Pembroke
Around Pembroke
Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Ontario · 23k people
Pembroke
Locals say The Valley · “Hub of the Ottawa Valley”
Where the river meets the pines
Sea greenDodger blueDark orange
Welcome to the Valley! Whether you're here for the river, the hockey, or the maple syrup, you'll find a friendly community that loves the outdoors. Make yourself at home and enjoy the scenery.
Clubs for Pembroke
No clubs for Pembroke yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Pembroke. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Pembroke. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Pembroke Memorial Centre Arena and community hub, home of the Pembroke Lumber Kings.
- Riverside Park Public park along the Ottawa River with trails, a beach, and picnic areas.
- Bonnechere Caves Guided tours through ancient limestone caves near Eganville.
- Champlain Trail Historic route following the Ottawa River, popular for hiking and cycling.
- Pembroke Waterfront Boardwalk and green space along the river, a focal point for events.
- Outdoors Canoeing and kayaking on the Ottawa River
- Outdoors Hiking the Champlain Trail
- With kids Visit Bonnechere Caves
- With kids Swim at Riverside Park Beach
- Evenings Catch a show at the Pembroke Memorial Centre
- Evenings Local pubs and bars downtown
- Locals love Sugar shacks
- Locals love Riverfront parks
Through the year
- Pembroke Maple Syrup Festival April Spring celebration of the local syrup harvest with tastings and demos.
- Eganville Fair August Agricultural fair with livestock shows, midway rides, and local exhibits.
- Cobden Agricultural Fair August Small-town fair featuring produce competitions, games, and community spirit.
- Pembroke Waterfront Festival July Summer outdoor concerts and family activities along the Ottawa River.
- Lumber Kings Home Games September to March Junior hockey action at the Pembroke Memorial Centre all season.
Four distinct seasons with cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. The best time to be out is late spring through early fall. Best: Late spring through early fall offers the most comfortable temperatures and outdoor activities.
Talk like a local
- “The Valley”
- The region itself, referring to the Ottawa Valley.
- “Sugar bush”
- A maple grove where syrup is made.
- “Bush”
- Forest or wooded area.
Getaways
- Petawawa Military town with outdoor recreation and the Canadian War Museum's satellite exhibits.
- Ottawa National capital with museums, Parliament Hill, and the Rideau Canal.
- Algonquin Provincial Park Massive wilderness park for canoeing, hiking, and wildlife viewing.
- Kingston Historic city on Lake Ontario with waterfront dining and Fort Henry.
Local flavour
Teams
- Pembroke Lumber Kings CCHL (Central Canada Hockey League)
Eat and drink
- Butter tarts A classic Canadian pastry, popular in the Ottawa Valley
- Maple syrup Produced locally in sugar shacks across the valley
- Lumberjack breakfast
Where people go
- Sugar shacks Maple syrup production cabins, often open to visitors in spring
- Lumber mills Historic and working mills along the river, reminders of the timber trade
- Riverfronts Scenic spots along the Ottawa River for fishing, boating, and relaxing
Heritage and traditions
Pembroke and the surrounding Ottawa Valley towns are proud of their deep lumber heritage, the sweet maple syrup season, and a warm, resilient community spirit shaped by Irish and French-Canadian roots.
This time of year in Pembroke
- Fall colours drive September-October Late September-October: residents take scenic drives to see the maples turn brilliant red and orange.
Say it like a local: “The Valley” — Refers to the Ottawa Valley, the local region.
Festivals
- Pembroke Winter Carnival January-February A January/February celebration with ice sculptures, outdoor games, and a community spirit.
- Pembroke Garlic Festival August A late-summer event showcasing local garlic, food vendors, and live music.
- Pembroke's Fiddle and Step Dance Jamboree Spring A gathering of local fiddlers and dancers honouring the Valley tradition.
- Eganville's Heritage Days July A weekend of historical re-enactments, pioneer crafts, and local history talks.
Landmarks with a story
- Cathedral of St. Columbkille A striking Roman Catholic cathedral in Pembroke, seat of the Diocese of Pembroke, built in the mid-20th century.
- Pembroke Heritage District A downtown area with well-preserved Victorian-era commercial and residential buildings.
- Eganville's Bonnechere River Bridge An old stone bridge that reflects the town's 19th-century industrial past.
- Pembroke Museum Housed in a former post office, it tells the story of the Valley's lumber and pioneer days.
Food traditions
- Tourtière at Christmas A French-Canadian meat pie that many Valley families serve during the holidays, reflecting the area's Quebec influence.
- Sugar on snow In early spring, maple syrup is boiled and poured over fresh snow to make a chewy treat, a ritual at sugar shacks.
- Lumberjack breakfast A hearty meal of bacon, eggs, pancakes, and maple syrup, served at community events and sugar shacks, harking back to the logging era.
- Butter tarts A classic Canadian pastry with a gooey filling, a staple at local bakeries and fairs.
- River fish fries In summer, locals fry fresh walleye or perch caught from the Ottawa and Bonnechere rivers.
Music and arts
- Ottawa Valley fiddling A distinct style of fiddle music with Irish and French roots, often accompanied by step dancing.
- Step dancing A percussive dance form performed at local halls and festivals, passed down through generations.
- Lumberjack folk songs Traditional ballads and work songs from the logging camps, kept alive by local performers.
A little history
- 1828 Pembroke founded on the Ottawa River
- 1850s-1900s Lumber boom drives the Valley economy
- 1870s Railway reaches Pembroke, connecting it to the wider province
- 1800s The Champlain Trail becomes a key route for settlers and traders
- 1905 Petawawa military base established nearby, shaping the region's identity
Rivalries
- Pembroke Lumber Kings vs. Carleton Place Canadians Intense hockey matchups in the Central Canada Hockey League.
- Pembroke vs. Petawawa Friendly rivalry between the city and the neighbouring military town.
- Game day Lumber Kings home games
- Game day Curling bonspiels
- Outdoors Canoeing the Ottawa River
- Outdoors Hiking the Champlain Trail
- With kids Making maple taffy on snow
- With kids Skating on the outdoor rink
The local accent has a distinct 'Ottawa Valley twang' with Irish and French influences. You'll hear 'eh' a lot, and words like 'toque' and 'tourtière' are part of everyday vocabulary.
Only here
- The oldest junior hockey team in Canada – the Pembroke Lumber Kings – have been playing since 1967.
- The Bonnechere Caves are among the largest marble caves in Ontario, hidden beneath a farmer's field.
- Sugar shacks open their doors each spring, offering a taste of a tradition that goes back generations.
- The Ottawa River's rapids are a natural playground for kayakers and rafters, right in the backyard.
New here? A few tips
- Embrace the winter: invest in a good toque and warm boots; the cold is part of the charm.
- Learn to love maple syrup – you'll be invited to a sugar shack in spring.
- The Valley is a small-town community; don't be shy to say hello to neighbours – friendliness is the norm.
- If you're near Petawawa, you'll hear military life – it's a proud part of the region.
- Take a drive along the Ottawa River; the views are stunning, especially in fall.
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Nearby
Every areaPetawawaOntarioWhere the river runs deep and the pines stand tall.PontiacQuebecRiver, forest, and the quiet life.Renfrew CountyOntarioWhere the Ottawa River runs deep and the forests stand tallHastings CountyOntarioGranite shores and pine-scented airVallée-de-la-GatineauQuebecWhere the river runs through the pinesOttawa–GatineauOntarioWhere the canal freezes and the shawarma flowsBrockvilleOntarioSmall-town charm on the St. Lawrence.MassenaNew YorkSmall towns, big river, endless sky.
Pembroke. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.