Camp Kwomais

The land upon which Kwomais is located was once used by the Semiahmoo Salish tribe for spiritual renewal. They gave to this property the name ‘Kwomais’ which in Semiahmoo Salish means ‘a place of vision’ – Kwomais point is included in all navigation maps. Sometime inter-tribal rivalry would generate hostility and conflict. Folklore tells us that it was from this point ‘Kwomais’, that the Salish tribe would keep a look-out for approaching enemy war canoes. In 1905, a former Methodist minister, W. Pascoe Goard, with grandiose ideas of land development, obtained 136 acres which he divided into five-acre lots and sold to a number of men. The western portion of this block of land was designated as a park and was named ‘Ocean Park’. The original plan was to make it into a Methodist Chautauqua Centre. This plan was turned down by the Methodist Church but they accepted the administration of the property and in 1910 offered summer school. Campers slept in tents and did their own cooking. In 1925 church union occurred and the Ocean Park Camp became the property of the United Church of Canada, B.C. Conference. The camp is the second oldest camp accredited with the B.C. Camping and the oldest camp using the original camp site. Camp Elphinstone, a Y.M.C.A. Camp, is older but has moved location. In the early days campers travelled to the camp via New Westminster Bridge to the end of the road at Crescent Beach. From Crescent Beach they hiked to the camp. In 1912, the first permanent building,known as the ‘Tabernacle’, was erected by volunteer labour. It was used for lectures, church services and entertainment. It was used as the community centre until the Ocean Park Community Hall was built in the early 1920s. For many years the campers on the camp ground lived in tents with wooden floors and sides, and a canvas roof. They dined in a large tent or marquee at the end of the tent row. In 1929, the first eight cabins were built and eleven more added during the Depression. The last year tents were used was 1940. During the period of widespread unemployment a number of young male volunteers directed by three skilled carpenters erected the dining hall and kitchen. It was officially opened in 1933. The huge stone fireplace was built using funds raised by campers through donations. Large oil paintings in this hall were painted by Dr. Ogden and Ralph Magar. Two classrooms were added and the kitchen has been remodelled and up-dated over the years. The sixties and seventies saw the addition of the swimming pool (1963) and men’s and ladies’ wash-houses supplying showers and bathroom facilities close to the cabins. In 1986, a Bunn-galow was moved onto the site supplying space for a second group of campers. An increaseddemand by the greater community for camping space saw the site used by approximately 120 various civic and community groups who enjoy the experience of the urban forested area. In 1989, Sanford Hall was built as an activity centre. It opened up the use of the camp to the community during weekdays as the area is lacking useable activity space. The Camp is a Society administered by a Board of Directors from the community. Almost all work is done by volunteers including camp leaders and maintenance. Kwomais employs two full-time staff members and two part-time staff. Note: the above is quoted directly from an undated, two-sided information sheet prepared by Camp Kwomais.