Camp Kinkora – A Brief History

1926 – Msgr. Gerald McShane founds Camp Kinkora.  It is a parish camp run and funded by St. Patrick’s Parish.  Original land area was 100 acres.

1932 – Fr. McShane sells the camp to an incorporated body, ‘Camp Kinkora Inc.’ for $1.00.

1935 – Thomas Collins donates the assembly hall, with its massive stone fireplace.  At this time the camp compromised 500 acres and boasted as  beautiful rustic chapel (St. Joseph’s Chapel) and 12 huts perched high and dry on the hill above the baseball field.  Throughout the Depression, the camp flourished, run by a board of Directors, who was committed to the camping experience.  It cost $1.00/day and was open to boys only.

1955 – Msgr. McShane dies and is succeeded by Msgr. Harold Doran as President of the Board.  The camp was still operated by St. Patrick’s Parish.

1965 – The operation of Camp Kinkora begins to experience financial difficulty and a new approach, initiated by Fr. John Baxter, is tried.  Specialized camps begin, directed at enhancing the Christian experience through the camping way of life.

1968 – Four new camps debut at Kinkora:  Music, Liturgy, Christian Family Movement, and Youth-In-Action.  Later, adults with intellectual disabilities participate through the Lakeshore Vocational Projects Association

1970 – Camp Kinkora Inc. and all its immovable properties are transferred to the Federation of Catholic Community Services

1979– Glen and Marlene Hogan, with their three young daughters, take over as the family in charge.

1986– Pathways Camp – a week designated for Christian Youth aged 14-17 – is introduced as a continuation of Diocesan Folk Music Camp.

1987 – Eric and Kathleen Cook, with their young family, begin a new chapter  of the ever-evolving story of Kinkora as Site Directors.

1988 –  Bishop Leonard Crowley appoints Elaine Franklin as Director of DCA – Diocesan Camping Association, which oversees all Faith-Based Camp programs operating under the umbrella of the Montreal Catholic Diocese.  Camps included are Manna Family Camp, Diocesan Family Camp, Diocesan Liturgy Camp, Youth In Action Camp and Pathways for teens.

1990 – Visions Camp, replacing Pathways, arrives at Kinkora.  Like Pathways, this was and continues to be a camp for teens.

1991–  Linda Legault accepts the challenge of Site Director.

1992 – Kevin O’Hara, accompanied by his wife Mary Jean and three sons, is named Kinkora Site Director.  Two new groups, the Douglas Hospital, and CCS Family Camp, enjoy a week at Kinkora.

1993 – Kinkora hosts Camp Positive for a 1-week session.  This camp, under the auspices of the Montreal Chest Hospital, is for individuals living with AIDS or a HIV Positive status.  At this time, this is the only camp in all of  Canada aimed at the special needs of this camper population.

1996 – CCS assumes the responsibility for the organisation and continued success of Camp Positive.

1997 – Frances Cartman, accompanied by her husband, Robert, takes on the role as site Director for Kinkora.

1998 – This summer, a second week of CCS  Family Camp is added, as the Douglas hospital opts to enjoy Kinkora in the off-season.

2000 – Kinkora enters the millennium strong in tradition – with 4 DCA (Diocesan Camping Association) camps serving families children and youth , WIAIH (West Island Association for the Intellectually Handicapped), and several CCS run camps – focused on the physical, social and spiritual needs of all our present-day and future campers.

2002 – Penny Arns takes on the role as site Director for Kinkora

2015 – Cori-Ann Surette becomes director of Camp Kinkora

2016 – The Foundation of Catholic Community Services takes over the four season operations of Camp Kinkora