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NATIONAL HERITAGE CAMP - 1967
NAIRN & MORRISON ISLAND, CORNWALL, ONTARIO
2000 Guides and Rangers from coast to coast, along with International guests and leaders joined together at Nairn and Morrison Islands on the St. Lawrence Seaway west of Cornwall, Ontario from July 15th - 25th 1967.
In addition to girls from every province and the territories campers included guests from countries which contributed to Canada's cultural and ethnic heritage. Included were Great Britain, France, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Sweden and the U.S.A. Also present were representatives of Companies and Packs on Foreign Soil, maintained by Girl Guides of Canada for daughters of Canada's Armed Forces serving in Europe.
Mrs. K.B. Clysdale of St. Mary's, Ontario, Chief Commissioner, officially opened the camp on July 15th with a special colour ceremony, the flags of all 12 participating nations and the World Flag were presented by girls wearing their national uniforms.
Girls camped in 192 patrols, each representing various provinces and International Guides were divided amongst the patrols. Sub-camps represented the different parts of Canada: Pacific, Atlantic, Prairie, Upper Canada, Lower Canada and the Far North.
The ‘Heritage' theme was the theme of Provincial camps held across Canada for the previous 3 summers in preparation of this National Heritage camp. Girls revived ancient regional crafts of Canada. In the Pacific sub-camp, the girls learned totem-pole carving, bead work and burlap painting, Upper Canada sub-camp girls designed and made hooked rugs. Lower Canada wool weaving was taught, with netting along with rope crafts being taught by Maritime fishermen in the Atlantic sub-camp. Far North sub-camp, soap carving, stenciling was taught and the girls in the Prairie sub-camp learned quilting. It was hoped that each girl would complete a heritage craft item to take home with her.
It was suggested that the girls bring Heritage tokens to exchange with campers from other parts of Canada and the International guests. Tokens were to be handmade, with a tale to tell about each girl's heritage. A' Heritage Token' was a souvenir, a conversation maker, something that would be a remembrance of Canada.
The two main events were of an historic nature. The first was the presentation of the a pageant called "Canada Tree" highlighting events of the 100 years of the Confederation that compared the growth of Canada to that of a Maple Tree, written for the occasion by Dr. James Reoney. The second was a play "Women of Canada" written by Wynn Booth, featuring women of various provinces over the past century whose qualities reflected Guide Laws.
World Chief, Olave, Lady Baden-Powell officially closed the camp when the flags of participating countries are retired at a colourful ceremony July 25th 1967.
Sources used: National Camp Reports, 1967 GGC Archives Box 53
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