The History of Agur Lake Camp

In 1974 Bonnar Dowler walked through the children's wing of the hospital and all he could see, room after room, were children suffering and parents desperately trying to console them. He felt it must have been especially trying for these families.

The thought came to him, if only they had a place where they could go to get some relief. Somewhere they could spend some time in nature, perhaps go fishing or take a walk in the woods, even feel a spiritual connection. He envisioned a small chapel. He saw a camp complete with cabins and equipped for those with special needs. It would be a place where the children could find a bit of joy, and the parents would be able to see smiles on their faces instead of tears. Even if only for a day.

Bonnar's own son Mark cried twenty hours out of every day. He was born with a heart condition in a time when heart transplants were still experimental. The doctors had told Bonnar and his wife there was virtually no hope. Little Mark died at six months of age. His suffering was over.

Many years later Bonnar moved to Summerland. He became involved with the Kiwanis Club and spoke eagerly of his dream for a camp where disabled children and their families could go. Although he found support for his idea, things were not happening as quickly as he had hoped.

Bonnar Dowler & Sue Filek, President

Another idea came to Bonnar. Perhaps he could place an ad in the newspaper. Maybe someone out there had property they would be willing to donate in order to build the camp. Not long after the ad ran in the local newspaper Bonnar received a call from Robin Agur.

​Robin said "You talk and I'll listen." Bonnar pitched the camp idea to Robin. He told him he had the vision, he could see it, he'd do the work, but he needed the tools. Robin heard Bonnar out and said he'd talk it over with his family and he would get back to him within a week.

​Bright and early the very next morning Bonnar's phone rang. It was Robin Agur saying he'd pick him up, that he had some places to show him. When Bonnar was shown the Agur Lake site he said "There's no need to look any further. We can make it happen right here!"

​Robin Agur's proposal was to donate ten thousand dollars towards the camp as start up money, and provide a 99-year lease on four acres of water front property.

​Bonnar describes what happened next as the domino effect. With his wife Marilyn by his side, and with the help of Kiwanis member Peter Armstrong, the Agur Lake Camp Society was formed. A charity tax number that usually takes a year to be processed arrived in six weeks! The public was invited to join in the dream by buying memberships.

The Society was given an extra long lease for 35 years on an adjacent piece of Crown land. A barrier free accessible washroom, “the Biffy”, was built. Two wells were drilled and the hope was to open the camp for day use. Donations keep pouring in and the volunteers keep working.
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Slowly, Bonnar Dowler was seeing his dream materialize. He felt like it had taken on a life of its own and found it hard at times to take a back seat. This camp was his dream and even though it was hard for him to let it go, he realized that if he didn’t, nothing would get done as he couldn’t do it all by himself. It was through the generosity and dedication of others who gave their time, money and assets, that the camp become a reality. 

Bonnar said "It's not about me. It's not about Robin Agur. It's about the kids and their families. The importance of the camp is so they have somewhere to go where they can temporarily forget their struggles and enjoy the outdoors. Somewhere they can gain the support and the friendship of others facing similar challenges.”

To date there have been many accomplishments:

• 2001, Bonnar met Robin Agur 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.
• May 2004, Peter Armstrong was instrumental in incorporating Agur Lake Camp Society and obtaining the charity status.  This laid the way for the Society to begin steps towards acquiring volunteers, raising money and making a business plan.
• July 2007, the Agur family signed a 99 year lease on four acres of their land for use by the Society 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. On the same day, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen approved amending a rural land-use bylaw to allow for construction of the camp.
• August 2007, John Glaspie (Ministry Tourism, Sports & Art) made a verbal commitment that the Crown would lease 16 hectares of adjacent Crown land to Agur Lake Camp Society plus getting the use of 16 hectares more.
• The Penticton Indian Band was included in the consultation process as access to the area is across their property. They gave whole-hearted approval to the Agur Lake Camp proposal.
• September 2008, Coast Architectural Group were awarded the contract to design Agur Lake Camp.  "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.
• 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.
• October 2008, the first site visit of the greater community including people with special needs. 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 some guests. A partnership has been formed with CRIS because their contribution to events at the lake made it possible for people with special needs to explore the camp, before the trails are built.
• August 2009, the first building was erected on site, the barrier-free outhouse, better known as "the biffy".  In celebration, Bonnar Dowler and Amanda Lewis cut the ribbon at an official open-house.
• Cabin 1 and 2, an MOU was signed between ALCS and Okanagan College, Penticton.  The cabins were built to the framing stage, and they were then transported to the camp for completion by volunteers.
• 2010, money was donated by Shaw Cable.  A communal firepit was then built by Ted Howell, a local blacksmith in 2013.  Mr. Howell has also helped our camp with many other projects over the years.
• August 2010, two water producing wells were dug and capped, ready for connection when buildings are erected.
• September 2010, ALCS commissioned an official environmental study to pave the way for developing the property with minimal damage to existing ecosystems.  This study was completed by Golder Associates in Kelowna, BC.
• In 2014, a large covered pavilion with accessible picnic tables was completed.  This has become a great spot for groups to gather to enjoy a picnic lunch or bbq dinner during their stay or day trip to the camp.

• Summer 2015, grand opening of Cabin 3.  An MOU was signed between ALCS and Okanagan College, Penticton.  The cabin was built to the framing stage, and it was then transported to the camp for completion by volunteers, many of them from the Adventure Club and friends from Penticton.
• June 2016, Peters Bros and a group of local contractors paved the first kilometer of trails. 8500' of trails were paved that day making it so much easier to move around the camp. Thanks to the generosity of Peters Bros, Lund Contracting, Grizzly Contracting, VBS Contracting and Mike Johnson Excavating, 80% of the trails are now paved!
• 24/7 Power!  In the spring of 2017 two new generators were installed to bring 24/7 power to the camp.  The generators were purchased with the assistance of a Federal grant and the support of Latmann Equipment Ltd.

• June 2017, Valley Perma Sealing and the DeLeeuw Family kindly donated their time and materials to paint yellow lines along all the paved trails.  The lines highlight the sides of the trails making it easier for guests to stay on the paths and gauge the height of the paths when stepping on to them.
• August 2017, a new 16' X 20' floating dock was installed!  Slip54 Industries from Castlegar built and transported the dock in pieces up to the camp.  They then floated it across the lake and set it up on a hot day in August.  The dock looks fantastic and provides much needed space for fishing.
• September 2018 - Electricity was installed in the outdoor washroom ("the biffy").  
• June 2019 - Overhead tracking was installed in a bedroom in Cabin #1 and Cabin #3.
• Spring 2020 - Chlorinated water system, new water softener & a uranium filter installed.
• Summer 2020 – Interpretive nature signs were created, built & installed by summer student, Haleigh Bach, along the pathways.​

May 2013 was Agur Lake Camp first camping season!

In 2014, a large covered pavilion with accessible picnic tables was completed.

In June 2016 80% of the trails are now paved!

June 2017, yellow paint lines placed along all the paved trails.

August 2017, a new 16' X 20' floating dock was installed!