Pembroke Arena

Pembroke is known as Hockey Town Canada and is home to one of the most successful Junior A teams in the country. The Pembroke Lumber Kings are this year’s National Champions, having won the RBC Cup in 2011, by upsetting the two time defending champion, Vernon Vipers, 2-0 in the championship game which was recently broadcast on TSN. The Lumber Kings historic home, the Pembroke Memorial Centre, was built in the early 1950’s, as a tribute to soldiers who served in the first and second World Wars. As a military community, Pembroke is only a short drive from CFB Petawawa, the home of several soldiers who have been killed in action, and countless more who have been injured since Canada joined the war in Afghanistan. The Pembroke Lumber Kings play an important role in providing an escape from the reality of active military life. One of the most popular teams in the league, they draw capacity crowds to nearly every game, cheering loudly as they’ve won a record 14 Central Canadian Hockey League Championships! They are currently on a run of five consecutive titles—a feat that no team has been able to achieve since the league started in 1961. The PMC, as the Memorial Centre is known, is a vital community venue that has hosted the Centennial Cup in 1988, several Eastern Canadian Championships, the Annual Silver Stick Regional Tournament, and countless other events including the Annual Old time Step Dancing and Fiddling Competition, trade shows, circuses, music concerts, rodeos and occasionally, weddings and funerals. The arena is an anchor to the downtown, and is used every day of the year. The Pembroke Skating Club provides skating lessons to all age groups throughout the winter, and dozens of people use the upper promenade throughout the day, walking for exercise. The City of Pembroke Recreation Department runs public skating programs from September to March, and the Activity Room supports many local community groups as a meeting venue. It is also used for birthday parties, receptions, anniversary celebrations and special events such as the Jail and Bail Fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Association. While it has been a well maintained building, as it approaches its 60th birthday, the PMC could really use some upgrading. In particular, the seats in the arena are the original seats that were installed when the building was built in 1951 and many are in desperate need of repair. $25,000 would go a long way towards the cost of buying new seats, which would not only improve the aesthetics of the building significantly, but also make them much more comfortable for arena patrons (many of whom are also 60 years or older!) The PMC has a storied history. It was opened by the Montreal Canadians, who played the Pembroke Senior Lumber Kings, in an exhibition game to christen the buildings. Among the players who suited up for the Canadians were Maurice “the Rocket” Richard and legendary defenceman Doug Harvey. NHL Commissioner Clarence Campbell attended the game and dropped the ceremonial puck. The arena is also home the Upper Ottawa Valley Sports Honour Roll, a hall of fame of local athletes and sports builders. Among the inductees is Bryan Murray, the current General Manager of the Ottawa Senators, and a past Lumber Kings Coach in 1977. The PMC is located in Pembroke’s downtown, and in 2012 a new Algonquin College campus will open right across the street from the arena. This will make the rink an even bigger attraction, and reinforcing the need to give it a facelift. The little City of Pembroke (pop. 14,500) will not be in a position to replace the PMC for many years, and therefore it is committed to keeping the rink in the best possible condition. It is a building that is known and loved by many. We hope to be considered in your top ten communities who are worthy of a community refresh and look forward to hosting a TSN SportsCentre broadcast on the picturesque shores of Pembroke’s beautiful waterfront.