The Camp Wanakita family came together April 20 for the official opening of the Heming Welcome Centre.
The refurbished building is named for long-timer staffers, brothers Rob and Stevie Heming.
Camp director Andy Gruppe said they started planning the makeover in 2019.
“We’re here to celebrate the opening of this building that has been awhile in the making,” he told work weekenders, former and current staff and campers, as well as Haliburton County community members. He also acknowledged the work of Rodco.
Gruppe said the building has had many uses since the early 1960s, “and it will serve again as a fine meeting space,” with bedrooms, an accessible washroom, and the year-round office. “It’s ready for action.”
He thanked the many donors, especially long-time Koshlong Lake cottagers, Barb and Scott Allan, whom he said made a commitment to launch the project.
Barb Allan said her family had been cottaging since 1962. She is a former student counsellor and generations of the family have been campers and counsellors. “We’ve been quite involved with Wanakita for those two generations anyways… Wanakita is very important to us,” she said.
She added, as cottagers, they appreciate the camp being good stewards of the lake, saying it makes the lake “beautiful on a sunny day with their canoes, kayaks, sailboats all floating out there. I cannot dream of what kind of neighbours we would have if Wanakita wasn’t here.”
She said she was thrilled the building was named after the Hemings, as Rob and Stevie had touched thousands of lives in their tenures at the helm of the camp.
Rob said, “we are so privileged and really honoured. It just is emotionally overwhelming. When we first heard, we both wept.”
The two came as pre-teens to the camp for the first time in 1964 and, in some ways, have never left. Rob spoke of many firsts, a night filled with the sounds of giant bullfrogs, memorable canoe trips, and girls arriving. He also paid tribute to Wayne and Pam Perkins.
Stevie said it was “humbling.” He commented on the consistent leadership, long-serving staff, and the support of head office from the YWCA Haliburton Burlington Brantford.
“Without everyone working together, visioning for the future, we wouldn’t be where we are.”
