A state-of-the-art overnight camp for children living with cancer or serious illness is coming to Prince Edward County.

The $100-million, year-round facility is slated for an 80-acre waterfront site on West Lake, off Wesley Acres Road. It will house about 400 campers and 150 staff across 13 residences, and is expected to open in 2030.

In addition to the federal funding, announced September 17, philanthropists have donated $90 million to the project, including $20 million from Emmanuelle Gattuso and $15 million from Stu and Kim Lang.

Campfire Circle purchased the site in 2022 for $4.5 million, and Council approved the facility in March 2025 in a near-unanimous vote. On-site amenities include a private hospital and helicopter pad.

“The County is an amazing location: not only is it beautiful in itself, it’s situated between the Eastern Ontario Children’s Hospital and other major centers, such as Sick Kids in Toronto,” Campfire Circle Vice President John McAlister told the Gazette.

“We want to be able to serve 10,000 kids by 2030. Building this new camp in Prince Edward County means we can serve an additional 1600 campers a year.” The charity has camps in Muskoka and Waterford.

Campfire Circle camps give seriously ill children a chance to learn and play outdoors and make new friends with full medical support. Along with a main lodge, amenities will include an indoor sports area, a stable and indoor riding area, and an outdoor amphitheatre.

“I am thrilled to see this investment in Campfire Circle, and am honoured that they’ve chosen Prince Edward County to create a haven for children and families facing one of life’s most daunting challenges,” said Alex Robertson, CEO of Campfire Circle.

“For 43 years, we have created camp experiences for children that combine expert medical care with joy, connection, and a sense of belonging during some of life’s most difficult moments. As the only medical camp in Canada that can administer IV chemotherapy and blood transfusions, we are incredibly grateful for this historic investment.

“It will help expand access to our unique model of medical care, play, and community, ensuring more children and families across eastern Ontario can experience the transformative impact of camp, sooner.”

 The Government of Canada’s Build Communities Strong Fund

The Build Communities Strong Fund is investing $51 billion in a wide range of infrastructure projects across the country and is the cornerstone of the Government of Canada’s ambitious infrastructure building plans.

“Canada is building at a speed and scale not seen in generations – the type of infrastructure projects that support stronger, safer, more connected communities across the country,” said Mr. Malette.

A Buy Canadian policy built into the Build Communities Strong Fund helps keep public money in the Canadian economy, and benefits Canadian communities with jobs in skilled trades. The Fund encourages hiring Red Seal accredited tradespeople, apprentices, and unionized labour.

The Build Communities Strong Fund calls itself a “force multiplier” in infrastructure. Its grants will be matched by nearly $17 billion from the provinces, and additional billions leveraged through municipal and territorial partnerships as well as private capital. The federal government estimates the fund will boost Canada’s GDP by $95 billion over the next decade.