The Grind Pembroke has a long-standing policy of not responding directly to unfounded
allegations we often face in public and on social media. We are always open to dialogue and seek
to continue the good work we do each day with our guests, serving the most vulnerable and at risk members of our community.
Sadly, a public campaign has begun that is misleading, and we have no choice but to respond to provide clarification.
Among the allegations:
• A 600% increase in county homelessness concentrated on our dead-end street
Renfrew County’s entire homeless population is not concentrated at The Grind. As the
county seat and largest municipality, Pembroke serves as a key market centre for health and
social services.
A point-in-time survey conducted by Renfrew County in 2023 identified
that 35% of people experiencing homelessness are not in Pembroke. While we do directly
help homeless people, we are not a shelter, do not house homeless people, and provide a
wide range of help for people who are not homeless.
• Seniors violently assaulted outside the community centre
This is simply untrue. The Grind knows of no senior citizens assaulted outside the
community centre. Earlier this year, two neighbours were allegedly involved in a late-night
dispute outside the Pembroke Public Library. One of them was a senior citizen who has no
connection to The Grind.
• 4 AM police chases through residential streets
Again, this is untrue. The Grind closes at 3:00 PM each afternoon. Overnight police chases
through residential streets have nothing to do with The Grind. Our organization has
repeatedly been falsely associated with incidents far from our location, at hours we are not
in operation. The Grind is not responsible for such incidents.
This public campaign includes a video that has been widely circulated in the community. This
video is misleading and inaccurate. The “Hollywood-style” editing, including music for effect,
does not represent The Grind or the work we do. Some of the footage is several years old. It
includes scenes of an OPP arrest involving an individual not connected to The Grind and images
taken in front of the Pembroke Public Library when The Grind was closed.
While The Grind is not responsible for the above allegations, we appreciate that concerns are
being raised and want to provide clarification.
The Grind has trained, licensed security staff on site to help ensure safety. We are open and
transparent, and our organization has actively participated on numerous committees addressing
homelessness and addiction in our community.
We remain committed to supporting the most vulnerable. To improve our community for
everyone, conversations must be guided by accurate statistics and open discussion of
recommendations, not misinformation. The Grind has both a Good Neighbour Policy and a strict
Code of Conduct in place to ensure accountability and safety.
As a non-profit, The Grind undergoes a full yearly audit, which is reported at our Annual
General Meeting.
If you would like further clarification or have additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach
out directly to The Grind. We are always open to dialogue and constructive solutions.
For more information or interviews, contact:
The Grind Executive Director Jerry Novack at 713-732-9423
(Richard Evans)