NEWS RELEASE: Nature Conservancy of Canada calls on Kenora politicians to support conservation efforts for Town Island

● Local residents, cottagers and area youth camps establish Friends of Town Island to
launch grassroots public awareness campaign

● More than 4,000 concerned community members have already signed the online petition

KENORA, December 16, 2019 - The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is joining with local residents and concerned stakeholders to oppose the City of Kenora’s plan to develop Town Island on Ontario’s Lake of the Woods.

In its recent letter to the City, NCC highlights its concerns for the future of Town Island and the City’s Request for Proposals for its development. NCC’s letter supports conservation of the land, noting that the island “is unique in the sense that it is a large, mostly undeveloped island in an area of Lake of the Woods that is heavily developed” and that the island may “provide habitat for bald eagles, a variety of song birds and plant communities that are rare in this part of Ontario.” 

In its letter, NCC asks that the City consider conservation and indicates that it is willing to work with stakeholders to assist in the process.

With growing support from the public and organizations like the Nature Conservancy of Canada, local residents, cottagers and area youth camps have come together to form the Friends of Town Island to lead a grassroots campaign to raise awareness of Kenora politicians’ plans to develop Town Island and impact the environment. 

The association’s website encourages visitors to get informed, sign the online petition and contact Kenora politicians. The campaign has generated more than 4,000 petition signatures and earned widespread interest from media and stakeholders.

“By developing Town Island, Kenora politicians are putting the interests of big business ahead of kids and the environment,” said Aaron London, spokesperson for the Friends of Town Island and former Chair of the BB Camp Board of Directors. “We are working hard to bring Kenora politicians to the negotiating table in order to find a commercially viable conservation solution for the City, the Friends of Town Island and the public who will all benefit from placing the land in Trust.”

“Protecting Lake of the Woods for future generations is everyone’s responsibility,” said Kenora resident David Nelson. “By opening up Town Island to development, Kenora City Council is jeopardizing the area.

"This lake has been such an important part of my family’s life for close to 100 years and it’s devastating that politicians are being so short-sighted by selling off an historic public asset that has served the community and area youth camps for development. The fact is that the City has had a conservation objective on Town Island for ten years and public support for that remains strong. We can help make that happen.”

“Area youth camps on Lake of the Woods including BB Camp and YMCA-YWCA Camp Stephens play such an important role in connecting kids with their communities, the wilderness and the core values of caring, equality, inclusiveness, respect and responsibility,” said Kent Paterson, President and Chief Executive Officer, YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg. 

“We have been part of the Lake of the Woods community for more than 125 years and are proud of our history of service. Protecting the area from unchecked development is a critical concern for our community and we call on Kenora politicians to stop their plans for developing Town Island.”

Other testimonials from concerned members of the public can be viewed here.

About Friends of Town Island

The Friends of Town Island is a grassroots group of Kenora residents, cottagers, youth camps and concerned stakeholders working together to conserve Town Island on Ontario’s Lake of the Woods and keep it free from development for the benefit of the public. By bringing together diverse communities of nature lovers, environmentalists, wilderness enthusiasts and youth advocates, the group is working to raise awareness of the risks related to the City of Kenora’s recent Request for Proposals for development of the island and has launched a public awareness campaign featuring a website, online petition and a Facebook Group. For more information visit: www.townisland.ca.

Town Island - what you can do

You may have heard that the City of Kenora has sent out a request for proposals for the development of Town Island (home of the campsites known as Big Mosquito, Ants, etc, not to mention the home of our friends at B'nai Brith.), a move that no doubt puts private business interests ahead of the environment and our campers.

Read https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/group-fights-sale-town-island-kenora-lake-of-the-woods-1.5391458 for more about it.

In response, we have teamed up with B’nai Brith Camp, residents, cottagers and others to form the Friends of Town Island committee. Our request to the city is simple – reconsider this process and meet with the committee before Town Island is overtaken by big development.

As a former Camp Stephens camper, you know first-hand the profound impact our camp program has on children and youth. The life lessons are invaluable, the friendships are everlasting an'd the connection to nature are imperative for the sustainability of our planet.

Town Island represents different things to different people, but to our alumni, particularly those with tripping experience, the Island represents tradition. It’s a destination rooted so deeply in our tripping history that to be without it would be a huge loss. Future campers will never get to share stories around the same campsite that previous generations of campers did. They will never get to explore the Island in the ways that so many of us, or our children, have explored it. The tales of lore that surround the Island will slowly be erased from our history because the Island itself will never be the same.

We need your voice!

We are asking all Camp

alumni to submit a testimonial for the Friends of Town Island website, highlighting the importance of camp programs for youth, the risks of unchecked development on Lake of the Woods and the importance of environmental responsibility. Testimonials can be sent to [friendsoftownisland@gmail.com](mailto:friendsoftownisland@gmail.com)

See https://www.townisland.ca/ for what you can do.

Thank you,

Kent Paterson, President & CEO, YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg

Jack McKeag

Trib story on dedication of new cabins and boathouse. 

The day before this story ran in the Trib a lot of people gathered at camp to mark the construction of 12 new cabins and dedicate the chapel to long-time camp cook Alfred David.

Also christened Aug. 7, 1966 was the new boathouse, which we all know by now has been knocked down and a new depot building rising in its place.

"A new boathouse was opened by Jack McKeag. The boathouse holds 28 canoes as well as sail and motor boats," the story says.

That's it.

We all know the boathouse was more than a storage building. For me, it was the shop andwhere I learned the business end of a hammer and to always wear eye protection when using a circular saw.

For others it was the depot or trail building, where you planned and packed out your canoe trips, whether it was a junior cabin overnighter or a six-weeker.

What caught my eye in the Trib story was the name Jack McKeag.

I'd heard the McKeag name before as it was the name of the last cabin on the line; McKeags.

Jack McKeag was Manitoba's 17th lieutenant governor, appointed by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in July 1970. At 42, McKeag was also the youngest Manitoban to be appointed LG. He served six years.

(Winnipeg Tribune)

More about McKeag is here on the Manitoba Historical Society web page.

Four years earlier, when he opened the boathouse, McKeag was president of McKeag-Harris Realty and Development Co. Ltd., a major property developer on the Winnipeg business scene.

He was also:

• A graduate of Kelvin High School and the U of M in 1949 where we received a commerce degree
• Married to Dawn Campbell in 1950 - Campbell was the daughter of Douglas Campbell, Manitoba's 13th premier
• Father of four children; three daughters and one son
• An unsuccessful Liberal candidate in the 1958 provincial election
• Chairman of the Greater Winnipeg Election Committee
• President of the Winnipeg Kiwanis Club
• Board member of the United College board of regents.

Certainly, McKeag was a busy man and extremely active in his community. He died in 2007.

What I don't know is his and his family's connection to Camp Stephens.

Anyone know?

McKeag with Rex in mid-70s. McKeag was also Honorary Colonel of the Fort Garry Horse. (Winnipeg Tribune)

Building a Legacy at Camp Stephens

Last year saw the demolition of the depot where countless canoe trips packed out since the late 1960s.

This year sees a new building rise in its place – it will be ready for limited use this summer.

The depot, or “boathouse” to old timers or “shop” to others, was 

built in 1966 – the 75thanniversary of Camp Stephens - to originally serve for canoe, sailboat and motorboat storage and during summer months, for staff to repair canoes and sailboats.

The depot served camp for more than 50 years, but it was no longer up to today's standards, and a decision was made to build a new structure that will serve as a hub for camp activities for the next 50 years.

The YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg has launched the Building a Legacy fundraising campaign.  Its goal is to raise $1.2 million to provide funding for the new depot building. Funds raised through 
the campaign will also support adequate staff cabins on the island.

“Since the beginning of Camp Stephens in 1891, the contributions 
of alumni and private donors has allowed camp to be a positive force for thousands of children,”said Kent Paterson, President and CEO of the YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg. “That need for giving is ongoing.”

“Camp Stephens has a tradition of developing young people for positive healthy living, respect for one another and valuing the wilderness,” Paterson said. “The Building a Legacy campaign will help continue this tradition for our young people.”

Paterson added the new 4,507 square-foot building will include a kitchen for the preparation of out-of-camp meals, a boat repair facility, equipment storage, a trip planning room and a display area to showcase camp memorabilia. 

“One of the reasons why Camp Stephens is the longest-serving summer camp in Canada is due to the generosity of alumni and our donors,” Paterson said. 

“Donors to the Building a Legacy campaign will allow future generations of young people to benefit from the camp experience, 
helping them grow in spirit, mind and body, and develop the skills to be the next generation of leaders.” 

For more information about the campaign, please see ywinnipeg.ca/buildalegacy