While neighbours and environmental groups say they support the idea wholeheartedly, the proposed Campfire Circle camp might be in the wrong place, a Natural Core Area surrounded by environmentally protected (EP) wetlands.

The proposed $50 million dollar, year-round facility could house 387 campers and 144 staff across 13 residences and dorms. The 80-acre site on the northeast shore of West Lake has 700 metres of water frontage. 

The proponents stress the activity, medical, and multi-use sites and buildings, including a central lodge, are carefully arranged around the grounds, well away from the wetlands. The concept plan includes a boardwalk, an archery range, a pool, stables and a riding ring, and a helicopter pad for emergencies. 

Campfire Circle has been in operation across Ontario for 42 years. John McAlister, Director of Communications, noted its two other camps, in Muskoka and Waterford, are at capacity. 

Located close to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa and Sick Kids in Toronto, a medical camp in Prince Edward County would give critically ill children, facing cancer and other serious ailments, an outdoor experience “centered on joy, health and healing,” said Mr. McAlister.  

The new camp would boost Campfire Circle’s annual capacity from 3,000 children to 10,000.

As the camp is seasonal, the facility would be flexibly designed to permit regular tourist uses in the off-seasons, creating a four-season resort. 

Formerly on Garratt Island, the camp has been shuttered
since high water events in the 2017 and 2019 caused
flood damage to a number of the buildings,
while transporting medically fragile children across
West Lake by boat was not an ideal situation.

Natural Core Area

The property, which sits within the Shorelands designation, permitting Tourist-Commercial uses, is largely zoned Rural, but is also surrounded by provincially significant wetlands. It also sits within a protected Natural Core Area. 

Whether they were for or against the proposal, councillors were heated. Sam Grosso teared up as he told of how his young son once enjoyed such a camp when he was 7. “When he came home, he said, Dad, that’s the first time in my life I felt normal.”

But for Councillor John Hirsch, “I think it’s a wonderful development — it’s just in the wrong place.” He said that in his opinion the County’s Official Plan does not permit such a development in an NCA.

But Campfire Circle’s planner, Miles Weekes, noted that NCA’s allow for a range of uses. “The policies are broad and not that specific, and speak to the types of uses we are proposing.” 

While he stressed no development would occur within 30 meters of a wetland, Councillor Hirsch said the setback needed to be larger, 120 meters.

Heated Debate

Councillor Janice Maynard asked, “why not choose somewhere else? Not surrounded by EP wetlands, and areas of natural significance? This one doesn’t even have such a great waterfront.” 

The proponents noted they had spent three years looking for the right spot. 

“A good piece of land is always hard to find, you are never going to find a place without constraints. It’s our opinion, and that of the ecologists we consulted, that we are not going to negatively affect the wetlands. 

“This site is well suited to what is being proposed even if there are some challenges ahead,” said Mr. Weekes.

Amy Bodman of the Field Naturalists said it is their view that major development should not be allowed in a Natural Core Area.

She further noted the proponents would alter the Bloomfield NCA boundary to, in effect, move lands from one NCA to another. “That requires an Official Plan Amendment.” 

The South Shore Joint Initiative’s Cheryl Anderson said the Environmental Impact Statement failed to include protections for turtles. Pointing to the provincially protected wetlands, Ms. Anderson explained every species of turtle in Ontario is at risk and gravel roadways running throughout the property would be prime nesting habitat. 

Ms. Anderson also worried about medical waste from a hospital facility. 

For their part, the planners noted that Picton’s new hospital had been a big draw, and that Campfire Circle could open one year after the new hospital, in 2028. 

Neighbour Douglas Dolan said there was no question of the worthiness of the work Campfire Circle undertakes. He also noted he felt some level of relief that it was a not-for-profit children’s camp moving in.

But he noted the proposal includes 291 parking spaces. “For a winding and narrow road,” he said, “that’s a lot of vehicles.”

The meeting, held January 22, was part of the new two-stage planning process. 

A staff report and recommendation come to the Planning Committee next.