Pembroke, Ontario

Pembroke (population 13,490 in the 2001 Canadian census) is a city at the confluence of the Muskrat River and the Ottawa River in the Ottawa Valley in eastern Ontario, Canada. Pembroke is the seat of Renfrew County.

Pembroke City Hall and Muskrat River

Forestry has historically been the major industry in the area, but the nearby military base at Petawawa and nuclear power development at Chalk River have diversified the local economy. During the early eighties, Pembroke fell into hard times and some considered it to be a failing city with little long term development. Combined with an aging population and little investment, it was difficult to sustain itself. In recent years, a turnaround has occurred with a greater military presence and an insurgence in US based businesess who have made their home in the Pembroke area providing growth and prosperity.

Picturesque and unpretentious, Pembroke provides all the amenities of a city but with full access to some of the most pristine wilderness and clean waterways within any major population center. This fact is not lost on the planners who have invested in add on attractions similar to a series of murals in the downtown area depicting the history of the city, from steam and logging to nuclear energy.

Tourist attactions are growing in number every year, particularly in the music and festival aspect. Recently, Pembroke has seen a surge of musical talent. For example, two members of Sam Roberts' band are from Pembroke, as is the indie rock band Blinker the Star and, provide some of the best blues found in the Eastern Ontario region on Wednesday nights in the local downtown core. The two bands held a benefit concert for the Pembroke General Hospital on May 29, 2004. Cavity Greg, another local band celebrated the release of their first album in the summer of 2005. After completing their first CD release tour, as well as the cavity tribute tour of Ontario, Cavity Greg has been booked for a tour of Canada's East Coast, Los Angeles, CA, as well as the release of their second CD "Turn it Down" in the upcoming 2006. Local band Goat Horn have also had success in music touring parts of ontario and some northern states. Goat Horn has also been confirmed for the 9th annual Headbanger's Open Air festival to be held July 14-15th 2006 outside of Hamburg, Germany.

Pembroke is also the birthplace of comedian Tom Green, although Green's family subsequently moved to Ottawa.

Pembroke hosts one of the campuses of Ottawa-based Algonquin College.

Pembroke is also the site of Canada's first electric street light.

The city is also home to the annual "Old Time Fiddling and Step Dancing Festival" that happens Labour Day weekend at Riverside Park. There are often up to 1400 RVs parked there for the week preceding the event.

Pembroke's Public Library was designed by architect Francis Sullivan, a contemporary of Frank Lloyd Wright. It is rumoured that Wright had considerable influence on the design of the building.

Pembroke media

Radio

* FM 92.5 - CBCD, CBC Radio One
* FM 96.7 - CHVR ("Star 96"), country music
* FM 99.7 - CKQB-1 ("The Bear"), active rock
* FM 100.7 - CHRI-2, Christian
* FM 104.9 - CIMY ("My FM"), adult contemporary

Television

* Channel 3: CBOT-6, CBC
* Channel 5: CHRO, A-Channel
* Channel 17: , TFO
* Channel 29: CICE-16, TVOntario
* Channel 47: CJOH-47, CTV

Print

The city's main daily newspaper is the Pembroke Daily Observer.

See also

* Pembroke Airport

External links

* City of Pembroke official website
* Catholic Diocese of Pembroke official web site