Local Cultural Groups

Cultural centers, organizations and groups in Renfrew and Lanark County include:

• PFLAG Renfrew County – Family for all: Pflag Canada is a charitable organization serving the LGBTQ2S community and their families.

• Polish Kashubian, Wilno Heritage Society: Although the Polish Kashub culture can also be found in other parts of Canada, Renfrew County and, in particular, Wilno, Ontario (Canada’s First Polish Settlement) are recognized as the “central core” of this culture.

• Circle of Turtle Lodge: Helping Indigenous People Restore Traditional Culture in Unceded Algonquin Territory since 1999.

• Ottawa Valley Culture: The centre helps build the capacity of local cultural professionals – and by extension local governments – to nurture and support cultural development in Pembroke and throughout the entire Ottawa Valley.

• theHumm: Arts, entertainment and recreation ideas in Lanark and surrounding areas.

• Plenty Canada: It is a registered non-profit organization that facilitates access to and shares resources with Indigenous peoples and other community groups worldwide to support their environmental protection and sustainable development goals.

• Heritage Renfrew Archives: The Archives Building (a branch of the Main Ottawa Archives) houses the Office of Heritage Renfrew. The Archives building is only a storage building and does not provide any resources to the general public. However, Heritage Renfrew, not connected with the Public Archives Storage Building, does have Historical Data and can assist with Family genealogy and historical data for the surrounding areas.

• Centre Culturel Francophone De Pembroke: The Pembroke Francophone Culturel Francophone centre aims to support the French-Canadian language and culture. 

• Germania Club Pembroke: Its goal is to promote the use and upkeep of the German language as well as to promote and maintain German customs and the German cultural heritage.

• Upper Ottawa Valley Heritage Centre: A group that celebrates the pioneer history of the Ottawa Valley and maintains the Champlain Trail Museum and Pioneer Village.

• Family Voice of Lanark County: Its goal is to assist, inspire and facilitate conversation — leading to concrete action — positive change for individuals, their families, support network teams and others who may be interested in creative thinking — resulting in meaningful and exciting changes for individuals with developmental disabilities.

• The Petawawa Heritage Society: The group celebrates the settlement era and immigrant story of early Canada through the Petawawa Heritage Village, archives and collections that focus on the stories of the German founding families and stretch back thousands of years to the traditions and teachings of the First Nations people.

• Omàmiwininì Pimàdjwowin – Algonquin Way Cultural Centre: The Omàmiwininì Pimàdjwowin mission is to revitalize, reintegrate, enhance and protect the cultural traditions, customs, practices, heritage, language and arts of the Algonquins of Pikwakangan First Nation.

• Renfrew County Voices for People With Developmental Disabilities: It is a group that works to make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities.

• Philippine Community in Renfrew County: A Facebook Community where those from the Philippines living in Renfrew County can connect. 

Not located in Renfrew County or Lanark County but provides direct services to those who live within both areas.

• Ukrainian Canadian Social Services (UCSS) – Ottawa Branch: Ukrainian Canadian Social Services – Ottawa Branch is a non-profit charitable organization serving the Ukrainian community in Ottawa. Guided by the needs of individuals and families of the Ukrainian community, who experience language and cultural barriers. We provide a range of support services.

• Canadian Ethnocultural Council: A non-profit coalition of national ethnocultural organizations that include 33 member organizations that advocate for inclusion and multiculturalism and offer programs and activities, events, community-based research, and develop resource materials.

• Fédération Culturelle Canadienne-française: The cultural federation of french Canadians is the sole political voice for the arts and culture of the French Canadians and francophone Acadians.

Many cultural hubs and centers can be found in Ottawa near Renfrew and Lanark County. Here is a short list, but please explore and discover what else is available:

• Arts, heritage and events in Ottawa: The City of Ottawa hosts multiple heritage and cultural events that welcome people from near and far.

• Ottawa Anatolian Cultural Center (Previously known as the Turkish Cultural Center Ottawa): The center aims to unite the Anatolian community. ACC provides Turkish language classes and Turkish cooking classes and organizes Turkish festivals.

• Korean Cultural Centre Canada: Its goal is to enhance Korean-Canadian relations by promoting mutual understanding between Koreans and Canadians by sharing Korean culture and facilitating bilateral cooperation between arts and cultural institutions.

• Ottawa Hungarian Community Centre: It is the home of the cultural education of the Hungarian people.

• Islamic Cultural Center: It aims to teach, guide towards good and benefit society with a motto of honesty in transmitting Islamic knowledge.

• Ottawa Chinese-Canadian Heritage Centre: It is a community-based charitable organization dedicated to educating and increasing the public’s understanding of the history, religion, philosophy, sociology, culture, arts and heritage of the Chinese-Canadian community and those of Chinese descent both in Ottawa, Ontario and throughout Canada (“Chinese-Canadian Heritage”).

• Ottawa Japanese Cultural Centre: Its goal is to encourage greater participation by members of the Japanese and Japanese Canadian communities in the Ottawa area in matters of citizenship, maintain our cultural heritage, and share with the larger community those aspects of our cultural heritage which will be of interest to them and promote and develop friendship, goodwill.

• The National Irish Canadian Cultural Centre: It was established to advance Irish culture in all its forms in Canada. It this through community-building events such as monthly pancake breakfasts, a St. Brigid’s Day concert in February, St. Patrick’s Day events in March, the Bloomsday celebration on 16 June and many others.

• Ottawa Theravada Buddhist Vihara and Cultural Center (Ottawa Buddhist Monastery): It is a vibrant religious organization based on the teachings of the Buddha. Our dedicated members follow the tenets of Buddhism and strive to practice them in their daily lives, particularly The Five Precepts (Pancha Sīla).

• Afro Black Cultural & Media Centre: They raise awareness of systemic racism to create a better future for Ottawa’s underprivileged black youth and immigrants. We aim to raise the self-esteem of those affected by societal injustices by teaching leadership skills through our e-mentoring and outreach programs.

• Indo-Canadian Community Centre: Its goal is to create a united Indo-Canadian Community Thriving in the Canadian Mainstream.

• First Nations Confederacy of Cultural Education Centres: The First Nations Confederacy of Cultural Education Centres is a non-profit, national organization representing a unified voice that leads in the promotion, protection, revitalization and maintenance of First Nations languages, cultures and traditions as given by the Creator.

• Inuuqatigiit Centre for Inuit Children, Youth and Families: It is a multi-service Inuit organization that provides cultural, educational, recreational and social support services to children, youth and families of Ottawa’s growing Inuit community. The centre is a major early years and youth services hub for Inuit families in Ottawa.

• Hellenic Community of Ottawa: It focuses on preserving and promoting the Hellenic Culture, Language, History and Orthodox Faith in Canada. The HCO has a membership of greater than 6,000 people. It is also home to Greekfest, one of the largest Greek festivals in North America, with the support of over 200 volunteers and the Gold Plate Dinner, one of Ottawa’s most successful fundraising events.

• National Association of Friendship Centres: It is a network of over 100 Friendship Centres and Provincial/Territorial Associations, which make up part of the Friendship Centre Movement–Canada’s most significant national network of self-determined Indigenous-owned and operated civil society community hubs offering programs, services and supports to urban Indigenous people.

• Afro-Black Cultural Centre: It is an arts agency specializing in talent building, public relations, and media.