YMCA Camp Kanawana
Faits saillants
1894: Le YMCA de Montréal fonde son premier camp de vacances pour garçons sur une île du lac Saint-Joseph, près de Sainte-Agathe, (Camp Jubilee).
1910: En réponse à la popularité croissante du Camp Jubilee, le YMCA de Montréal achète les terres entourant le lac Saint-Louis et le lac Rond, et y établit un nouveau camp appelé Kamp Kanawana – qui signifie “paisible et débordant de nourriture”.
1937: Kanawana devient le fer de lance du mouvement pour l’établissement de l’Association des camps du Québec. Aujourd’hui, cet organisme accrédite et règlemente plus de 140 camps de vacances au Québec.
1968: Le camp YMCA Kanawana admet pour la première fois des filles; soixante-six filles s’inscrivent au camp mixte.
1994: Le camp YMCA Kanawana célèbre les 100 ans de travail du YMCA de Montréal en matière de camps de vacances en organisant une fin de semaine de réunion des anciens. Plus de 100 anciens campeurs et employés se réunissent sur place pour souligner cet accomplissement.
Highlights
1894: Montreal YMCA establishes it’s first summer camp for boys on an island in Lake St. Joseph near Ste. Agathe. (Camp Jubilee)
1910: In response to growing popularity of Camp Jubilee the Montreal YMCA purchases the land surrounding Lac St. Louis and Lac Rond and establishes a new camp called Kamp Kanawana – meaning “peaceful and plenty to eat.”
1937: Kanawana spearheads the movement to establish the Quebec Camping Association. This organization now accredits and monitors over 140 certified Quebec camps.
1968: Kanawana admits female campers for the first time. Sixty-six girls register in the first co-ed summer.
1994: Kanawana celebrates 100 years of the Montreal YMCA’s involvement in camping by organizing an alumni reunion weekend. Over 100 past campers and staff reunite for a weekend of celebrations on site.
Administrative history (From Concordia Archive)
In 1910, R.B. Ross, Samuel Cushing, and J.C. Charleton made a trip through the
Laurentians to choose a new campsite for boys age 16-18. They chose land
surrounding Lake St. Louis (renamed Lake Kanawana) and Lake Round, and the
YMCA purchased the site. YMCA lore has it that “Kanawana” is an Indian word
for “plenty of eats”. Kamp Kanawana’s first season was held in 1910. Two years
later, J. W. McConnell donated land surrounding Lake Desjardins, adjacent to
Kamp Kanawana. In 1926 the YMCA purchased 12 acres of land on Lake Becsie
(sometimes known as Becsies), adjacent to Kanawana. In 1929 Camp Becsie on
the shore of Lake Becsie was developed as a site for special groups such as
children from the Montreal Protestant Orphans Home. Electricity was installed at
Kamp Kanawana in 1951 and the craft shop and the waterfront recreation
building known as the Longhouse as well as a small administration building
were erected. In 1964 the YMCA purchased 120 acres of land that connected
Kamp Kanawana to the Boy Scouts’ Camp Tamarascouta, and it purchased the
property that included the road entrance to Kamp Kanawana.
