YMCA Camp Elphinstone will soon purchase 12 new canoes thanks to a donation of just over $10,000 from the Gore Mutual Foundation (GMF).
Elphinstone is one of 17 YMCA camps across B.C. and Ontario that will receive money from GMF this year. In total the foundation has gifted $175,000 to YMCA overnight camps to enable them to purchase or repair boats used by kids in their programs.
The boat purchases and repairs will “allow YMCA camps to grow their waterfront programs and enable more children to participate in boating activities together,” a press release from GMF said.
The foundation decided to make the $175,000 gift in honour of their 175th anniversary this year.
“As we honour Gore Mutual’s 175th anniversary, our foundation continues a long history of supporting communities across Canada,” said Heidi Sevcik, CEO of the Gore Mutual Insurance Company. “Partnering with YMCA Canada and their camps is a natural fit, as they share our passion for building leaders of tomorrow and fostering an appreciation for our great Canadian wilderness.”
General manager of YMCA Greater Vancouver Lisa Stiver, said the canoe purchase will help enhance the camp experience on the Sunshine Coast.
“We use them for our day camps, our sleepover camps and also in our day-tripping program,” Stiver said. “We send kids to Desolation Sound on an eight-day canoe trip. We also send our leadership campers out to circumnavigate Gambier Island. We’ll send kids on canoe trips over to Gambier just to Douglas Bay for the night, so a variety of different opportunities for them to just learn to be out in the wilderness and sleep outside and it’s a really good opportunity for them to get to know the rest of the kids in their group and depend on each other and learn some leadership skills.”
The new canoes will compliment YMCA Camp Elphinstone’s waterfront fleet which already includes some canoes, kayaks, sailboats and paddleboards for campers to enjoy.
It’s estimated that GMF’s donation will benefit more than 11,000 kids who attend YMCA camps in Ontario and B.C. this year.
The foundation’s mission is to support communities where Gore Mutual operates and it provides funds to social services, education, health, cultural and environmental activities.
