Who Merits Recognition?
The deadline for the online submission of nominations for the Canadian Camping Association Awards Program is Saturday, October 31, 2015.
Please visit the Awards section on the CCA website and consider the camping leaders in your community who should be recognized through one of the CCA Awards for their contribution to camping, provincially and/or nationally.
Camps as Agents of Change
The Sept/Oct 2015 issue of Camping Magazine
contains an article by Dr. Stephen Fine, Chair of the CCA Research Committee, called Education for Global Citizenship: A Role for Summer Camp.
Stephen advocates that camps can play a major role in “encouraging campers to become globally informed and globally minded” to make the world a better place. The article includes fun activities to help teach campers to become good Global Citizens.
Mickey Johnstone, an Inspiration to Many
Mickey Johnstone passed away peacefully with family by her side on August 31st, 2015.
With the death of Mickey Johnstone on August 31, 2015 in Orillia, Ontario, Canadian camping has lost a great leader. Together with her husband, Ron, who inspired the creation of CCA’s highest honour, The Ron Johnstone Lifetime Achievement Award, Mickey founded and directed, Camp White Bear on Lake Temagami, Ontario. Ron and Mickey began their camping career working for the YMCA and after closing White Bear, they continued working in camping with Jack Pearse at Camp Tawingo.
Mickey was a long time member of the OCA Education Committee and a frequent presenter at OCA conferences. Because of her many contributions to camping in Ontario, the Ron and Mickey Johnstone Youth Leadership Award is presented each year at the annual conference to two outstanding youth leaders in camping. Mickey always attended the final banquet to present these awards personally. By popular demand, she traditionally opened her presentation with a joke – always a somewhat racy joke, unexpected from a lady of her mature years! Mickey’s sense of humour was contagious. Chauffeured by Jane McCutcheon, every summer, Mickey endeavored to visit these young award winners in their camp setting. Her interest in and support of youth and camping continued throughout her lifetime.
Mickey’s failing health necessitated her being hooked up to a dialysis machine three times a week for the past sixteen years. But her zest for life never faltered! She continued to enjoy line dancing, volunteering with Grandmothers to Grandmothers and working at her church. Mickey loved life and she loved people. A visit with her was a sheer joy, full of stories and laughter. Mickey will be sorely missed by all those who had the privilege of knowing and loving her.