Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP John Yakabuski recently received an award from Pembroke Mayor Ron Gervais recognizing his 22 years of service to the riding. From left they are, Councillor Ian Kuehl, Mayor Gervais presenting the award to Mr. Yakabuski and Councillor Troy Purcell.

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Pembroke – Soon-to-be retired Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP John Yakabuski thought he was attending Pembroke City Hall last Tuesday afternoon to make an announcement about funding for protective equipment for the Pembroke Fire Department.

But little did he know city officials had also planned a special presentation to honour him for his 22 years of service on what would be his last day in office as the provincial Member of Parliament due to the dissolution of the legislature and the election call.

After the formalities of the funding announcement where Mr. Yakabuski said that would likely be his final official photograph, Mayor Ron Gervais surprised him with a special presentation from the city.

The mayor referred to Mr. Yakabuski as John, noting at times he wasn’t sure if that was appropriate because others called him “Yak.”

“We have another motive today and it’s just an honour and a privilege to have you here in city hall chambers for one of your final acts. But when you say it’s the last photo, it’s not the last photo.”

Mayor Gervais shared a story saying it spoke of Mr. Yakabuski’s character that occurred back in 2014.

“It was the Christmas parade and the City of Pembroke was changing mayors at the time. There was just an election, so I was asked as the deputy-mayor could I do the Santa Claus parade.”

He questioned what his role consisted of and was told it was easy, just follow the lead of MPP John Yakabuski.

“I don’t know if you recall, but we show up there and are waiting on the trucks and they never arrived. So, we’re looking at each other and I asked John, who was the experienced one, what we do.

“I still remember to this day, he looked at me and said we had two options,” he added. “We either do nothing and don’t participate, or we walk it. We walked it from one end to the other and it just spoke volumes to me at that time, and it spoke to your character of just get it done.” 

Mayor Gervais recalled being close to the end of the walk and calling his Uncle John for a ride for both of them back to their vehicles at the Ontario Works building.

“That just speaks to the character that is John Yakabuski,” he re-iterated.

He recounted attending the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference last fall where he had a number of delegations.

“And this man took time out of his schedule to go and it’s like, we’re going to go see this minister and that minister, and he’s there. I remember Minister Lumsden and he (Mr. Yakabuski) saying ‘you have to remember it’s the hub of the area, but it’s got limited population, a limited  land mass, and yet we’re doing all the services.  You’ve got to understand this is who the City of Pembroke is and the problems and challenges that they are facing’.”

He said Mr. Yakabuski accompanied him to every delegation.

“This is the man that is John Yakabuski,” he stated.

Mayor Gervais noted former mayor Mike LeMay stressed how important it was to work with the MPP because he loved Pembroke as much as we do.

He recalled he went to see Mr. Yakabuski when the city received its original OPP costing projections for 2025 that included a huge increase.

“And we resolved that, and that is the character that is John Yakabuski. If there was a ratepayer that called your office and said what the challenge was, heaven and earth would move and you would get something done.”

He noted the constituency staff were equally helpful when answers were needed.

Mayor Gervais took pleasure in attending any event Mr. Yakabuski was at as he considered it an opportunity to see what might be new coming down the pike.

“It’s just simply an honour here to have you at City Hall as one of the final acts,” he remarked.

He then presented a scroll to Mr. Yakabuski that read, “The Corporation of the City of Pembroke takes pride in presenting this scroll to John Yakabuski MPP. Congratulations on your retirement. Thank you for your many years of dedication to the residents of the City of Pembroke and the Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke riding.”  

A Great City

Mr. Yakabuski said Pembroke was not part of his late father’s riding, Renfrew South when he was in office, but part of Renfrew North under MPP Maurice Hamilton and later MPP Sean Conway. 

“So, I didn’t grow up with any particular affinity for Pembroke because it was not part of dad’s riding, even though it was part of our travels if we were shopping or something, or going to the Pembroke Mall,” he said. “So, I really didn’t get to know Pembroke or the people of Pembroke.

“And I will tell you this. They are wonderful people and this is a great city,” he added. “And I grew to have more and more affection for Pembroke, the more I understood what Pembroke was all about, and the reality of the challenges that Pembroke does face.”

He noted one of the biggest challenges is that the city is essentially landlocked and has no real possibility of growing its assessment, in a time when the demand on services continues to increase.

“So, I have great respect for the people who lead in this city and the people who work to assist in making the city the best it can be.”

He recalled when he first ran for office, he felt like a virtual unknown when walking down main street in the city.

“Now, I feel like I’m one of you when I walk down the streets of Pembroke today.”