in Canada, where I work on large scale development projects in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. This gives me a unique skill set having deep knowledge of reading architecture schematics, managing land banks, and working closely with the public utilities in all our major Canadian cities.  

It is the knowledge that I will bring to the City.  I understand the importance of infrastructure, sustainable building practices, and proper utility planning.

I hope to bring this knowledge to my role of Regional Councillor, and accomplish a vision of a sustainable Pickering, that presents gentle growth with varied development with inclusive recreation and services. This is my vision of the future for Pickering – community spaces, arts, culture and an introduction of agro-tourism that preserves our agricultural land and puts Pickering on the map as the go-to destination.