Culture and Recreation

Pembroke is a four season community with a wealth of activities for young and old alike. Each autumn the woods around the city are ablaze with colour, and nature lovers are attracted by the clean, crisp air and the many protected outdoor recreation areas with walking and hiking trails, home to a wide variety of plants and animals. Our snowy winters are seen as an opportunity to participate in one or more of the many winter sports. Ice fishing, snowmobiling, cross country and downhill skiing, hockey and figure skating are all locally enjoyed activities. During the spring and summer, the Waterfront serves as the focal point for a variety of regattas, fishing derbies, festivals and celebrations. A Boardwalk, picnic gazebos, and a walking trail along the river’s edge continually draw people to the river. Free nightly entertainment is offered throughout July and August at the Amphitheatre. Riverside Park is also full of summer activities, including softball, tennis, soccer, swimming, and mini-golf. The annual Old Time Step Dancing and Fiddling Competition is held here every Labour Day weekend, drawing thousands of people to enjoy the performers. Competition world-class white water rafting is just half an hour away and attracts tens of thousands of rafters every summer. There are also several area golf courses that offer both challenging play and stunning scenery.

Music, Drama and Dance

Festival Hall is a 600 seat auditorium with a fixed stage, lighting, sound system, dressing rooms that hosts many musical and dramatic events throughout the year. The Pembroke Musical Society and Pembroke Little Theatre ensure that there’s always live theatre for an audience to enjoy, while the annual Kiwanis Music Festival encourages young musicians from all over Renfrew County. Several dance schools offer lessons from jazz to ballet to tap and step for performers of all ages.

Communities in Bloom

Pembroke has participated in this national civic pride and beautification program since 1999. In 2001, it won in its population category at the provincial level, and earned the right to call itself “the prettiest little city in Ontario”. Pembroke has also received honourable mentions from the provincial and national judges for community involvement, industrial clean up and environmental awareness, and in 2003 it won five blooms at the national competition level!

HockeyTown Canada

Pembroke has a rich history with hockey, and is proud to be known as HockeyTown Canada. Each year Pembroke hosts the Silver Stick Hockey tournament, the largest in north eastern North America at the Pembroke Memorial Centre, an indoor arena and convention facility in downtown Pembroke.

Sports Facilities

Pembroke has several indoor, four season facilities, including: two public skating and hockey arenas; community swimming pool; fitness centres; squash and racquet ball courts; and outdoor tennis courts.

Accommodations

The hospitality sector features a variety of hotel, motel, and bed and breakfast accommodation. Pembroke has approximately 550 rooms available, offering visitors a wide choice of quality, location and service. There is also seasonal overnight tent and trailer camping in beautiful Riverside Park.

To reserve camp sites, call 735-6821 ext. 1504

Ottawa River

The jewel in our backyard is the magnificent Ottawa River. Sport fishing, white water rafting, kayaking, and leisure boating on a beautiful, clean river that remains relatively undiscovered continues to entice our visitors to stay a little longer and enjoy our good nature! The Temiskawa Waterway extends over 500 km, allowing boaters to navigate from Fitzroy Harbour near Arnprior to New Liskeard in northern Ontario using trailers equipped with hydraulic lifts to transport boats over dams and around rapids. Boaters can enjoy stunning scenery, unspoiled beaches, secluded coves and charming towns and villages along this historic route that led the voyageurs of yesteryear into the heart of Canada.

Pembroke Marina

The Pembroke Marina, conveniently located in downtown Pembroke, has mooring facilities for up to 135 boats and operates daily throughout the summer season. Excellent launching facilities, washrooms, showers, laundry, charts, gas, safe parking and a canteen are all available.

For reservations or booking services, call 735-6821 ext. 1505

Culture & Recreation

Pembroke is a four season community with a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities catering to all age groups.

Fall and Winter

Each autumn the woods around the city are ablaze with colour, and nature lovers are attracted by the clean, cool air and the many protected outdoor recreation areas with walking and hiking trails which are host to a colourful variety of bird and animal species.

Our snowy winters are seen as an opportunity to participate in one or more of the many winter sports. Ice fishing, snowmobiling, cross country and downhill skiing, hockey and figure skating are all locally enjoyed activities.

Spring and Summer

Throughout spring and summer The Waterfront serves as a focal point for a variety of festivals, fishing derbies, and celebrations. Free nightly entertainment at the Amphitheatre, strolling the Boardwalk, enjoying the children’s playground, or relaxing on one of the many benches are just some of the reasons this has become Pembroke’s “people place”. Popular summertime city activities include fiddling and step dancing competitions, softball, tennis, soccer, skateboarding, swimming, mini-golf, biking and bird watching. Many classes are offered by the City of Pembroke Recreation Department, as well as organized league sports for all age groups.