Awards

CCA Awards

The CCA is proud to have a national awards recognition program that honours outstanding achievements and contributions by Canadian camp leaders, camps, associations and institutions.

The CCA Awards Program recognizes individuals, camps, agencies or corporations. Written or online nominations from any member of the CCA (including individuals) are submitted by October 31 for consideration at the last scheduled meeting of the year of the CCA Board. Once approved by the Board, the awards are presented by a member of the CCA Board at a Provincial Camping Association’s annual meeting or other suitable gathering. The names of the recipients are added to the CCA Honour Roll.

-

Please Note: The CCA is temporarily pausing its awards program. Check back here or on our social media for updates

Three people holding the CCA Award of Excellence

Ron Johnstone Lifetime Achievement Award

Ron Johnstone’s contributions to the Canadian Camping Association and the camping movement in Canada throughout his lifetime were immeasurable.

A Past President of the CCA, Ron also served as CCA Treasurer. He was a Past President of the Ontario Camping Association and along with his wife Mickey, an Honorary Life Member of the OCA. The OCA honours Ron, along with Mickey, with the annual presentation of the Ron & Mickey Johnstone Youth Leadership Award.

Ron’s professional career highlights included the management and direction of Camp White Bear in Temagami; Executive Administrator at Camp Tawingo; Principal of Micron Consulting; Managing Director of Campground Consultants of Canada and work with various YMCAs in Canada in the 1950s and early 1960s.

Ron’s passionate work on behalf of camping and recreation in Canada included leadership with the National Sport and Recreation Centre; XV Winter Olympics; Canadian Recreational Canoeing Association and Canoe Canada.

Beyond all of his many accomplishments, perhaps what people remember most about Ron was his easygoing manner and incomparable smile as he gave so willingly of his time and talent. The CCA celebrates Ron’s extraordinary legacy with the Ron Johnstone Lifetime Achievement Award.

The RON JOHNSTONE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD is the Canadian Camping Association’s way of recognizing outstanding commitment over a prolonged period of time to the CCA.

Past Recipients:

  • 1995: Jane McCutcheon, OCA

  • 2000: Kim Strachan, MCA

  • 2002: John Jorgenson, OCA

  • 2007: Jocelyn Palm, OCA

  • 2008: Dave Stevens, BCCA

  • 2009: Kirk Wipper, OCA

  • 2010: Larry & Pearl Bell, OCA

  • 2011: Jeff Bradshaw, OCA

  • 2013: Donna Wilkinson, SCA

  • 2016: Joe Kronick, OCA

  • 2017: Skip Connett, OCA

  • 2018: Catherine Ross, OCA

  • 2019: Jacqui Raill, ACQ

Jack Pearse Award of Honour

Jack Pearse spent his entire career in youth work, education and camping. He founded Camp Tawingo in Huntsville, Ontario in 1960. He served as President of the Ontario Camping Association, the Canadian Camping Association, and the American Association of Independent Camps. In addition, he was a Steering Committee member for the Third International Camping Congress. Jack was instrumental in the formation of The International Camping Fellowship and served as the Chair for many years.

A founding faculty member of the University of Waterloo Recreation Department, Jack authored many camp-related books and recorded two cassette tapes and one CD of Camp songs. He conducted leadership workshops on Camping, Outdoor Education, and Recreation in Canada, the United States, Japan, Russia, Venezuela, Australia, Colombia, and Greece.

The JACK PEARSE AWARD OF HONOUR shall be presented in recognition of a person’s contribution to the Canadian Camping Association. This award is intended to recognize individuals, camps, agencies or corporations who have through their efforts provided outstanding service to the national organization.

Past Recipients:

  • 1977:

    • Adele Ebbs, OCA

    • Barry Lowes, OCA

    • Bill Swift, OCA

    • Ron Johnstone, OCA

    • Clifford Labbett, OCA

    • May Brown, BCCA

    • Barbara Taylor, NFLCA

    • Grant McKeen, BCCA

    • Bryan Graham, OCA

  • 1979:

    • David Boston, CANS

    • Gary Luthy, ACA

    • Nestor Kelba, ACA

    • Lorne Bowering, BCCA

    • Jack Pearse, OCA

  • 1982: Brian Blackstock, OCA

  • 1983: Rosaire Corbin, ACQ

  • 1985:

    • George Ross, OCA

    • Ken Willis, ACQ

    • George Matthews, CANS

    • Terry Burkholter, MCA

    • Marnie Ellis, ACQ

    • Judy Richards, OCA

    • Wendy Wren, OCA

    • Jan James, ACA

  • 1988:

    • John Jorgenson, OCA

    • Jane McCutcheon, OCA

    • Gerard Bachand, ACQ

  • 1990: Patti Thom, OCA

  • 1992:

    • Mike Walters, ACA

    • Jean Funk, ACA

  • 1993:

    • Wilfred Jackson, CAN

    • Skip Connett, OCA

    • Janet Adamson, OCA

    • Bob Smith, OCA

    • Jocelyn Palm, OCA

    • Bob Picken, MCA

  • 1994: Reverend Canon David Hartry, CANS

  • 1995: Eileen Mayotte, SCA

  • 1994: Reverend Canon David Hartry, CANS

  • 1995: Eileen Mayotte, SCA

  • 1997: Cal Sparks, NFLCA

  • 1998: Trent University Archives (Bernadine Dodge, Archivist)

  • 2002: Bob Smith, OCA

  • 2008:

    • Dr. Stephen Fine, OCA

    • Friends of We Care, CCA

  • 2009: Friends of We Care, CCA

  • 2010: International Camping Fellowship

  • 2011: Owen Fraser, NBCA

  • 2012:

    • Brian Ward-Hall, BackCheck

    • Dr. Troy Glover, University of Waterloo

  • 2013:

    • Peter Gilbert & Bruce Hodgins, OCA

    • Donna Wilkinson, SCA

  • 2014: Mike Stewart, OCA

  • 2016:

    • Mark Diamond, OCA

    • Joe Kronick, OCA

  • 2017:

    • Harry & Gail Edwards, BCCA

    • Gabrielle Raill, ACQ

    • Skip Connett, OCA

  • 2019:

    • Sari Grossinger, OCA

    • Howie Grossinger, OCA

    • Jacqui Raill, ACQ

Award of Excellence

The CCA AWARD OF EXCELLENCE shall be the Canadian Camping Association’s way of recognizing a person’s contribution to camping within their province. The award is intended to recognize individuals, volunteers, camps, agencies or corporations who have made outstanding (i.e., beyond the norm) contributions within their province.

Past Recipients:

  • 1979: Jack Pearse, OCA

  • 1981:

    • Frances Kelly, ACQ

    • Hank Roessingh, ACA

  • 1982:

    • Murray Wickwire, CANS

    • John Eberhard, OCA

    • Bob Cameron, NBCA

  • 1983:

    • Rick Ryan, ACQ

    • Wayne Perkins, ACA

    • Derek Walsh, ACQ

    • Abe Goss

    • John Latimer (ICC 1983)

    • Barbara Ebbs (ICC 1983)

    • Howard Rosenthal (ICC 1983)

    • Henri Audet (ICC 1983)

    • Al Goodman (ICC 1983)

    • Barbara Gilchrist (ICC 1983)

    • Craig Copland (ICC 1983)

    • David Sands (ICC 1983)

  • 1983 (ctd)

    • June Labbett (ICC 1983)

    • Janet Adamson (ICC 1983)

    • Jeff Reading (ICC 1983)

    • Kristy Griffiths (ICC 1983)

    • Jack Murdock (ICC 1983)

    • Fred Okada (ICC 1983)

    • Marilee Tisdall (ICC 1983)

    • Joanne Dwhytie (ICC 1983)

    • Ron Johnstone (ICC 1983)

    • Marjorie Booth (ICC 1983)

  • 1987: David Sands, OCA

  • 1989: Diane Blair, OCA

  • 1990:

    • Eddie Bauer Inc., OCA

    • Dale Parizeau Inc., OCA

    • Jean McIlwrick, OCA

    • Sally Moore, OCA

    • Calvin Desmarais, MCA

    • Dave and Alfreda Loewen, MCA

  • 1991:

    • Norma Lloyd, CANS

    • Elayne Mott, CANS

    • Rhoda Day, CANS

    • Blanche Potter-Creighton, CANS

    • Edith Roy, CANS

  • 1992:

    • Roger Schoebar, BCCA

    • Mike Walters, ACA

  • 1993:

    • Jennifer Peron, MCA

    • Sophia Tapper, MCA

    • Tom Creighton, CANS

    • Frank Huelin, CANS

    • Liz Greenway, OCA

    • Marjorie Booth, OCA

    • John Jorgenson, OCA

    • Ted Cole, OCA

    • Patti Thom, OCA

    • Barb Gilbert, OCA

    • Georgina Mercer, NFLCA

    • Cliff Derksen, MCA

    • Bettie Lees, MCA

    • Society for Manitobans with Disabilities, MCA

    • Judy Shiels, MCA

  • 1994:

    • Jane McCutcheon (ICC 1994)

    • Rob Heming (ICC 1994)

    • Larry Bell (ICC 1994)

    • Jill Dundas (ICC 1994)

    • Jack Pearse (ICC 1994)

    • Barb Gilbert (ICC 1994)

    • Janet Adamson (ICC 1994)

    • John Jorgenson (ICC 1994)

    • Dorothy Walter (ICC 1994)

    • Davida Mackay, CANS

    • Megan Jentz, CANS

    • Bob Schwartzenberger, ACA

    • Catherine Ross, OCA

    • Allan Nelson, OCA

    • LaVerne Jantz, SCA

  • 1995:

    • Penny Wingert, SCA

    • Jean-Marie Boutin, SCA

    • Jim Blake, OCA

    • David Godwin, SCA

    • Camp Chief Hector, ACA

  • 1996:

    • Skip Connett, OCA

    • Joe Kronick, OCA

    • Larry Bell, OCA

    • Kim Smith, OCA

    • Judy May, NLCA

    • Linda Stonehouse

    • Marion Ronalds

  • 1997:

    • Marguerite Mahoney, NFLCA

    • Levi Mahaney, NFLCA

    • Chesley Tuck, NFLCA

    • Gordon Giles, NFLCA

    • Alonzo Normore, NFLCA

  • 1998:

    • Felix Tillmans, SCA

    • Deirdre Speers, BCCA

    • Jack Way, BCCA

    • Mary Casey, OCA

    • Jill Dundas, OCA

    • Bruce Hodgins, OCA

    • Ellen Nash, OCA

  • 1999:

    • John Marshall, OCA

    • Howard Oretsky, OCA

    • G. B. Catering, OCA

  • 2000:

    • Dave Stevens, BCCA

    • Camp Sasamat, BCCA

  • 2001:

    • Fiora Hawryluk, OCA

    • Jack Potter, CANS

    • Carol Voorhoeve, BCCA

    • Joyce Fromson, MCA

  • 2002: Winnipeg Free Press

  • 2006:

    • LaVerne Jantz, SCA

    • Dan Krestinski, BCCA

    • Kirk Potter, BCCA

  • 2007:

    • Simon Adams, BCCA

    • Barb & Peter Gilbert, OCA

    • Piston Ring, MCA

    • Russell Prime, CANS

    • Jim Ryan, MCA

    • Steve Schwartz, MCA

    • Geraldine Sherman, CANS

    • Stillwood Camp and Conference Centre, BCCA

    • The Winnipeg Foundation, MCA

  • 2008:

    • Jill Jamieson, ACA

    • Doug Saul, ACA

    • Manitoba Culture Heritage Tourism & Sport, MCA

    • Rejean Roy (ICC 2008)

    • Jacqui Raill (ICC 2008)

    • François Vézina (ICC 2008)

    • Pierre Langevin (ICC 2008)

    • Luc Pepin (ICC 2008)

    • Yves Dubois (ICC 2008)

    • Francois Cloutier (ICC 2008)

    • Sylvain Proulx (ICC 2008)

  • 2009:

    • Lower Mainland Camping Bureau, BCCA

    • Surrey Association of Community Living, BCCA

    • Burnaby Camping Bureau, BCCA

    • David Woolven, BCCA

    • Brenda McFarlane, NBCA

  • 2010:

    • Karen Blake, Newfoundland & Labrador

    • CKNW Orphans Fund, British Columbia

    • Steve Heming, Ontario

    • Bob Howell, Nova Scotia

    • Christine Long, Nova Scotia

    • Heather MacDonald, Nova Scotia

    • Union Gospel Mission, British Columbia

  • 2011:

    • Malcolm Turner, Newfoundland & Labrador

    • The Vancouver Sun & Province, British Columbia

    • RBC Foundation, British Columbia

    • Dave Larsen, Alberta

    • Andrea Koehle Jones, National

  • 2012:

    • Arthur Loewen, British Columbia

    • Lyle & Beverley Beswitherick, Manitoba

    • Kim Scherger, Manitoba

    • Kim Coursey, Manitoba

  • 2013:

    • Bronco Cathcart, British Columbia

    • Gene Krahn, British Columbia

    • Mike Nelson, Alberta

    • Don & Carolyn Sedgwick, Quebec

  • 2015:

    • Melanie Dash, Nova Scotia / Prince Edward Island

    • Mike LeDuc, Nova Scotia / Prince Edward Island

    • Patti Sampson, Nova Scotia / Prince Edward Island

    • Al Vetter, British Columbia

    • Maya & Dave Willis, Quebec

  • 2016:

    • Nick Kitchen, New Brunswick

    • Kathy Koehler, Alberta

    • Howard Martin, Quebec

    • Rob Tiessen, British Columbia

  • 2017: Shauna Joyce, Quebec

  • 2018: Neita Avery, Manitoba

  • 2019:

    • Andy Renton, British Columbia

    • Paul Bailey, British Columbia

    • Jonathan Nyquist, Ontario

Special Recognition Awards

From time to time, at the discretion of the Canadian Camping Association’s Board of Directors, special recognition may be given to those individuals, camps, associations or corporations that have furthered the camping movement and/or made a unique contribution to Canadian camping.

CCA PRESIDENT EMERITUS/HONORARY PRESIDENT

  • 1936: Mary S. Edgar

  • 1936: A.L. Cochrane

  • 1950: Taylor Statten

  • 1977: F.M. Van Wagner

  • 1996: Jack Pearse

CCA HONOURARY MEMBERSHIPS

  • 1977: Thomas Curtin, American Camping Association

  • 1979: John Howe, American Camping Association

  • 1981: Betty van der Smissen, American Camping Association

  • 1983: Jean McMullan, American Camping Association

  • 1987: Dick Chamberlain, American Camping Association

  • 1988:

    • Edie Klein, American Camping Association

    • Armand Ball, American Camping Association

  • 1989: Chuck Ackenbom, American Camping Association

  • 1994: Connie Coutellier, American Camping Association

  • 2008: Peg Smith, American Camp Association

  • 2011: Deb Bialeschki, American Camp Association

  • 2018: Valery Kostin, International Camping Fellowship

CCA NATIONAL INSURANCE COMMITTEE

  • 2005:

    • Skip Connett, Ontario

    • Larry Bell, Ontario

    • Joe Kronick, Ontario

    • Kim Smith, Ontario

    • Nancy Brown, Ontario

LETTER FROM THE CCA PRESIDENT

  • 1995: Darin Hyde, Newfoundland

  • 1998: Jeff Bradshaw, Ontario

  • 2001:

    • Ron Hoskyn, British Columbia

    • Carole Voorhoeve, British Columbia

  • 2007: Margo Clark, Ontario

  • 2008:

    • Brandon McClounie, British Columbia

    • Mike Stewart, Ontario

    • Sam Butcher, Ontario

    • Kathryn Rambow, Alberta

    • Carrie McEwen, Alberta

    • Éric Beauchemin, Quebec

  • 2014: Craig Perlmutter, Ontario

  • 2015: Stephen Green, Ontario

SPECIAL RECOGNITION PLAQUE

  • 2017: Julia Wagg, Ontario

  • 2019: Joe Richards, Ontario

Nominate Someone

Written nominations from any member of the CCA (including individuals) are submitted by October 31 for consideration by the CCA Board.

Please note that nominations for a camp or an organization must come from an external source.

Once approved by the Board, the awards are presented by a member of the CCA Board at a Provincial Camping Association’s annual meeting or suitable gathering. The names of the recipients are added to the CCA Honour Roll.

Please note: The CCA is temporarily pausing its awards program. Check back here or on our social media for updates