News

By virtue of the power vested in me

I Do Hereby Declare

The week of

May 3rd – 9th, 2026

as "Emergency Preparedness Week"

in the City of Pembroke.

Whereas the City of Pembroke recognizes the importance of Emergency Management in Ontario; and

Whereas the goal of Emergency Preparedness Week is to raise community awareness and the need to prepare for the possibility of an emergency; and

Whereas the safety of our community is the responsibility of each and every one of us and we must prepare now and learn how to secure a strong and healthy tomorrow.

Now Therefore, I, Ron Gervais, Mayor of the City of Pembroke, do hereby proclaim the week of May 3rd to May 9th, 2026 to be Emergency Preparedness Week in the City of Pembroke, and encourage all citizens and businesses to be prepared and know your risk. This will help our community to become more aware of the importance of planning ahead and preparing for emergency situations together.

Dated in the Mayor’s Office this 5th day of May, 2026.

Ron Gervais

Mayor, City of Pembroke

By virtue of the power vested in me

I Do Hereby Declare

May 2026

as

  “Community Living Month”

in the City of Pembroke.

Whereas Community Living Ottawa Valley is a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors established in 1958 and is a member of Community Living Ontario.  It has approximately 200 members representing communities in the Upper Ottawa Valley and provides services and supports to adults with intellectual disabilities; and

Whereas Community Living Upper Ottawa Valley’s Goal and Vision Statement, “That all persons live in a state of dignity, share in all elements of living in the community and have the opportunity to participate effectively” advances and educates citizens of all communities; and

Whereas Community Living Upper Ottawa Valley remains true to its vision; foreseeing a society where all legal and human rights are afforded to every citizen without discrimination and where everyone is supported in their efforts to become a participating, respected member of our society.

Therefore, be it resolved that I, Ron Gervais, Mayor of the City of Pembroke, proclaim May 2026 as “Community Living Month” in the City of Pembroke

Dated in the Mayor’s Office this 5th day of May 2026

Ron Gervais

Mayor, City of Pembroke

By virtue of the power vested in me

I Do Hereby Declare

May 2026

as

  “Jewish Heritage Month”

in the City of Pembroke.

Whereas the Jewish community, with a long and proud history in Canada and in Pembroke, has made significant contributions to the wellbeing, growth and prosperity of Pembroke and all of Canada while overcoming tremendous obstacles; and

Whereas Jewish Canadians have excelled in a wide range of endeavours, including the arts, sciences, law, architecture, media, finance, entertainment, philanthropy, and business, significantly contributing to Canadian life; and

Whereas in 2018 Parliament adopted Bill S-232 which designates the month of May as Canadian Jewish Heritage Month recognizing the important contributions that Jewish Canadians have made to Canada’s social, economic, political, and cultural fabric; and

Whereas Parliament declared that Canadian Jewish Heritage Month would provide an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about the inspirational role that Jewish Canadians have played and continue to play in communities across the country; and

Whereas B’nai Brith a Jewish human rights organization has invited municipalities to enhance Parliament’s declaration by adopting their own motions and promoting the celebration of Jewish Heritage month within their respective communities every May.

Therefore, be it resolved that I, Ron Gervais, Mayor of the City of Pembroke, proclaim May 2026 as “Jewish Heritage Month” in the City of Pembroke

Dated in the Mayor’s Office this 5th day of May 2026

Ron Gervais

Mayor, City of Pembroke

City of Pembroke

Public Notice

Please be advised that a Special Council Meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers to discuss the Official Plan Preliminary Report.

V .Charbonneau

Clerk

City of Pembroke

By virtue of the power vested in me

I Do Hereby Declare

March, 2026

as

Amyloidosis Awareness Month

in the City of Pembroke.

Whereas March is Amyloidosis Awareness Month, a month dedicated to raising awareness, funding research, and supporting those living with amyloidosis and their loved ones; and

Whereas Amyloidosis is a group of diseases that occurs when an abnormal protein, known as amyloid, builds up in the tissues and organs of the body.  Left untreated, the disease can result in organ failure and can be fatal; and

Whereas Amyloidosis can mimic the signs and symptoms of more common medical conditions and the disease can be challenging to diagnose; and

Whereas Amyloidosis often affects people who are older or middle aged; however, younger people have been diagnosed with this disease; and

Whereas some of the signs and symptoms of amyloidosis can include shortness of breath, weight loss, fatigue, swelling in the ankles and legs, numbness in the hands and feet, foamy urine, carpal tunnel syndrome, bruising around the eyes, and an enlarged tongue; and

Whereas early diagnosis can lead to better outcomes for both patients and their families; and

Whereas raising awareness about all the amyloidosis diseases, including hereditary and non-hereditary forms of the disease, can contribute to the building of healthier communities across Canada.

Therefore, be it resolved that I, Ron Gervais, Mayor of the City of Pembroke, do hereby proclaim March 2026, as “Amyloidosis Awareness Month” in the City of Pembroke.

Dated in the Mayor’s Office this 3rd day of March 2026

Ron Gervais

Mayor, City of Pembroke

City of Pembroke Council and staff have taken several recent opportunities to advocate for our community’s needs with the Province of Ontario.

In December, the City took part in the Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus Day of Advocacy at Queen’s Park. This group represents the separated (single-tier) municipalities of Eastern Ontario. Early this month, the City had a submission in the Provincial pre-budget consultations with the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, which was held in Pembroke. And, last week, the City attended the Rural Ontario Municipal Association Conference.

These opportunities allow for one-on-one discussions with Provincial ministers, parliamentary assistants, and key staff, which can lead to stronger cases being made right to the decision makers. Often, these efforts are made in collaboration with regional partners such as the County of Renfrew and neighbouring municipalities. 

Themes of the recent advocacy include:

• Predictable and sustainable funding sources for municipalities, especially regarding asset management and aging infrastructure.
• Rising and unpredictable policing costs due to the OPP billing model, court security, prisoner transfer, and growing demands related to mental health, addictions, and homelessness.
• Extraordinary costs of fire apparatus and equipment/rising acquisition costs.
• MPAC assessment.
• Increased per-capita funding for domestic students attending college or university.
• Announced timelines for the stages of four-laning Highway 417/Highway 17 to Pembroke.
• Stagnant subdivision and how to spur development in rural Ontario.
• Fiscal pressures on municipalities due to a broken funding relationship and provincial underfunding of social and housing services.
• Sportsplex funding.

“The Province is a key partner, and it is very important for us to be in front of these key people to provide the reality and pressures of small municipalities such as Pembroke so that voice is brought to the table when the government is making decisions,” says Mayor Ron Gervais. “We will continue to advocate for Pembroke and our region and maintain our great relationship with MPP Denault to help ensure our growth and viability into the future.”

By virtue of the power vested in me

I Do Hereby Declare

February 1-7, 2026

as "White Cane Week"

in the City of Pembroke.

Whereas the first full week of February is celebrated as White Cane Week in Canada to promote the initiative of the Canadian Council of the Blind; and

Whereas the Pembroke White Cane Club, in association with the Canadian Council of the Blind aims to provide education and to raise awareness about vision loss and remind all Canadians that the traditional white cane is a symbol of independence – not dependence, and a lack of sight is not a lack of vision; and
Whereas White Cane Week has evolved to reflect the changing situations of the blind community and it has begun to emphasize the equal capabilities and talents of people who are blind and partially sighted and their significant contributions to the community and the work place; and

Whereas with the province’s aging population, all Ontarians need to be better informed about the effects of vision loss and work towards creating more supportive, inclusive communities.

Therefore, be it resolved that I, Ron Gervais, Mayor of the City of Pembroke do hereby proclaim the week of February 1-7, 2026 as White Cane Week in the City of Pembroke.

Dated in the Mayor’s Office this 20th day of January, 2026

Ron Gervais

Mayor, City of Pembroke

TAKE NOTICE THAT the audited financial statements of the Corporation of the City of Pembroke for the year ending December 31, 2024 were adopted at the regular meeting of Council held on December 16, 2025. 

Pursuant to subsection 295 (1) of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c.25, the 2024 Audited Financial Statements are available on the City’s website at https://www.pembroke.ca/city-government/budget-and-financial-statements/ or a hard copy can be obtained at City Hall upon request at no cost.

Notice is hereby given that the City of Pembroke is hosting a public budget meeting Tuesday, January 13 from 6-8 p.m. This meeting will be held in Council Chambers at City Hall located at 1 Pembroke St. E. and is open to the public.

City of Pembroke residents looking to provide comments or ask questions regarding the City’s 2026 operating and capital budgets can do so by:

• Submitting questions or comments online
• The online form will remain open until 8 a.m. on Friday, January 9
• Questions and comments received will be reviewed and addressed during the public meeting. 
• Speaking in person at the public meeting
• Residents wanting to be included on the speakers’ list should contact the Clerk by email at pembroke@pembroke.ca prior to 12 p.m. Friday, January 9

Your feedback will help Council and staff understand satisfaction with City services and budget priorities. Community feedback is one factor, along with legislative requirements, policies, objectives, resource availability, and financial constraints.

This 2026 public budget meeting will be available on the City’s YouTube channel.

When it comes to challenging issues affecting our city, collaboration is key. This is exactly what is happening in Pembroke when it comes to mental health, addictions, and homelessness challenges, which are being seen across Ontario.

Pembroke is not unique in experiencing these challenges, especially as a hub of services and amenities. I understand some residents have concerns about things they are seeing around town or when these challenges affect people they love.

However, we are seeing progress on supporting people and tackling these issues due to collaborative initiatives from a wide range of Renfrew County services.

Our CAO recently brought a report to Council highlighting various stakeholders including the Mesa HART Hub, Renfrew County and District Drug Strategy, OPP community services and operations, Mental Health Court, and City by-law enforcement.

Since launching in the last year, the Mesa outreach team has connected with 160 people with complex mental health and/or substance use disorders who were not previously connected to any services.

The Drug Strategy’s data shows that suspected drug toxicity deaths have decreased from a historical high of 41 in 2023 to 29 in 2024 and 7 at the midway point of 2025. While any death related to a substance use medical emergency is one too many, there is cautious optimism that these new initiatives are having an impact.

From a policing standpoint, we are seeing support through the Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team, where these officers are partnered with a clinician to intervene when people are in crisis, as well as provide resources to others to prevent them from getting to a place of crisis.

Recently, the Community Street Crime Unit also completed a drug trafficking project where 31 people were charged with trafficking controlled substances within the City of Pembroke. Firearms and drugs were removed from our community because of the actions of our police.

Thanks to efforts such as these, as well as all the ongoing work of the OPP, Pembroke’s by-law enforcement officers, Mesa, paramedics, and other service groups, these issues are being addressed.

There is still a lot of work to be done. But I believe these collaborative efforts are working and will be the way forward to make things better for all in our community.

As always, my door is open should ratepayers wish to meet with me to discuss municipal matters that affect them.

Mayor Ron Gervais