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About Pembroke, Ontario

Pembroke is renowned as the “Heart of the Ottawa Valley.”

This small city on the banks of the Ottawa River has a population of 15,940 people as of the 2011 census. When it was first established, Pembroke was a major center for the logging industry. Today, the economy is based more on ecotourism than forestry.

The City of Pembroke
Downtown Pembroke

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Pembroke History

The first European settler to arrive in the area was Peter White, who cut down the first tree in May of 1828. He built a homestead for his family and began a successful lumbering operation. The operation grew as White hired workmen, a blacksmith, a shoemaker, a harness maker, a sleigh maker, and mechanics. Other lumbermen followed in White’s footsteps, gradually building a community called Campbelltown. Another community called Sydenham (originally called Miramichi) was founded across the river. In 1856, Campbelltown and Sydenham were combined into Pembroke, which was incorporated as a town in 1877. Pembroke was then incorporated as a city in 1971.

History of Pembroke
Pembroke Soundscapes Interactive History

Pembroke Weather

Pembroke has four distinct seasons, with mild temperatures of 20 to 25°C in July and an average low temperature of -11.5°C in January. Even in February, its driest month, the city receives more rainfall than average with a total of about 821 mm per year. June is the wettest month, with 82 mm of precipitation on average. The snowiest month is January, with an average snowfall of about 62 cm over 17 days.

Climate and Weather in Pembroke
The Weather Network Forecast for Pembroke

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Cost of living in Pembroke

According to Salary Expert, the cost of living in Pembroke is 6.3 percent lower than the national average. Housing in Pembroke is less expensive than it is in many cities in Ontario. The average salary in Pembroke is also significantly higher than the median wage in Canada at $45,603 per year.

Pembroke Cost of Living Data
Salary in Pembroke

Real Estate

Housing in Pembroke consists of everything from condominium apartments and simple suburban bungalows to Victorian mansions and cottages on the Ottawa River. The median home price in Pembroke is $202,400, making Pembroke one of the least expensive cities for buying a home in Ontario. Apartments are typically in the $800 to $900 per month range.

Houses for Sale in Pembroke
Apartments for Rent in Pembroke

Locate Key Resources

Hospitals

Pembroke Regional Hospital has a staff of over 750 as well as hundreds of volunteers dedicated to providing quality emergency and intensive care as well as surgical, mental health, orthopaedics, and obstetrics care. Mental Health Services of Renfrew County is a service administered by the hospital that offers mental wellness and addiction support to residents who are 16 years or older.

Pembroke Regional Hospital
Mental Health Services of Renfrew County

Transportation

Pembroke is accessible by car via Highway 17, also known as the Trans-Canada Highway. The size of the city makes traveling on foot or by bicycle easy and safe. It takes no more than 30 minutes to walk to most destinations from the city’s center. The nearest passenger terminal is at the Ottawa International Airport, about 150 km southeast via the Trans-Canada Highway.

Cycling in Pembroke
Ottawa International Airport

Schools

Pembroke is served by two publicly-funded school systems: The Renfrew County District School Board (RCDSB) and the Renfrew County Catholic District School Board (RCCDSB). The Algonquin College, established in 1967, overlooks the Ottawa River next to the Pembroke Waterfront Park.

Renfrew County District School Board
Renfrew County Catholic District School Board
Algonquin College

Enjoy The City

Hotels

There are hotel options available in Pembroke for every budget, from no-nonsense motels to luxury lodging with long lists of amenities. One of the more affordable options is the Best Western Pembroke Inn & Conference Centre, a full service hotel serving people in both leisure and business. This hotel offers accommodations, dining, fitness centre, heated salt water swimming pool and much more. The Grey Gables Inn is set in an historic home built by Edward A. Dunlop in 1913. This elegant getaway pairs beautiful and elaborately designed rooms with afternoon tea and decadent spa services.

Pembroke Hotels/Motels/Inns
Best Western Pembroke Inn & Conference Centre
Grey Gables Inn

Restaurants

Pembroke’s riverfront is dotted with local eateries serving everything from French to Thai cuisine. The Nook Crêperie Inc. serves both savoury and sweet crêpes with fillings like smoked salmon, braised beef, French brandy, and house-made Grand Marnier caramel sauce. The Courtyard Bistro is a cozy and modern dinner spot with a beautifully-lit patio that offers a small menu of carefully-crafted dishes and a long wine list.

TripAdvisor Best Pembroke Restaurants
The Nook Crêperie Inc.
Courtyard Bistro

Things To Do

There are plenty of opportunities for outdoor fun in Pembroke, from simply appreciating the beauty of the Ottawa River from a distance to whitewater rafting in it and bungee jumping over it. Thrill seekers can enjoy adventures like these and more at the Wilderness Tours Adventure Resort. Those who prefer to keep their feet more firmly planted on the ground will appreciate the viewing gazebos, boardwalk, full-sized band stand, and playground at the Pembroke Waterfront Park.

Pembroke Tourism
Wilderness Tours Adventure Resort
Pembroke Waterfront Park

Your Pembroke Movers:

AMJ Campbell Pembroke

543 B Achray Road
Pembroke, ON

(613) 732-0001