Marguerite Centre

Marguerite Centre is a spirituality and conference centre in Pembroke Ont., Canada. We are located in the Upper Ottawa Valley along the Ottawa River.

We provide space for people to explore and learn, balance and grow, through our core work of hospitality.

We are committed to a holistic, ecumenical and inter-religious ministry from a Catholic perspective.

We are dedicated to the values of contemplation and community, earth literacy, the local economy and sustainability. In small, daily ways, we are working toward the transformation of ourselves and our world.

Mapquest Directions to the Centre

Our Bioregion...The Ottawa River Watershed

This is a late summer sunset looking north along the Ottawa River.

As Barb Davey at Perc (Peace and Environment News) explains,

“Bioregions are often delineated by the watersheds of major rivers. Taking the watershed of the Ottawa River as a guide, our bioregion extends from Launay and Kirkland Lake in the north, Carillon and Tremblant in the east, Westport and Bancroft in the south, and Shining Tree in the west, including Gatineau Park, and almost all of Algonquin Park. The "Ottawa Valley" is a familiar term already, but the watershed of the Ottawa is actually 65 percent within Québec, and only 35 percent in Ontario. The total area of the basin is 146,300 square kilometers. (These stats are from the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Committee.)”

With that in mind--
The Watershed of the Ottawa River defines our bioregion. This is a map of the watershed. If will take you to the site of the Ottawa River Institute from which it was borrowed. That is a good place to start learning about our bioregion

Biking, Hiking and Skiing

The Upper Ottawa Valley is a wonderful natural setting to visit in a variety of seasons. For general information on local tourism, you can visit the Ottawa Valley Tourist Association. If you are interested in recreational opportunities while visiting, the best site is Valley Explore. This site lists the many local biking, hiking and cross-country ski trails. For the athletically inclined, we recommend the Forest Lea Trails, only 10 kms away. In winter they are 14 km of classic and 19 km of skate skiing; in summer, some of the most challenging single track in Ontario. The PPJ Trail, which begins just across the river on Allumette Island is a beautiful and gentle trail system that goes all the way to Shawville, through quaint and picturesque villages with fairs and art shows. Nearby Algonquin Park, also provides many beautiful locales for hiking and canoeing.

The City of Pembroke itself has several lovely parks and a walkway along the Ottawa River, Kiwanis Walk.

Just ask, and we will be happy to recommend a way to explore the outdoors while you are visiting.

The Earth Charter

The Earth Charter is a global feature of the commitment to our own bioregion. As we each of us commit ourselves to the principles of the charter, we also open up the possibility of sustainable growth and transformation on the local level.

Marguerite Centre is a supporter of the Earth Charter Read more about it here.

These are the four principles of the Earth Charter

1. Respect Earth and life in all its diversity.

a. Recognize that all beings are interdependent and every form of life has value regardless of its worth to human beings.

b. Affirm faith in the inherent dignity of all human beings and in the intellectual, artistic, ethical, and spiritual potential of humanity.

2. Care for the community of life with understanding, compassion, and love.

a. Accept that with the right to own, manage, and use natural resources comes the duty to prevent environmental harm and to protect the rights of people.

b. Affirm that with increased freedom, knowledge, and power comes increased responsibility to promote the common good.

3. Build democratic societies that are just, participatory, sustainable, and peaceful

. a. Ensure that communities at all levels guarantee human rights and fundamental freedoms and provide everyone an opportunity to realize his or her full potential. b. Promote social and economic justice, enabling all to achieve a secure and meaningful livelihood that is ecologically responsible.

4. Secure Earth's bounty and beauty for present and future generations.

a. Recognize that the freedom of action of each generation is qualified by the needs of future generations.

b. Transmit to future generations values, traditions, and institutions that support the long-term flourishing of Earth's human and ecological communities.

Ottawa Valley Food Co-op

and speaking of bioregions.... Marguerite Centre is proud to be a partner in Ottawa Valley Food Please check out also the beginnings of our local food coop at

Ottawa Valley Foods.org

A committed group of local people who are working to set up a local food coop