THUNDER BAY – The future of HAGI’s Wilderness Discovery Family Resort was uncertain just eight months ago, but the province and some community groups have put an end to that doubt.
For a little under two years, the Fort William Rotary Club, Port Arthur Rotary Club, and the Lakehead Rotary Club in conjunction with the Kinsmen Clubs have been trying to assist in saving the discovery camp.
The camp is a barrier-free resort, which allows people with disabilities to experience camp life.
MPP Bill Mauro announced Friday that the province would be stepping in to help re-open the resort, which shut down in 2015.
“We announced an agreement in principal to transfer the property to an organization that will be created,” Mauro said.
“There’s a final agreement to be fulfilled that will have details around how the property needs to be used over the course of 20 years.”
Mauro said the local partnership will help operate the camp for the next 20 years and then take full ownership.
Fort William Rotary Club president Robert Hookham is thrilled the province is stepping in to help re-open the Wilderness Discovery Camp.
“A lot of us take what’s out there for granted,” Hookham said.
“The nature, lake, fishing…the disabled community doesn’t have that luxury, so to be able to give them that luxury and help them – is what we do best.”
There’s about $350,000 to $400,000 of maintenance needed to be complete before the camp re-opens.
Hookham said they are looking at improvements throughout the resort, which will bring the whole facility up to the new building code.
They will need to refurbish the ramp, a pontoon boat and new docks.
“We will be fundraising and reaching out to different community groups to pitch in,” Hookham said.
“Part of this agreement is that we cannot go back to the province for operating capital, so we are going to find other avenues to make it happen.”
Hookham hopes the camp will be ready for re-opening in spring 2018.
