LAURENTIAN VALLEY, ON BALANCING RURAL CHARM AND URBAN PROGRESS WWW.LVTOWNSHIP.CA
LAURENTIAN VALLEY, ON BALANCING RU AND URBAN PRO AT A GLANCE LAURENTIAN VALLEY, ON WHAT: A scenic township in the Ottawa Valley, experiencing growth and transformation WHERE: The County of Renfrew, Ontario WEBSITE: www.lvtownship.ca 1 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07
URAL CHARM OGRESS A TIGHT KNIT COMMUNITY EMBRACING CHANGE AND A DYNAMIC FUTURE The Township of Laurentian Valley is a thriving, close-knit community, with a population of just over 10,000, and a prime location in the scenic Ottawa Valley. This growing township offers breathtaking views and rural tranquility alongside convenient access to urban amenities. Embracing a new chapter of growth and development, Laurentian Valley continues to invite progress while preserving the welcoming spirit that defines its identity. 2 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07
Surrounding the city of Pembroke and located only an hour and twenty minutes from the nation’s capital, Community Development Officer Chris Neff boasts, “Laurentian Valley offers a perfect mix of urban and rural living, with captivating forests extending to the boundary of Algonquin Park, stunning riverfront areas along the Ottawa River, and extensive multi use trail systems, alongside fully serviced residential and community commercial areas. Everything you need to live, work and play, can be found here.” AN IDEAL LOCATION The township has been experiencing steady growth, driven by a lower cost of living, proximity to larger city centers, and excellent access to the Ottawa market via Highway 17. Laurentian Valley is also conveniently connected to the Highway 401 corridor through Highway 41, and to Northern Ontario by the Trans-Canada Highway. Neff shares, “The township is becoming a popular area for people to locate, whether it be retirees looking to move closer to services, young couples looking to build a family, or remote workers choosing to move further out from major urban centers for a better work life balance and a more affordable community.” OPEN FOR BUSINESS Laurentian Valley is home to a number of major employers, including Roseburg Pembroke MDF, several aggregate operations, government services and large retail establishments. Many residents also work at nearby Garrison Petawawa or Canadian Nuclear Laboratories in Chalk River, making Laurentian Valley an ideal home base for the region. The township is definitely “open for business,” supporting both existing and future enterprises. “We’re good to work with. We hear that a lot,” Neff acknowledges.“As a small municipality we don’t take growth for granted. We’re there with you every step of the way, and we devote as many resources as we can towards seeing your vision come to life.” With 250 brick-and-mortar, and 50 home-based businesses, Neff says,“We’re really proud to say that those are growing, but there’s still room for others that want to start up.” New additions to the township include Battlefield Rentals, Petro Canada, Toppers Pizza, and A&W, with three more commercial units ready for fast food tenants. “We’re growing really fast,” Neff relays. “Many hands have worked very hard to make these projects come to life. Even though we are a small municipality, we are able to attract and successfully 3 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07 LAURENTIAN VALLEY, ON
develop these larger businesses, which often have really unique and diverse needs that need to be met.” To further support growth, the township introduced a Community Improvement Grant Program in 2019. “We’re really putting our money where our mouth is and saying we’re supporting businesses,”Neff remarks. The program offers 50 percent matching grants of up to $10,000 per property, covering a wide range of categories including signage, facades, accessibility, landscaping, parking, brownfield rehabilitation, commercial roofs, and even agricultural value-added initiatives. In addition to the grant itself, the program includes a rebate for municipal application and permit fees, 4 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07
Our Projects Partner with Us Contact Us www.creativedevventures.com A Vision for Purposeful Development At Creative Dev Ventures, we reimagine land development as a force for connection, creativity, and long-term impact. Our work goes beyond building structures—it’s about designing environments where people can live well, work meaningfully, and feel a true sense of belonging. Rooted in Ottawa and active across Canada, CDV leads purpose-driven projects that reflect the needs of evolving communities. We collaborate closely with builders, developers, investors, and local leaders to unlock the full potential of underutilized land—transforming it into thriving spaces that foster social cohesion, economic opportunity, and sustainable growth. By challenging conventional industry models and placing community well-being at the forefront, we’re helping shape a future where development isn’t just a transaction—it’s a responsibility. One that we take seriously, and pursue with strategy, heart, and vision."
TRAILSIDE IN LAURENTIAN VALLEY: A NEW VISION FOR COMMUNITY, WELLNESS, AND RECREATION A new kind of community is emerging in Laurentian Valley—one designed not only to meet housing needs, but to become a destination for outdoor living, wellness, and connection to nature. Trailside is a 189-acre master-planned development led by Creative Dev Ventures (CDV), blending multi-generational living with access to trails, green space, and amenities that support health and quality of life. Anchored by direct access to the 296-kilometre Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail,Trailside invites year-round activity—from walking and biking to snowmobiling and crosscountry skiing. Surrounded by forest and nearby waterways, the site is poised to become a hub for residents and visitors seeking an active lifestyle. Located along Jean Avenue and TV Tower Road, the site also includes an active sand pit—presenting an opportunity for creative rehabilitation in the future. “Trailside is about more than adding homes,” says Carina Guzmán, President of Creative Dev Ventures.“It’s about shaping a place where people can live well—connected to nature, to each other, and to opportunities for health and enjoyment.” Creative Dev Ventures brings a strategic and collaborative approach to land development, balancing planning expertise with long-term community value.The firm specializes in guiding complex projects from concept to completion, aligning investor, municipal, and design priorities. The vision for Trailside includes a variety of residential options that reflect the area’s evolving needs, offering living environments for all ages and lifestyles. Early planning also considers the potential for wellness, recreational, and small-scale commercial spaces that align with the character of the community. “Pembroke and Laurentian Valley already offer incredible natural beauty and small-town livability,” says Guzmán.“Our role is to amplify that—to create something intentional, integrated, and built for how people want to live today.” As planning progresses, Creative Dev Ventures is inviting residents, local business owners, and stakeholders to share their input through a short community survey, available here. CDV also welcomes expressions of interest from partners in housing, wellness, recreation, and hospitality who want to contribute to a project rooted in quality of place and lasting impact. Inquiries can be sent to connect@creativedevventures.com.
as well as a tax increment grant to lessen the impact of rising property assessments due to improvements. “We’re just getting started here in the township of Laurentian Valley, and we hope that more businesses come, and if they do, we’re ready,” Neff asserts. COMMUNITY CONNECTION AND QUALITY OF LIFE Laurentian Valley supports a balanced lifestyle that values community well-being.The township is home to six public recreation facilities, varying in size and equipped with a variety of amenities, including recreation halls, playgrounds, green spaces, trails, rinks, and splash pads. Community spaces and events are supported not only by township resources but by an exceptional volunteer base. Mayor Steve Bennett emphasizes, “We’re very fortunate that we’re able to have over 100 volunteers who run all these rec centers, which allows us to keep our costs down and be able to offer more to our residents.”The township offers a number of unique events, including a popular Halloween 7 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07 LAURENTIAN VALLEY, ON
Walk and winter skating opportunities at the LV Four Seasons Trail, which attracts thousands of visitors annually. When it comes to connecting the community, new residential developments are being designed with walkability in mind, adding active transportation routes as well as sidewalks. In addition, Laurentian Valley is working in collaboration with the County of Renfrew on the Algonquin Trail, which stretches from the community of Deep River all the way to Arnprior. “The township has also been working on acquiring and developing another trail system, connecting through several other municipalities,” Neff recounts. “We are actively trying to improve our recreation constantly. So if you’re a resident of Laurentian Valley or a neighboring community, or a tourist, you can rest assured that there’s always something going on here.” A RESIDENTIAL FOCUS In Laurentian Valley residential development is 8 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07
Welcome to River Pointe — a bold new master-planned community in the heart of Laurentian Valley, brought to you by Riverview Homes Premium living surrounded by nature River Pointe offers endless opportunities for new discoveries while providing easy access to all the necessities you would expect living in a lively urban centre. Parks and nature trails, waterscapes, golf courses and more answer to your every whim while opening you up to new possibilities. River Pointe is ideally located in Laurentian Valley and bordering the eastern edge of Pembroke amidst a flourishing flurry of residential and retail. Now is the perfect time to invest in Laurentian Valley and the community of River Pointe. The location boasts a lower cost of entry and lower cost of living with exceptional connectivity to the Ottawa River. This is more than a subdivision — it’s a once-in-ageneration community built for lifestyle, connection, and legacy. Come join the neighbourhood. Come live at River Pointe. Things to do in and around River Pointe Expansive parks, scenic trails & a new off-leash dog park Playgrounds, splash pad & pickleball courts Boating, cycling, fishing & natural beauty all around Bungalows and semis designed with homeownership in mind A master-planned neighbourhood like no other, brought to you by Riverview Homes, proudly building since 1987. With over 750 new homes planned, River Pointe is the largest residential development Laurentian Valley has seen in recent times. Just steps from Pembroke Mall, Walmart, Home Depot, Canadian Tire and more — it’s where small-town charm meets unmatched convenience. Whether you’re retiring in style or buying your first home, River Pointe offers true affordability and a vibrant neighbourhood built for living. 750 Homes. One Incredible Community Phase 1 — 170 homes now under construction (July 2025). First occupancies in 2026
guided by provincial housing mandates and a strong focus on community planning. The township is experiencing rapid growth, with several key residential developments underway. These include the Taxton and Kirkland subdivisions, which will offer approximately 50 privately serviced lots near the Ottawa River. The River Point subdivision, currently in the draft approval stage, will add 156 residential units, with additional phases already under review. According to Neff, the East End growth area has the potential for up to 1,700 new units, while the West End is also poised for substantial expansion through the Laurentian Meadows subdivision and new projects in partnership with CreativeDev Ventures. “Those are really going to be kicking off in the next couple years, into the next 10 years,” he reports.“We think it is going to be a quality of life that a lot of people want to have, and hopefully they are going to 10 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07 LAURENTIAN VALLEY, ON
come to the township of Laurentian Valley to get it.” A PROACTIVE PLAN With this volume of growth comes a need for infrastructure investment, and the township has already obtained funding to help lay the groundwork for future development.“We’ve secured $579,687.50 from the province of Ontario to develop roughly one kilometer of Robinson Lane to help connect critical infrastructure to new housing developments,” details Neff. This will support the construction of roads, sidewalks, and underground services to enable future homes to be built efficiently. “However, we’re still actively seeking funding to support the roughly $2 million in infrastructure needed to connect these developments for water and sewer and storm water to accelerate these projects,” he admits. To avoid delays in other parts of the township, officials are already planning the next step, working 11 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07 LAURENTIAN VALLEY, ON
in partnership with the County of Renfrew. “We’ve come up with a plan to develop an area of Drive-In Road,” Neff explains. “We’ve realized that even though we’re going to be doing this development at one end, the infrastructure is not going to connect to the other end, where there’s separate developments, until those houses are built.” This proposed project will see the installation of water, sewer, storm infrastructure, sidewalks, lighting, and electrical access to 700 metres of road. “It is estimated to cost roughly $7.5 million but it’s shovel ready pending funding approval,” he says. “We’re hoping that the partnerships, the planning, the foresight, will be looked on beneficially by funders to show that we’re ready to go, and we want to support the goal of building houses and getting more people living in homes.” A LOOK AHEAD With a plan and a vision, Laurentian Valley is ready for what comes next. “We have the land, we have 12 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07
www.InvestRenfrewCounty.ca Access to a skilled workforce and major transportation routes. Investment ready. the product that attracts people, and having a lower tax rate certainly draws the developers from larger areas to come here,” Mayor bennet conveys.“There’s so much that we can offer here for a laid back type of living.” Moving forward, Neff outlines, “What we’re looking at here in the next couple of years is a whole new urban community. We’re experiencing record growth, and it’s coming at a really good time.” He highlights infrastructure upgrades like the rehabilitation of Highway 148, which will include sidewalks and multi-use paths linking newer developments in the west to underdeveloped areas in the east. New subdivisions in the east end will feature active transportation routes and are designed to offer the best of both worlds. “This new urban community will be like nothing seen in the Ottawa Valley, with the businesses and community being blended perfectly together with nature, with room to grow,” he depicts. With the support of council, staff, residents, and business leaders, the township is looking towards the future with energy and intention. Neff underscores, “We think that the next 24 months is going to be really positive and great for growth. Everything is coming together, and it’s going to be something awesome to see.” 13 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07 LAURENTIAN VALLEY, ON
PREFERRED VENDOR/PARTNER n Creative Dev. Ventures www.creativedevventures.com Creative Dev Ventures is a purpose-driven real estate firm reimagining how land development is taught, practiced, and shared. Through our Land Development Academy and projects led by industry expert Carina Guzmán, we blend strategy, creativity, and accessibility to empower future developers and create thriving, inclusive communities. n River Pointe www.portal.tritoncapitalinc.com/community/ river-pointe n Algonquin College – Pembroke Campus www.algonquincollege.com/pembroke Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus offers hands-on, career-focused education in a supportive and close-knit environment. Located along the Ottawa River, the campus specializes in business, technology, healthcare, trades, outdoor and environmental studies. With personalized support, real-world learning, and strong community ties, Pembroke Campus prepares students to thrive in today’s evolving workforce. n Jp2g Consultants Inc. www.jp2g.com Jp2g is an employee owned, multi-discipline consulting firm providing engineering, planning, environmental, and project management services. With more than 160 professional and technical staff, our team provides personalized client service while enhancing the communities we live in. For more than 50 years, Jp2g has been a trusted partner in community building throughout Eastern Ontario. n Invest Renfrew County www.investrenfrewcounty.ca The County of Renfrew is an upper-tier Municipal Government that stretches west from the Nation’s Capital of Ottawa to the northern tip of historic Algonquin Provincial Park in Eastern Ontario. Founded in 1861, Renfrew County is the largest county in Ontario and includes 17 local municipalities. 14 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07
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