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Dear residents of Pembroke,
Happy New Year! I know the start to 2022 has been difficult for many people. Here at the City, we are working hard to do our part to ensure our community sees some support, has some fun, and continues to make improvements.
Council will approve the 2022 budget February 1. The weight of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our ratepayers and businesses was on our minds during deliberations. We want to maintain our municipal services at the lowest cost possible for our ratepayers. This budget does that. The levy increase for 2022 is 2.23%. For residential ratepayers that is $126 a year increase for taxes, waste, water, and sewer.
Of course, part of the City’s operations and budget includes maintaining roads and sidewalks during these winters months – and we have had to do a lot of that lately! I want to thank all our staff who work long hours during winter storms to keep our roads, facilities, and services safe. To learn more on how the City decides what to plow first, you can read about our winter control operations on the Roads and Parking section of our website.
If you are a Pembroke resident who needs help shovelling your driveway or walkway this winter or are you a member of our community looking to lend a hand to someone in need, please do sign up for Snow Angels. This community-driven initiative connects volunteers and people needing some help to clean up the snow.
As people try to keep active during these cold days, the City has options to help out. With the January 31 easing of provincial health measures, our recreation facilities are once again open to the public. Swimming lessons are starting up at Kinsmen Pool, and our rinks are open – including public skating at the Pembroke Memorial Centre with a 50-person capacity. Walkers can also enjoy the PMC again Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., and Monday to Thursday from 4-8 p.m. with a maximum of 25 walkers per hour.
For those who love the outdoors, free snowshoe rentals are available for children and adults for up to a week at a time. Contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 613-735-6821 ext. 1501 to book yours. Please note a credit card number on file is required.
And as we kick off February, the community can enjoy the 2022 edition of SnoSpree!
Running January 31-February 6, enjoy events such as Festival Hall Free Movie Night with Cruella, 50/50 Online General Trivia Fundraiser, Date Night at Home, Outdoor Games and Inflatables at the Waterfront, the Winter's Biggest Fan Contest, Snowshow Golden Ticket, Ice Water Challenge, and more. Find the full schedule of events on our website.
We are proud to be able to offer these activities to our community, with the support of several key partners, in a COVID-safe manner.
COVID, of course, continues to be a dominant presence in our lives. January proved very difficult for many businesses as the Omicron variant led to increased provincial health measures and restrictions on their operations. The province has announced a gradual easing of those measures starting January 31, but things are still tough for our business community. I continue to encourage everyone to shop and eat local when they can, and thank everyone for their continued support of Pembroke’s local economy.
I also continue to encourage everyone to follow good public health practices such as frequent handwashing, wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing, and getting vaccinated or boosted. For information on the vaccine, or to book an appointment, be sure to check out the Renfrew County and District Health Unit Vaccine Rollout webpage.
February marks Black History Month as we recognize and celebrate the contributions, achievements, and culture of Black Canadians throughout our country’s history and the impact they will continue to make in its future. This February, I encourage you to visit the City’s website at pembroke.ca and our social media platforms to find regional and national resources and events to mark Black History Month.
And finally, for February 1, I want to wish a Happy Lunar New Year to everyone in our community who is celebrating the Year of the Tiger. On behalf of Council, I wish you and your families a year ahead of happiness, peace, and good fortune.
Be well.
Mayor Mike LeMay
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