Many Hands Make Light Work

Nipissing University was glad to work alongside the City of North Bay, the Gathering Place, the Canadian Red Cross and the District Health Unit to provide a warm welcome and safe accommodation for the 100 campers and counsellors who were evacuated from their Temagami camp due to uncontrollable forest fires.

It’s thanks to the immediate and significant efforts of many members of the university community that the Keewaydin campers ranging in age from 10 to 14-years were able to tuck comfortably into Founders House on Thursday, July, 12 and continue to enjoy the tail end of a collegial camping experience in their temporary home.

The Gathering Place provided meals while university administrators including, President Dr. Mike DeGagné, Dr. Casey Phillips, Assistant Vice-President, Students and Mr. David Drenth, Director of Facilities and their teams were quick to provide university facilities, recreational activities and respond to any extra requests that needed to be addressed.

“The residence team was in place, they knew exactly what we had requested. It’s been very smooth. We’ve got a lot of logistics to work on, so this part of it, not having to worry about it, has been fantastic. Casey arranged for the theatre last night, so we went and watched a movie,” stated Tanya McCubbin, the North Bay contact for Camp Keewaydin.

Mr. Bruce Ingersoll, Camp Director, Keewaydin Temagami and Nipissing President, Dr. Mike DeGagné provide details of the evacuation in the video below. Campers departed Nipissing University on Saturday morning.