Municipal Services

Community Life

Pemberton is a strong and vibrant community, recognizing the importance of a strong citizenry. Our residents are community-minded, and engaged; taking advantage of our recreational and volunteer opportunities.

Elders are valued, and the community strives to support a multi-generational and healthy mix of families, singles, and seniors.

Arts & Culture

Pemberton Arts & Culture Council

The Pemberton Arts Council formed in 2006 as a non-profit organization. The Council has grown from 45 original members to close to 100. Membership includes individuals who participate in the visual arts, photography, musicians, dance and theatre, literary arts, culinary arts, textile arts, sculpture, jewelry, interactive arts and individuals who appreciate the arts.

In 2015, the Pemberton Arts Council expanded its mandate to include cultural offers and altered its name to reflect the change. The group is now known as the Pembertons & Culture Council (PACC). Currently PACC hosts two events. The M.A.D.E. (Music Art Dance Expression) event and Mountains of Art. For more information, please visit the Pemberton Arts & Culture Council Website.

Pemberton and Area Cultural Plan

Cultural planning is a process of inclusive community consultation and decision-making that helps local government identify cultural resources and think strategically about how these resources can help a community to achieve its civic goals. It is also a strategic approach that directly and indirectly integrates the community's cultural resources into a wide range of local government planning activities. The Village of Pemberton Council adopted the Pemberton and Area Cultural Plan at Meeting 1291, on Tuesday, November 15, 2011. Download and review the Pemberton and Area Cultural Plan.

Pemberton Museum

The Pemberton Museum collects, preserves and displays artifacts connected with the human history of Pemberton and district. The displays feature: the self-sufficiency of the Lil'wat people before contact with people making their way to the gold fields, the coming of people attracted by gold on the Fraser and some of the physical changes they created in the district, and the lives of the settlers and later residents. The museum is open from May to Sept annually from 10am to 5pm daily, 7 days a week. Guided tours and self guided tours are available. Research requests available year round. Please contact us in advance. The museum site has many ongoing programs and events over the summer including Tea & Tales every Tuesday and Music at the Museum, an all day event featuring some of Pemberton's incredible musicians. For more information, please visit the Pemberton Museum Website.

Additional Resources

Regional Economic Impact for Arts, Culture & Heritage: Sea to Sky Corridor

Pemberton & District Library

Pemberton library offers children's storytimes, summer reading camps and clubs as well as many other great services and programs. Library membership is FREE to all people who live in or own property in the Village of Pemberton and Area C of the SLRD as well as those who live within the region served by the Public Library InterLINK association.

GENERAL LIBRARY INFO

Location: 7390A Cottonwood Street (in the Pemberton & District Community Centre)
Pemberton, BC
Phone: 604.894.6916
Website: http://pemberton.bc.libraries.coop/

Pemberton & Area Seniors

Seniors and Elders are a unique and dynamic part of our society. Many of them have held in their stewardship the futures of their communities, futures which have now become today. Seniors and Elders deserve respect, consideration and support so that they may have the choice to age in place in the communities they helped to shape, and so that they may continue to shape both their communities and a new generation of community stewards. The Village of Pemberton and Mount Currie/Lil'wat Nation welcome every opportunity to work together in improving community accessibility and inclusion for our senior residents. 

The REC – Pemberton Seniors Centre

The Pemberton Seniors Centre (The REC) is a free space open to anyone 50 years and over. Drop-in times are currently suspended as per the public health order. When permitted, the space offers a variety of activities including pool, table tennis, darts and board games, or can simply be used as a place to relax, socialize and enjoy a free hot beverage. Organized alongside the Pemberton Valley Seniors Society, The REC offers a variety of programs and services

Seniors Housing

The Village's 2008 Strategic Plan addresses supporting a multi-generational and healthy mix of families, singles and seniors; supporting affordable housing and area residents to age in place; and working in partnership with the Pemberton Valley Seniors Society, the Lions Club and the Mount Currie Band to build on work done to date on the Age-Friendly Community Plan developed in 2007.

The purpose of the Select Committee on Seniors Housing (SCSH) is to conduct a needs assessment and develop a business case for the construction of seniors' housing in Pemberton to serve the Pemberton Valley including communities as far north as Anderson Lake.

In consultation with Marnie Simon of the Pemberton Valley Seniors Society and Mayor Jordan Sturdy, Terms of Reference were developed for the Select Committee on Seniors Housing and adopted at Council Meeting No. 1200, March 18 2008.

In 2008, Lumina Services Inc. was retained by the SCSH to conduct a market study and financial feasibility analysis focused on the need and demand for seniors' housing in the Pemberton Valley.  As such, the 55+ Housing Market and Financial Feasibility Analysis has now been completed and received by Council.

Pemberton Valley Seniors Society

Pemberton Valley Seniors Society (PVSS)offers a range of seniors' oriented programs and services. Some activities include:

  • exercise programs
  • carpet bowling
  • painting
  • monthly lunches and special events

Visit the Pemberton Valley Seniors Society website to learn more.

Men's Shed and Tool Lending Library

The Pemberton Valley Men's Shed (PVMS) is a fellowship of men from the Pemberton Valley Senior's Society who have come together to create both a social space and take on initiatives that can be shared with the Society and the people of Pemberton. PVMS volunteers run the Tool Lending Library, which is open to all (the membership fees are currently set at $30 per year). The Tool Lending Library is located on the site of the Event Rental Works / U-haul facility on Hwy 99, directly behind the Pemberton Information Centre.

Age-Friendly Community Plan

In early 2007, funding was accessed through the UBCM Seniors in Communities Pilot Project Fund to develop a Senior and Elder (Age) Friendly Community Plan.  This was a collaborative initiative of the Village of Pemberton and Lil'wat Nation.

Seniors and Elders in Pemberton and Mount Currie face many challenges such as a significant lack of culturally appropriate seniors housing, transportation, recreation and access to medical services, to name a few.  Through this initiative the Village of Pemberton and Mount Currie are worked cooperatively to develop a specific plan of action which will improve the quality of life for Seniors and Elders in our communities.

The development of the Plan was overseen by the Winds of Change Committee with additional representation from Seniors/Elders groups.

View the Age-Friendly Community Project Final Report

What is an Age-Friendly Community?

The Word Health Organization (WHO) defines an age-friendly community as one which:

  • promotes "active ageing"
  • recognizes the great diversity among older persons
  • respects their decisions and lifestyle choices
  • helps prevent and correct the barriers that people encounter as they grow older; and
  • ensures policies, services and structures related to the physical and social environment are designed
  • support and enable older people to age actively - to live in security, enjoy good health and participate fully in their communities.

Pemberton Youth

The Pemberton Youth Centre (the Rec) is a free drop-in space at The REC. It is a safe place for youth (grades 8-12) to call their own. Trained staff supervise all activities and can help refer youth to other community services. The space offers a variety of activities including Pool, Table Tennis, Darts, Xbox and Virtual Reality. Monthly programming can be viewed View Monthly Programming.

Facebook: The Rec – Pemberton Youth + Seniors Centre
Instagram: @therecpemberton

Plan Y

Plan-Y.ca is a resource created for youth in Pemberton, Líl̓wat Nation, Lower Lakes, Area C and N’Quatqua by the CYMHSU Pemberton Local Action Team.   It is a web-based APP designed for Smartphones and devices (can also be viewed on computer).   
PLAN-Y lists local mental and physical health resources and supports as well as provides links to additional resources such as crisis lines and health websites throughout BC.  

Suicide Prevention Kits

These toolkits were created by the Salt Spring Island Local Action Team and have been adapted, with permission, by the Pemberton Local Action Team to include Pemberton and area resources.

The intent is that the Toolkits might provide additional information and support for children or youth struggling with suicidal ideation in our community, and for those that support them. 

Each of the three kits are designed for a specific audience and contain information relevant to that audience; REACH OUT is for youth, SUPPORT is for parents and/or caring adults, and COMPASSION is for professionals like teachers, medical personnel and counsellors. Kits contain information on supports and resources available within the community, crisis lines and apps that may help someone in crisis, self-management supports, information about risk factors and how to stay safe along with other information. 

 

Pemberton Community Organizations

The following is a listing of community service organizations and clubs in the Pemberton Area. Click here for a directory of businesses and other for-profit services in the Pemberton area.

If you would like your community group or organization included in the community contacts listed below, or to update existing information, please email admin @ pemberton.ca

Bears in Pemberton

Bears are typically active in the Pemberton area from mid-March through late fall, but especially during August and September.

Although watching a bear feed in your yard can be an exhilarating experience, it often leads to trouble. Making sure your home and yard are bear-proof is an essential part of making your community safe for both bears and people.

Proper management of attractants at your home, like: fruit trees;  vegetable gardens; back yard chickens; bird feeders; and compost; is essential to coexist with bears in Pemberton.

As more people - and more garbage - encroach on bear habitat, more bears are becoming garbage-conditioned, and have to be destroyed. According to the BC Ministry of Environment, about 950 Black Bears and 50 grizzlies are destroyed each year in BC. Not only is this a terrible waste of life, it is also very expensive: the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks' Conservation Officer Service spends about $1 million a year dealing with bear/people conflicts.

To report a human-bear conflict, contact Conservation Officer Services:
OBSERVE, RECORD & REPORT: 1-800-663-WILD (9453)

Conservation Officers will pursue a public tip if it is determined that there is a threat to livestock, property damage or human safety.

Don't Attract Bears into our Neighbourhood

Bears have a keen sense of smell and garbage, composts, and other food sources could easily attract a bear to our neighborhood. Cooking and kitchen smells, barbequing, bird feeders, fruit trees, composts and dog food are some of the common bear attractants. Most bears will overcome any natural fears if the promise of food is strong enough, and some will enter buildings, climb stairs to decks, and even climb through windows to investigate. Once a bear become accustomed to easy food sources, it is only a matter of time before conflict arises.

Here in Pemberton, it is especially important to keep your garbage and recycling in a secured shed or garage. Do not stockpile or bury garbage. If you have berry bushes and/or fruit trees, pick fruit as it ripens and clean up windfalls promptly. Get rid of any unwanted fruit trees.  Ensure that your compost is properly managed and maintained so that it does not attract bears.

Never Feed or Approach a Bear

Never feed or approach a bear for any reason. If you see a bear in your neighbourhood, bring children and pets indoors. The bear is probably just passing through.

Although bear attacks are extremely rare, it is important to know how to safeguard yourself from unnecessary conflicts, ensuring minimal interaction and continued healthy bear populations. If you come across a bear while walking:

  1. Stop.
  2. Remain calm.
  3. Never run. A bear can outrun you.  This can also provoke a predator/prey response.
  4. Back up slowly facing the bear.
  5. Speak in a normal (and non-threatening) tone of voice so the bear can identify you and continue to back up.
  6. If a bear approaches, talk louder and wave your arms or a stick above your head.
  7. Escape to a secure area or car, if possible. It is NOT recommended to climb a tree.
  8. If the bear is a black bear and it makes physical contact, fight back aggressively.  If a grizzly bear makes physical contact, play dead and curl up in a ball with your hands interlaced behind your neck.

Do You Know the Difference?  Pemberton is Home to Both Species
Despite apparent differences in size and colour, black bears and grizzly bears are often difficult to tell apart. Why is this important? Knowing the difference between black bears and grizzly bears is essential when determining the appropriate course of action during a human-bear conflict, bear encounter, or attack. In addition, every year black bear hunters kill several grizzly bears by mistake, which can have dire consequences for local grizzly bear populations.

Black and grizzly bears can vary dramatically in both colour and size - so neither are good indicators when determining which species is which. The best indicators are the size of the shoulders, the profile of the face and the length of the claws. The grizzly bear has a pronounced shoulder hump, which the black bear lacks. It also has a concave or "dished" facial profile, smaller ears and much larger claws than the black bear. Black bears have a flatter, "Roman-nose" profile, larger ears, no visible shoulder hump and smaller claws.

Learn more about the physical differences between black bears and grizzly bears, then take a test to see if you can tell the difference.

Get Bear Smart Society

The Get Bear Smart Society (GBS), based in Whistler, BC, champions progressive management policies that reduce both the number of human-bear conflicts and the number of bears destroyed.

Bear Aware BC

Bear Aware is an educational program designed to prevent and reduce conflicts between people and bears in our communities.