The City of Pembroke is officially recognizing May 2026 as Jewish Heritage Month. Mayor Ron Gervais signed a formal proclamation on May 5, 2026, to celebrate the social, economic, political, and cultural contributions of Jewish Canadians to the country.
The local initiative follows a national effort led by B’nai Brith Canada, which encourages municipalities to adopt their own proclamations. This local recognition supports the federal designation established by the Parliament of Canada through the Canadian Jewish Heritage Month Act.
That act received royal assent on March 29, 2018, following a bipartisan effort sponsored by Senator Linda Frum in the Senate and Member of Parliament Michael Levitt in the House of Commons. The legislation passed the House of Commons with unanimous support.
The proclamation signed in Pembroke highlights that Jewish Canadians have made significant impacts in many fields, including the arts, sciences, law, architecture, media, finance, entertainment, philanthropy, and business. By formally recognizing the month, the city joins other Canadian entities that have participated in the initiative to celebrate these contributions and history.
