Building Better Boys For over 75 Years
In 1947, Ponacka began with only 12 boys. The camp celebrated it’s 75th anniversary in 2022.
The trees were in full leaf and spring was in everyone’s heart but mine. Examinations at Western were not far off and July 1st, the opening date of camp just a little further. Many things had to be done at camp before it could be opened and I had only one camper, for only one month. I alarmed my friends and people I scarcely knew. The baker and the milkman scanned their books for families with boys in the right age group. I studied a map of London and with my bicycle went from house to house. Every afternoon, I visited homes, careful not to call while supper was being prepared or while the washing was being done or the rhubarb canned. My files were filled with correspondence and name cards ran into the hundreds. The applications now stood at seven for July and five for August.
We honour the traditions of Ponacka’s past and continue to value the philosophy that Okimau and Oki (pictured left) ascribed to, providing boys with experiences which grow them into fine young men, who are thoughtful, grateful, self confident and imbued with a spirit of forgiveness and humility.
