Why Renfrew County

The County of Renfrew is an upper tier municipality comprised of the federation of 17 lower tier municipalities and geographically also includes the City of Pembroke and the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation. Renfrew County is the largest county in Ontario covering an area of 7,645 sq. km. with a population of approximately 108,000 in 2021. From the 2021 Census, the median age in the County is 45, and of the population age 25-64, 89% are high school graduates and 50% have a post secondary certificate, diploma or degree.

Renfrew County enjoys access to two public airports: Arnprior with two runways, a 1,200 m asphalt and 719 m gravel runway, as well as a water aerodrome and the Pembroke and Area Airport has a 1524 m runway.

Rural in nature and blessed with some of the most beautiful scenery in Ontario, Renfrew County traces the south shore of the Ottawa River, stretching west from the City of Ottawa for 220 km along the trans Canada highway. Bordering the County to the Northwest is Algonquin Park, featuring 7,725 sq. km of protected wilderness with countless trails and canoe routes. Renfrew County is a landscape encompassing 900 lakes and carved by four river systems, the Petawawa, Bonnechere and Madawaska Rivers flowing out of Algonquin Park and into the historic Ottawa River. The Ottawa River part of the Ottawa Valley is known as the Whitewater Capital of Canada, featuring a plethora of outdoor recreational and elite sporting activities year round, including a world class motorsports race track, downhill skiing, water slides, zip-lines and numerous scenic and challenging golf courses. Home to Canada’s largest military base, Garrison Petawawa and one of Canada’s leading research facilities, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Renfrew County also boasts a number of private businesses operating in aerospace, defence and security, advanced manufacturing, forestry, agriculture, healthcare, adventure tourism, retail, food services and hospitality.