- Hub staff

When Chesley Lake Camp lost its main building to fire on Canada Day in 2017, the community vowed it would rebuild. Today they  celebrated and rejoiced as they cut the ribbon on a beautiful and functional new building that houses the Camp offices, a 140 seat dining hall/restaurant, meeting rooms and a tuck shop for the 71 year old camp.

It has been 688 days since the Camp's members had to put down their buckets and let the fire department keep the fire under control, saving the manager's house and the motel among other buildings.

Since then, trailers and tents have housed the offices, washrooms and dining area while the Camp Board worked with an architect, builders and suppliers. They have created a building that respects the past and has modern accessibility, energy efficiency and flexibility in its uses. There is still a ping-pong table out back and ice cream at the tuck shop, and it has a new outdoor patio, a view of the lake from both levels, and an accessible lift between the two.

The property was once a fishing camp before an association of Mennonites created Chesley Lake Camp in 1948. Its mission is “to provide an affordable environment for relaxation and Christian Fellowship for a community of all ages living in harmony with one another and nature.”

Chesley Lake Camp has more than 70 cabins right on the lake, some owned and some weekly rentals, a trailer park, a motel, two golf courses, the restaurant, a tuck shop and activities including nightly ball games for all ages. Services, Sunday school and Vacation Bible School are held every summer in Hallman Chapel. Spring and fall the Camp is still a busy place, with the whole facility used for special program weeks for seniors, youth, and others.