News

The City of Pembroke is seeking competitive proposals from qualified firms to provide engineering services for the Design and Contract Administration for landscaping design and build for Trailhead Hub located at 11 Albert Street, Pembroke Ontario.

Complete proposal documents in electronic PDF version, may be obtained through email request to purchasing@pembroke.ca. Proposal sets will be available for distribution beginning on December 18, 2025, during regular office hours (7:30am to 4:00pm).

Four (4) hard copies of the proposal clearly marked as to contents or emailed PDF copy with signature to purchasing@pembroke.ca by 2:00:59 PM, Local Time, Thursday, January 15th, 2026.

All questions relating to this proposal request will be received in writing up to and no later than 12:00 p.m. local time on Thursday, January 8, 2026.

The City reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals. The lowest or any proposal will not necessarily be accepted.

Ms. Marsha Hawthorne

Purchasing Manager/Deputy Treasurer

City of Pembroke

Operations Department

460 River Road

Pembroke, Ontario K8A 1A1

Purchasing@pembroke.ca

Telephone: (613) 735-6821, ext. 1408

Following two days of deliberations by the City of Pembroke Finance and Administration Committee, Council has advanced the 2026 Budget, balancing service delivery and infrastructure investment with affordability for residents. 

Under Ontario’s Strong Mayor budget process, the budget will be finalized after the mayoral veto/override period on Thursday, January 22, 2026.

Pembroke is the only single‑tier municipality in Renfrew County. The City tax rate includes both City services as well as the County of Renfrew and other shared services. In nearby lower‑tier municipalities (such as Laurentian Valley and Petawawa), the County/shared services are billed as a separate tax rate.

As amended by Council at the December 16 Council meeting, the 2026 budget is advancing with a total tax levy increase after assessment growth of 6.99%. This includes a levy stabilization reduction of 0.9% to improve affordability to residents. Broken down, the County of Renfrew and shared services portion is 2.36%, and the City portion (comparable to neighbours) is 4.63%.

For the average residential property owner, municipal property taxes are projected to increase by about $238 in 2026 (about $20 per month), split as follows:

·        $68 for capital infrastructure projects (roads, sidewalks, parks, and recreation facilities)

·        $65 for operating costs to maintain core services (fire, roads, parks) and to promote economic development

·        $25 for increased OPP policing costs

• About $80 for the County of Renfrew levy and other shared services (paramedic services, homes for the aged, the local health unit, and other social services)

“Committee and staff worked to fund the services residents rely on, invest in our roads and facilities, and recognize affordability pressures facing households,” says Mayor Ron Gervais.

Managing the City’s infrastructure funding gap remains a priority. The community currently utilizes more than $11 million per year in roads, sidewalks, bridges, storm sewer, parks, fleet, and facilities annually with sustainable funding at $7 million. This $4 million funding gap is creating a backlog of projects that will need to be managed in future years. In 2026, the asset management plan will review the annual 2% infrastructure levy to determine if it is sufficient to meet community service expectations while keeping property taxes affordable year-to-year.

Key 2026 infrastructure projects include:

·        Dehumidifier installation at the Kinsmen Pool

·        New ice pad surface at the Pembroke and Area Community Centre (PACC), addressing its critical condition with planning to be undertaken in 2026 and construction expected at the end of the hockey season in March 2027

·        Continued major construction on Isabella Street

• Road resurfacing on portions of Angus Campbell, First Avenue, Forced Road, International Drive, Townline, and William Street

“We continue to make responsible, incremental progress on our infrastructure needs while keeping the City portion of the levy increase affordable, similar to neighbouring municipalities,” says Deputy Mayor and Finance and Administration Chair Brian Abdallah.

For local user-pay services, the waste management collection fee is increasing from $158 to $180.50 in 2026, following more than five years without a fee change. For water and sewer rates, the average residential customer is estimated to pay about $94 more in 2026 (about $7.87 per month) to maintain safe drinking water, wastewater treatment, and system renewal.

Under Ontario’s Strong Mayor legislation, the mayor may veto Council budget amendments within a prescribed period, and Council may override a veto with a two‑thirds vote. In accordance with this process, Pembroke’s 2026 Budget will be finalized on Thursday, January 22, 2026, following the conclusion of the mayoral veto/override window.

Residents seeking additional information about the 2026 Budget may attend a public meeting on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 6 p.m. Attendance is available in person at City Hall (1 Pembroke St. E.), with live streaming provided on the City’s YouTube channel.

The City of Pembroke is asking for resident and property owner feedback to help our budget planning.

The City of Pembroke is preparing to deliberate the 2026 Budget. Your feedback will help Council and staff understand satisfaction with City services and budget priorities. Community feedback is one factor for our budgeting, along with legislative requirements, policies, objectives, resource availability, and financial constraints.

Feedback is being gathered through a short 10-minute survey.

The survey closes January 4, 2026.

Water service across Pembroke and Laurentian Valley is now fully restored and running normally following a major watermain break in late November.

All repair work is complete and required water testing results confirmed the water meets Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks regulations. Pressures and flow in the water system are back to normal.

The City of Pembroke thanks all system users for their patience and cooperation over the course of this emergency repair.

Full water service across Pembroke and Laurentian Valley is expected Saturday, following repairs on the major watermain break from late November.

Extra repair work was needed when the condition of the pipe in the break area was inspected, which added a couple days to the project timeline.

Today, the hole at the break area will be filled in and the City will fill the line with water.

The City will also take water tests to meet Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks regulations with results expected back Friday.

On Saturday, the City will open all the valves and disconnect the temporary service at Miramichi Lodge and put the home back on full service.

As of Saturday evening, we expect all system users to be back on full, normal operations.

We continue to remind people to reduce water consumption wherever and whenever possible over the last few days of the repair project. This is important to ensure stable water supply for all system users, and to secure water availability for firefighting and for those vulnerable users, including the Pembroke Regional Hospital and seniors’ homes.

We understand people need to go about their daily lives. Reduced consumption can look like combining clothes to run fewer loads of laundry, having a quick shower over a bath, or avoiding non-essential activities such as washing your car.

The City of Pembroke thanks all system users for the efforts they’ve made to reduce consumption since the watermain break happened.

The water is safe to consume, and during this repair period, people may notice a reduction in water pressure or volume.

Future updates will be posted on the City’s website pembroke.ca and our Facebook and Instagram platforms.

Repairs are currently underway on the major watermain break that happened late last week.

Tomlinson, the specialized contractor hired for the job, started site prep work Wednesday and began excavation of the large diameter trunk watermain today.

The repair job will consist of removing and replacing the damaged pipe, checking the condition of the pipes next to the break and replacing those as well if necessary, and having specialized camera equipment scan inside the pipe in the break area to check on its condition, identify any areas that need immediate attention before bringing the pipe back online, and allow for future forecasting of maintenance in that area.

This work will happen through the end of the week, over the weekend, and is expected to wrap up on Tuesday, December 2. Some testing of the system will need to happen before bringing the watermain back online, but that is expected to happen by late Wednesday, December 3.

While Miramichi Lodge remains on temporary water supply during the repair, the water being provided has been tested and deemed safe to consume by the Renfrew County and District Health Unit.

We continue to remind people to reduce water consumption wherever and whenever possible. This is important to ensure stable water supply for all system users, and to secure water availability for firefighting and for those vulnerable users, including the Pembroke Regional Hospital and seniors’ homes.

We understand people need to go about their daily lives. Reduced consumption can look like combining clothes to run fewer loads of laundry, having a quick shower over a bath, or avoiding non-essential activities such as washing your car.

The City of Pembroke thanks all system users for the efforts they’ve made to reduce consumption since the watermain break happened.

The water is safe to consume, and during this repair period, people may notice a reduction in water pressure or volume.

Future updates will be posted on the City’s website pembroke.ca and our Facebook and Instagram platforms.

Reducing water consumption in Pembroke and Laurentian Valley is especially important over the next three days as the City starts repairs of a major watermain break.

Tomlinson, the specialized contractor hired for the job, will start repair work of the large diameter trunk watermain Wednesday, November 26. For the smoothest start to the repairs, it is important the water system has enough stored water in both the water tower and the water storage reservoir.

We remind people to reduce water consumption wherever and whenever possible, especially over Monday and Tuesday as we prepare for Wednesday’s work. We understand people need to go about their daily lives. Reduced consumption can look like combining clothes to run fewer loads of laundry, having a quick shower over a bath, or avoiding non-essential activities such as washing your car.

The City of Pembroke thanks all system users for the efforts they’ve made to reduce consumption since late last week when the watermain break happened.

The water is safe to consume, and during this repair period, people may notice a reduction in water pressure or volume.

Future updates will be posted on the City’s website pembroke.ca and our Facebook and Instagram platforms.

As of 9:26 p.m. this evening, through the outstanding efforts of the City of Pembroke’s Water Distribution staff, in coordination with Water Treatment Plant staff, and additional outside resources, the City has restored normal water service to all directly-affected residences impacted by the large diameter trunk watermain break.

All water services users have been put back online, except for Miramichi Lodge. Miramichi has been provided with non-potable water for use such as washroom facilities and has had fire protection supply secured with the help of outside contractors. Potable, consumable water is being supplied by the City to Miramichi Lodge through outside, City-contracted supply.

Contracted services are being scheduled and materials have been procured for the watermain break repair. The repair requires a specific specialist contract due to the specific nature of the pipe material and installation methods, and its complicated nature. The repair is anticipated within the next two weeks.

The City will be working with the contractor to make repairs as quickly as possible.

There still is a need for water use reduction wherever possible. Until the break is fixed, the supply to the City’s storage facilities and the water users is restricted. It is necessary to reduce water use as much as and where possible, to secure water availability for fire fighting capability and for those vulnerable users, including the Pembroke Regional Hospital and seniors’ homes.

The City asks all users to reduce water usage wherever possible, until further notice to protect the water supply. The water is safe to consume.

During this time, people may notice a reduction in water pressure or volume.

Future updates will be posted on the City’s website pembroke.ca and our Facebook and Instagram platforms.

We appreciate this disruption can be inconvenient and stressful, and we greatly thank you for your cooperation during this time.

Overnight Thursday, November 20, the City of Pembroke experienced a major watermain break on a large diameter trunk watermain within Riverside Park between Riverside Drive and Trafalgar Road that feeds the distribution system.

Due to this break, properties between Trafalgar Road and 786 Pembroke St. W., on Pembroke Street West between George and Wilfred streets, and Miramichi Lodge were directly affected.

Water has been restored to the properties between George and Wilfred streets. Work is underway to restore water to the remaining properties except Miramichi Lodge by midnight. Temporary non-potable and fire suppression water service is expected to be up and running at Miramichi Lodge by this evening. The City will provide potable water to the home for the duration of the repair, which is expected to take two weeks.

Prior to the water being restored, potable water was supplied to the affected properties.

All water system users are asked to reduce their water consumption wherever and whenever possible during this time, but we understand people need to go about their daily lives. Consumption reduction is important to ensure stable water supply for all system users, as well as adequate fire suppression. The water is safe to consume.

Due to the specialized material and size of the pipe, and the specialized contractors to do the work, the repair is anticipated to take two weeks to complete. The City has procured the materials and contacted the contractor.

During this time, people may notice a reduction in water pressure or volume.

The next update will be provided by Monday morning on the City’s website pembroke.ca and our Facebook and Instagram platforms.

We appreciate this disruption can be inconvenient and stressful, and we greatly thank you for your cooperation during this time.

Residents in Pembroke and Laurentian Valley are asked to reduce water usage for about the next two weeks due to a major watermain break.

Fewer than 30 properties in Pembroke are without water entirely, and these properties have been notified directly. The City is providing water to these properties.

All water system users are asked to reduce their water consumption wherever and whenever possible during this time, but understand people need to go about their daily lives. The water is safe to consume.

A specialized contractor has been hired and specialized materials have been procured for the repair. It is anticipated it will take two weeks to complete the repair and get the system fully back online due to the nature of the pipe and work needed for the repair.

During this time, people may notice a reduction in water pressure or volume.

An update will be provided early next week.

We thank you for your cooperation.