Your Guide to Embrun Community Centre and Library Services

What Can You Do at the Embrun Community Centre?

The Embrun Community Centre on Ste. Jeanne d'Arc Road is the beating heart of our town — a place where residents gather to swim, skate, workout, and connect. Whether you're looking to join a fitness class, book a birthday party, or simply find a warm spot during winter, this facility delivers.

The centre houses a full-size ice rink that's home to the Embrun Cougars minor hockey association. You'll find public skating sessions most weekends, shinny hockey for adults, and learn-to-skate programs for the little ones. The ice gets converted for summer use — sometimes for dry-floor sports, sometimes for community events. (Call ahead if you're planning a specific activity — the schedule shifts seasonally.)

The aquatics area features a six-lane, 25-metre pool with a shallow entry perfect for toddlers. Swimming lessons follow the Lifesaving Society curriculum, and you'll see local kids progressing from Swim Kids 1 all the way to Bronze Cross. The pool hosts lane swimming every morning at 6:30 AM — yes, it's early, but the regulars swear by it.

Fitness enthusiasts aren't left out. The weight room overlooking the pool isn't massive, but it's well-equipped with Cybex machines, free weights, and cardio equipment. Drop-in rates run $8 for adults, or you can snag a monthly pass for $52. Here's the thing — that monthly pass includes pool access, fitness classes, and public skating. The value adds up fast if you visit more than twice a week.

The community hall upstairs rents out for events. Weddings, anniversaries, club meetings — the space holds 120 people and includes a kitchenette. Our neighbour booked it for her daughter's sweet sixteen last spring. She said the staff were helpful, the parking was plentiful, and the price beat Ottawa venues by half.

What Services Does the Embrun Library Offer?

The Embrun Library — officially the Embrun Branch of the Ottawa Public Library — sits right beside the community centre on Perrin Street, and it's far more than a book warehouse. This modest building houses digital resources, programming for all ages, meeting spaces, and a surprisingly deep collection of French-language materials.

Borrowing privileges are free for anyone with an Ottawa Public Library card. (Embrun residents qualify — we're part of the City of Ottawa despite our distinct identity.) The collection spans roughly 35,000 items: bestsellers in English and French, graphic novels, audiobooks, DVDs, and magazines. They'll bring in materials from any OPL branch at no charge. Request a book from the Main Branch on Metcalfe Street, and it'll arrive within three days.

The children's section occupies the west wing — picture books, early readers, and a cozy reading nook with beanbag chairs. Storytime happens Wednesday mornings at 10:30 for ages 2-5. The librarian, Marie-Claire, has run these sessions for eight years. Parents bring coffee. Kids bring enthusiasm. Everyone leaves happy.

Teens have their own corner with charging stations, manga collections, and study carrels. During exam season, you'll see students from École secondaire catholique Embrun camped out with textbooks and laptops. The WiFi is free, unlimited, and faster than most coffee shops in town.

Adult programming runs year-round. Computer help clinics for seniors. Book clubs (English meets first Tuesday, French meets third Thursday). Author visits — often featuring Ottawa Valley writers with local connections. They hosted Pierre-Luc Bélanger last fall; his novel about francophone life in Eastern Ontario drew a standing-room-only crowd.

Digital Resources You Might Not Know About

Beyond physical books, your library card unlocks a surprising digital toolkit. PressReader gives you same-day access to newspapers worldwide — La Presse, The Globe and Mail, The New York Times. Libby provides free ebooks and audiobooks downloadable to your phone. Kanopy streams documentary films and indie cinema.

LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com) offers thousands of video courses on everything from Excel to photography. Worth noting — this normally costs $30/month commercially. Free with your card. Local small business owners use it to train staff. Retirees use it to learn new hobbies. Students use it to supplement their coursework.

How Do Membership and Access Work for Embrun Residents?

Access to both facilities works differently depending on what you need. The library is entirely free for Ottawa Public Library cardholders. The community centre charges fees for most programming and facility rentals, though some services remain accessible at no cost.

Getting a library card requires proof of address and photo ID. Bring a hydro bill, driver's licence, or lease agreement to the front desk. They'll issue your card in five minutes. Lost cards cost $2 to replace — so don't lose it.

The community centre offers membership discounts for families, students, and seniors. A family pass (two adults plus children under 18) runs $95 monthly. Students with valid ID pay $42. Seniors 65+ get the same rate. The catch? These memberships auto-renew unless you cancel in person. Set a calendar reminder if you're trying it short-term.

Accessibility Features Worth Knowing

Both buildings meet current accessibility standards. The library has automatic doors, accessible washrooms, and a wheelchair-friendly layout throughout. The community centre features a lift into the pool — yes, an actual mechanical chair that lowers swimmers into the water. Change rooms include accessible stalls and benches.

Accessible parking spots sit directly outside both entrances. The sidewalk connecting the two facilities is paved, flat, and well-lit after dark. If you need specific accommodations, call ahead. The staff at both locations — genuinely friendly people who know Embrun residents by name — will help you figure out what works.

What Community Programs Connect Embrun Residents?

The real value of these facilities isn't the buildings — it's what happens inside them. Both the community centre and library serve as gathering points that knit our town together.

Every Saturday morning, you'll find the Embrun Farmers' Market setting up in the community centre parking lot from May through October. Vendors sell produce from Russell Township farms, maple syrup from nearby forests, and baked goods from home kitchens. The library sometimes hosts cooking demonstrations using market ingredients — a nice bit of cross-promotion between neighbouring facilities.

The community centre runs an active 55+ club. They meet Tuesdays for cards, Thursdays for coffee socials, and monthly for day trips to Ottawa attractions. Membership is $15 annually — barely enough to cover coffee and cookies, honestly. Many participants have attended for decades. Newcomers are welcomed warmly (if somewhat interrogated about which part of Embrun they live in).

Youth sports anchor the centre's programming. Beyond hockey, there's indoor soccer in winter, basketball in the gymnasium, and summer camps that fill up by March. The Embrun Minor Hockey Association, Embrun Panthers soccer club, and various martial arts schools all call this building home. Parents spend countless hours in the lobby, on the bleachers, forming the social connections that make small-town life what it is.

The library's intergenerational programs deserve mention. "Reading Buddies" pairs teens with early readers for practice sessions. "Silver Surfers" matches patient young people with seniors learning smartphones. These aren't just cute ideas — they address real needs in our community. Some seniors live alone; some kids need extra literacy support. The library facilitates both.

Special Events Throughout the Year

Both facilities ramp up programming around holidays and seasonal moments. The community centre hosts a massive Halloween party — haunted house in the arena, costume contest, candy stations. The library runs summer reading challenges with prizes donated by local businesses like St-Albert Cheese and Embrun Home Hardware.

Winter brings the Christmas craft fair to the community centre hall. Thirty-plus vendors. Hot chocolate. Local elementary school choirs performing. It's crowded, chaotic, and completely wonderful. The catch? Parking is a nightmare. Arrive early or walk if you live nearby.

Canada Day sees both facilities involved in the town-wide celebration. The community centre serves as headquarters for the parade. The library opens for special hours with patriotic storytimes and maple cookie giveaways. You'll see Mayor Marianne Drolet-Boucher making appearances at both locations — she's genuinely committed to these institutions, not just showing up for photos.

Whether you're a lifelong Embrun resident or new to our corner of Eastern Ontario, these facilities offer resources worth exploring. The community centre keeps you active and connected. The library feeds your mind and — sometimes literally — your family (they actually lend cake pans and specialty kitchen tools). Together, they represent what works about small-town living: practical services, genuine community, and spaces that feel like they belong to all of us.