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The Commemorative Program is temporarily unavailable. Please check back in March 2026 for updates and availability.
The Commemorative Asset Program allows the public to pay tribute to a person(s) or occasion by purchasing an asset available for installation in a City of Pembroke public park.
As of January 1st, 2026, only Bench and Tree donations are available for purchase.
Bench Commemorations
Application Due Date for a 2026 Installation: June 1st, 2026
The bench will be purchased by the City, in order to remain consistent throughout all of our parks. The bench will be engraved by the purchasing company, with the requested dedication message. Please refer to the image below for an example of the engraved dedication and the style of bench.
The following parks are available for commemorative benches:
Installation of the Bench: The Commemorative Bench is purchased and installed by the City (contractor). Where applicable, the commemorative bench installed will be mounted onto a Concrete Pad, in align with the Parks & Recreation Department commitment to furthering the accessibility of Pembroke’s parks. The date of installation cannot be guaranteed, as it is determined by the manufacturer’s lead times and the contractor’s availability.
Deadline to Apply for Current Year Installation: To guarantee that your bench is installed within the calendar year, your application should be submitted prior to June 1st of that year. Otherwise, your application will be considered for the following year’s installation.
Locations Available: Please visit the webpage Pembroke.ca/InMemory for a complete list of the bench locations available. The Department may replace existing benches with new commemorations. Every effort will be made to accommodate the exact choice of location however changes may be made at the City’s discretion. The Department will discuss the changes with the Donor prior to the installation of the commemorative bench.
Bench Maintenance: Benches will remain on site for a 10-year period. The City will replace the bench one time during this period if the bench is damaged beyond repair. Otherwise, the City will maintain the donated benches on a case-by-case basis, per operating capacities. The City reserves the right to determine the level of maintenance required.
Maintenance Authority: The City prohibits the re-surfacing or repair to any commemorative bench by any person other than appointed municipal employees or agents as appointed by the Director of the Parks and Recreation Department or the Director’s appointed agent.
Bench Engravement: Participants will submit specific text for a plaque that will be engraved to the bench. 3 boards of the bench are available for engravement, limited to 22 characters per board. Text on the bench must follow the Commemoration Plaque Guidelines, seen in appendix 1.
Alternate Bench Options: Under the discretion of the Department, alternate bench options may be approved only for historical or commemorative milestones.
Click here to view the full Commemorative Asset Policy.
Tree Commemorations
Application Due Date for a 2026 planting: May 1st, 2026
The following species are available.
Please note that while we will make every effort to accommodate park and tree preferences, each park has unique attributes and constraints that must be considered.
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Paperbark Maple Acer griseum |
The Paperbark Maple is a small ornamental tree best known for its striking, cinnamon-coloured peeling bark, which provides year-round visual interest. In fall, its leaves turn vibrant shades of red and orange. Due to its modest size, it fits well in parks, gardens, and naturalized areas where close-up viewing is encouraged. It is slow growing but long-lived, making it a beautiful feature tree for public spaces. |
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Red Maple Acer rubrum |
The Red Maple is a fast-growing native tree valued for its brilliant red fall colour and adaptability to a range of soil conditions. It provides excellent shade and seasonal interest, with red flowers appearing in early spring before leaves emerge. Red Maples are commonly found in parks and natural areas and contribute to urban canopy coverage and wildlife habitat. |
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Sugar Maple Acer saccharum |
The Sugar Maple is a classic Canadian tree and a symbol of our natural heritage. Known for its dense shade and spectacular fall colours ranging from yellow to deep orange, this long-lived tree thrives in park settings with good soil conditions. Sugar Maples support wildlife and contribute to cooling urban spaces, making them a valued addition to public parks and green spaces. |
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Honeylocust 'Shademaster' Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis 'Shademaster' |
Shademaster Honeylocust is a thornless variety that offers light, filtered shade, allowing grass and plants to grow beneath it. Its fine-textured leaves give it a soft appearance and turn yellow in the fall. This tree is well suited to urban parks due to its tolerance of pollution and compacted soils, and its relatively low maintenance needs. |
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American Linden 'Redmond' Tilia americana 'Redmond' |
The Redmond Linden is a shade tree with a symmetrical shape and large heart-shaped leaves. In early summer, it produces fragrant yellow flowers that attract pollinators such as bees. This tree is well suited to park lawns and gathering spaces, offering generous shade and a pleasant sensory experience during flowering season. |
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Elm 'Triumph' Ulmus x 'Triumph®' (Morton Glossy) |
Triumph Elm is a disease-resistant elm variety developed to restore the elm’s presence in urban landscapes. It has a strong branching structure, glossy green leaves, and a classic vase shape that provides excellent shade. This tree is well suited to parks and boulevards and contributes to long-term canopy resilience. |
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American Beech Tree Fagus grandifolia |
The American Beech is a stately native tree known for its smooth gray bark and dense canopy. Its leaves turn golden bronze in the fall, and many remain on the tree through winter, adding seasonal interest. Beech trees are best suited to naturalized park areas where their surface roots and leaf litter can be accommodated. |
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Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry Amelanchier grandiflora "Autumn Brilliance" |
Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry is a cultivated variety selected for its strong structure, disease resistance, and outstanding fall colour. It produces white spring flowers and purple berries that attract birds. This tree works well in public parks due to its reliability, four-season interest, and manageable size. *Only select locations available due to the flower and berry droppings. |
The following parks are available for commemorative tree plantings:
Commemorative Tree Guidelines
· Tree Specifications: Commemorative trees are locally sourced native species. Trees are purchased as a 1.6 - 2.4 inch caliper tree.
· Location of the Tree: Tree species available for the Program will vary depending on the preferred location, and local native species. Every effort will be made to accommodate the choice of location and species however changes may be made at the City’s discretion. The Department will inform the Donor of the changes prior to the installation of the commemorative tree.
· Location of Plaque: In the case of a tree donation, a plaque will be placed on the Living Legacy Tree located outside the new Marina Washrooms located at Waterfront Park (to be built in 2026). The plaque will be displayed for a commemorative period of 10 years.
· Planting of the Tree: The City will plant all donated trees in a year at the same time, weather permitting. The City cannot accommodate requests for planting to occur at a specific time. Postponements due to weather events or other unforeseen circumstances may occur from time to time. Donors will be notified once their tree has been planted.
· Deadline to Apply for Current Year Planting: To guarantee that your tree is planted within the calendar year, your application should be submitted prior to May 1st of that year. Otherwise, your application will be considered for the following year’s planting.
· Replacement of the Tree & Plaque: The City will replace the tree within 5 years if the tree does not survive or is vandalized and will replace the plaque one time within a 10-year period due to natural weathering or vandalism.
Click here to view the full Commemorative Asset policy.
Contact Us
City of Pembroke
1 Pembroke St. E.
Pembroke, ON
K8A 3J5
Telephone: 613-735-6821
Fax: 613-735-3660
