Council Members

Mayor Steve Bennett

Mayor Bennett was first elected to Council of the Township of Laurentian Valley in November 1997. Bennett has served four terms as a Councillor and in 2014 and 2018 was elected Mayor.

Mayor Bennett is the owner/manager of a local business in Laurentian Valley with over 40 years of business expertise in a dynamic industry. "My business experience, education and background enables me to make sound, reasonable and practical decisions which are essential when representing ratepayers" says Mayor Bennett.

Mayor Bennett, his wife Kathy, and family have resided in Laurentian Valley for 35 years.

613-635-2434

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Reeve Keith Watt

Reeve Watt is currently serving his third term on Laurentian Valley Council.  He was first elected to Council in 2014.  Prior to being elected, he was a volunteer on the Laurentian Valley Policing Committee for 12 years and was Chair of the committee for his last six years.  He served as Chair of the Pembroke Public Library and Chair of Public Works for the past 8 years.  He also spent over 30 years with the Air Cadet League of Canada, teaching leadership and citizenship.

Reeve Watt resides in Laurentian Valley and has always been community-minded. He and his wife, Carolyn, have three sons and eight grandchildren. They are very family oriented and love spending time with their family.

613-732-2787

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Councillor Jen Gauthier

Councillor Jen Gauthier is serving her third term on municipal Council for the Township of Laurentian Valley, having been elected in November 2010.

Councillor Gauthier works with her husband on many properties that they own in the Township and surrounding municipalities.

613-717-5494

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Councillor Wendy Hewitt

Councillor Hewitt is serving her first term of Council after being elected in 2022. She is also employed full-time as the Administrative Assistant at the Pembroke Fire Department.

Prior to being elected to Council, she was elected as a school board trustee at Renfrew County District School Board, serving Laurentian Valley from 2010 – 2018.

Wendy and her husband, Jeff have three adult sons and a daughter-in-law. They have lived in Laurentian Valley for over 20 years.

613-401-4205

Councillor Brian Hugli

Councillor Hugli was elected to council in 2014.

He is the past chair of the Upper Ottawa Valley Community Police Advisory Committee, as well as the past President of the Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association and the Kiwanis Club of Pembroke.

For over 35 years, Brian has owned and operated an Agri-tourism business in LV.

Brian and his wife Judy have two teenage children that they enjoy raising in Laurentian Valley with all it has to offer.

613-638-1288

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Councillor Betty King

Councillor Betty King is serving her first term on municipal council for Laurentian Valley.

She is a very active volunteer in the township and is looking forward to working with the residents over the next 4 years.

613-639-2046

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Councillor Allan Wren

Allan Wren was first elected to Pembroke Township council in 1991. He served through the amalgamations of Pembroke and Stafford Townships as well as Alice & Fraser which is now Laurentian Valley.

He retired in 2018 after 37 years with National Grocers in Pembroke. Both he and wife Cathy are enjoying the retired life.

613-638-3324

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Corporate Services and Protection

Chair: Councillor Allan Wren

Mandate:

• Administration and finance
• Strategic planning
• Fire protection
• By-law enforcement
• Animal control
• Human resources and policy matters

Sub-Committees:

• Municipal Liaison Committee – Reeve Watt, Councillor Wren

Planning and Emergency Services

Chair: Councillor Brian Hugli

Mandate:

• Planning and development
• Zoning by-laws
• Official Plan and building services
• Emergency management

Sub-Committees:

• Pembroke and Area Airport – Councillor Wren

Community Development, Recreation and Culture

Chair: Councillor Jen Gauthier

Mandate:

• Economic Development
• Strategic Management
• Communication
• Recreation
• Cultural Services

Sub-Committees:

• Festival Hall – Councillor King
• Pembroke Public Library - Councillor Hewitt
• Shady Nook Recreation Association – Councillor Hugli
• Alice and Fraser Recreation Association – Councillor King
• Forest Lea Park Association – Reeve Watt
• Pleasant View Park Recreation Association – Councillor King
• Stafford Park Recreation Association – Councillor Gauthier
• Friends of the Disabled – Councillor Hewitt
• Joint Recreation – Councillor Hugli, Councillor Gauthier
• LV Four Seasons Trail Committee - Mayor Bennett
• LV 50+ Fit & Feisty - Reeve Watt

Public Works and Property

Chair: Reeve Keith Watt

Mandate:

• Public works
• Municipal property
• Road operations
• Vehicle management
• Waste management
• Wastewater
• Water
• Road projects

Sub-Committees:

• Ottawa Valley Waste Recovery Centre – Mayor Bennett

Ad Hoc Committees

Ah Hoc Committees have a limited number of Councillor members for specific subject matters.

Personnel Committee

Reeve Watt, Councillor Wren, Councillor Hewitt

Mandate:

• Staff issues

Regular Meetings

Regular meetings of Council are held on the third Tuesday from September to June at 5:30 p.m. at the Municipal Office located at 460 Witt Road, Pembroke, Ontario.

Special Meetings and July and August Council Meetings are held at the call of the Chair.

Please note: Regular Council Meetings are currently being help virtually. 

Council in Committee Meetings

Council meet at Council in Committee Meetings on the first Tuesday of every month from September to June at 5:30 p.m. at the Municipal Office located at 460 Witt Road, Pembroke, Ontario.

Please note: Council in Committee Meetings are currently being help virtually.