History

Viewing our Agur Lake Camp video will give you a quick picture of how Agur Lake Camp came to be.

The Birth of an Idea

The idea of a wilderness camp for families with special needs children was born in Bonnar Dowler's mind after his son was born with a severely malformed heart in 1974. Months of attending their child created intense stress for Bonnar and his wife. There were no support groups. No counseling. About once a month they got someone to care for their child for a few hours. They struggled through with whatever physical and emotional strength they had, but with little opportunity for personal refreshing. Bonnar believed there was a better way.

The little boy died within the year but the idea for a camp lived on in Bonnar's heart. He eventually moved to Summerland and joined the Kiwanis Club, encouraged by the work they did for children. He talked about his idea for a camp that would provide a setting for families with special needs children renewing themselves in the wilderness. He enlisted some support from the Kiwanis Club, but with friends he did much of the leg work himself.

Bonnar put an ad in the classified section of the Penticton Herald in 2001, asking for someone willing to donate land to the proposed camp. He received three responses, one of which was a call from a First Nations woman suggesting he contact Robin Agur. He contacted Robin and discovered that he owned land west of Summerland that he might consider donating. Robin took Bonnar up for "a quick look" and ended up spending the day exploring the wilderness land next to Agur Lake.

The Birth of the Agur Lake Camp Society

Peter Armstrong was instrumental in obtaining our charitable tax number in just 6 weeks in 2002! This laid the way for the ALCS to begin steps towards acquiring volunteers, raising money and making a business plan.

Agur Lake Camp Society was incorporated on May 10, 2004.

In July 5th of 2007 the Robin Agur family signed a 99 year lease on four acres of their land for use by the ALCS for one dollar per year. The land is on the lake, just south of the Agur's hundred year old log cabin. When the lease was signed Robin Agur kick-started a fund raising campaign by contributing $10,000. Earlier that day the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen approved amending a rural land-use bylaw to allow for construction of the camp.

Adjacent Crown land needed to be acquired to make the Agur property a feasible site for a camp. Following two years of working through proper Ministry channels, on August 14/07 the Penticton Herald announced that John Glaspie (Ministry Tourism, Sports & Art) had made a verbal commitment that Agur Lake Camp Society would be leased 16 hectares plus getting the use of 16 hectares more.

Though the leased land is not on Indian Band property, the Penticton Indian Band was consulted about the plans for a camp since access to the area is across their property. They gave whole hearted approval to the Agur Lake Camp proposal.

Presidents and acting presidents

The Society has an elected Board, and Peter Armstrong was the first president. He served from incorporation until October 2006. Penny Ritchie was the next president, serving until 2008. Susan McIver took over as President when Penny Ritchie was unable to compete her last term, and served until Nov. 22, 2009. Barbara Hatton was then elected President by the Board and currently holds that position.

Steps along the way

With the property acquired, the first step was to clean it up. In mid October 2007 volunteers from as far away as Vernon gathered for a fall clean-up day.

On March 6, 2008 a letter appeared in the Penticton Herald , from Penny Ritchie, President of the Agur Lake Camp Society, thanking the Penticton Indian Band for allowing use of access land.

A Champagne reception was held at the Penticton Ramada Inn on May 5, 2008. Rick Thorpe, Okanagan-Westside MLA presented the ALCS with a $100,000 direct access capital grant from the government. Penticton-Okanagan MLA Bill Barisoff was present at the reception which was held to honour the more than 200 volunteers helping to build the camp. Brad Hope, Agur Lake Camp Society vice-president, said the grant will go a long way towards the $5.4 million campaign that is underway.

On July 13, 2008 Police were called to wild party and car burning on Crown land near Agur Lake. No damage was done to Agur Lake Camp Society's property, but had the fire spread to the forest it could have destroyed the camp site.

Coast Architectural Group were awarded the contract to design Agur Lake Camp in early September, 2008. "Tyler Tingle, a paraplegic, an advocate for special -needs people and our design technologist, has first hand knowledge of accessibility issues" said Kevin Ryan, the lead architect. The firm has a well established record of successful projects with an environmental and a social focus.

The first time that special needs people made use of the camp was in October 2008, fifty people from the Okanagan valley explored the trails and had refreshments. The Kelowna-based Community Recreational Initiatives Society had their trail riders give rides to mobility-impaired people. A partnership has been formed with CRIS, because their contribution to events at the lake make is possible for people with special needs to explore the camp, before the trails are built.

In late September 2008 John Glaspie received the Minister's Award for exceptional services to Agur Lake Camp Society. Glaspie played a crucial role in gaining the co-operation of several provincial government ministries necessary for the camp society to lease the Crown land.

As plans for the camp have unfolded it has become evident that partnerships are vital to developing a community-based project. In January of 2009 the Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association with stables not far from Agur Lake Camp was considered for possible partnership with the Agur Lake Camp.

Most volunteers for Agur Lake Society have been individuals, but often groups offer their resources. In June of 2009 the Okanagan Club of Telus Ambassadors volunteered clean-up time at the camp.

The first building erected on the camp site was the barrier-free washroom. A Summer Camp day was held in August of 2009 at which Bonnar Dowler cut the ribbon at an official open-house.

In July 2010, the Terasen employees donated a day to help clean fence lines on Camp property.

On August 27, 2010 two water producing wells were dug and capped, ready for being connected when buildings are erected.

On September 16, 2010 an official environmental study was done to pave the way for developing the property with minimal damage to existing ecosystems.

Volunteers... the driving force

The heart of Agur Lake Camp Society has been it's volunteers. The AGM report for 2009 reported that 65 Volunteers donated 6485 hours, and 13,000 kilometers over that year. ALC volunteers do jobs like this: sitting on the Board of Directors, serving on a variety of committees, doing camp clean-up, writing grant applications, helping at fund raisers like Swing for Kids golf tournament, offering their writing skills for publicity, contributing photography skills, networking in their communities to spread the word about ALC, speaking at information sharing meetings, manning booths at public events, offering professional services free of charge. With skills and dedication like that, volunteers are making Agur Lake Camp happen.

Types of fund raising

The money being donated to develop Agur Lake Camp is coming from a great variety of sources. People have left money to the camp in their wills. There have been sailing regattas, wine tasting events, raffles, golf tournaments and birthday barbeques to raise funds. Government grants have been substantial. Events like concerts, summer celebrations, guest speakers at dinners and sales have contributed generously. Service clubs have been generous with their money and their time.