Krista Zingel has filed nomination papers to run for Pembroke City Council, becoming the fifth candidate for six council seats in the October 26, 2026 municipal election. The four-year resident is known as a vocal advocate for mental health and tackling homelessness and addiction, and she has been a leading neighbourhood voice opposing The Grind, a faith-based charity at 273 Victoria Street that serves unhoused and low-income people.
Zingel lives on Isabella Street directly across from The Grind facility and has raised safety and governance concerns about the organization for years. She joins a growing council field as the nomination window remains open until August 21, 2026 at 2 p.m., according to the City of Pembroke. The current seven-member council is elected for a four-year term ending this November.
The October 26 vote will also feature Pembroke’s first contested mayoral race since 2022. Incumbent Mayor Ron Gervais is seeking re-election, and Deputy Mayor Brian Abdallah has announced his candidacy. Abdallah, 64, is a lifelong Pembroke resident retiring June 30 from a career in education with the Renfrew County District School Board. His father, George Abdallah, served as mayor in the 1970s, and a victory would make Brian Pembroke’s first second-generation mayor.
Issues around homelessness, addiction, and mental health have been central in Pembroke. In late 2025, 29 Ontario mayors called on the province to declare a state of emergency over the crises. More recently, in April 2026, council voted 5-2 to allow The Grind to buy its downtown property at the 2020 appraised value of $210,000, with Abdallah and Councillor Troy Purcell opposed. The vote followed years of resident complaints and legal disputes over the charity’s operations.
Zingel’s entry means five candidates are now competing for the six councillor seats, all elected at-large. Residents can find candidate information and election updates on the city’s website as nomination day approaches.
