Wednesday, October 20, 2021 – River Town Times – 15
www.rivertowntimes.com
Bryerswood Youth Camp Optimist Club arranges for funding to complete camp purchase
The Bryerswood Youth Camp Optimist Club will get to purchase the Texas Road campsite later this month thanks to a $250,000 loan from a social investor. Club president Kathi Poupard and vice president Cathy Robertson state the investor wants to remain anonymous but they have given the club five years to pay the loan back. RTT File Photo
“People are still need to help support us,” said Robertson. The Bryerswood Youth Camp Optimist Club plans on refurbishing the camp and hopes to eventually either update or replace the buildings on the site. The camp closed in March 2020 and the club hasn’t been able to get in there yet and won’t until the deal closes later this month. A landscape architect was retained to help develop plans for the future and further details will be released in early November. “We’re just in the planning stages now,” said Robertson. Poupard said people who were apprehensive about donating because they feared the project was a risk can now be assured it will be going ahead. More fundraisers are being planned and Poupard and Robertson urged people to monitor their website and Facebook page for updates. “It’s going to be a feather in Amherstburg’s cap,” Robertson said of the camp. “We’re excited. We see what is possible. We’re just so grateful to the community for all the support we’ve received.” Robertson said donations can be of any size and they are all appreciated. “Our kids are our future,” said Robertson. “We have to set them up and support them.” Poupard admitted they were too determined to quit and fought through the tough days. “It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster but we’re now on top, that’s for sure,” said Poupard.
By Ron Giofu The campground formerly known as Camp Bryerswood will soon be under the ownership of a local club of a similar name. The Bryerswood Youth Camp Optimist Club will purchase the campground from the Girl Guides of Canada after the club received a loan from a “social investor” in the amount of $250,000. The club has raised $247,000 of their $500,000 goal so far but with the deadline to purchase the property at the end of this month, the social investor stepped up and helped make the club’s dream come true. “We’ve been doing a lot of campaigning and contacting people,” said BYC Optimist Club vice president Cathy Robertson. Robertson said the social investor was in discussions to be a “Founders Club” member for a donation of $5,000 but decided to do more. “This person came back and said ‘let me see your business plan’,” said Robertson. That plan and other documentation were forwarded to the individual who said he would loan the club $250,000 over a five-year period so that the purchase could be finalized. That news came in August, however, loan agreements and legal documents were only recently signed and finalized. The actual purchase price is $430,000, but Robertson and club president Kathi Poupard stated they wanted to ensure all other fees and costs were covered as well. “As far as we know, he’s the first social investor in Windsor-Essex County,” said Robertson. “Essentially, he’s bought us five years. He’s given us five years to pay back the loan.” Robertson said they were asked to raise a lot of money in a ten-month span to purchase the camp and the club is very thankful to the social investor for believing in them and giving them the loan. Poupard said that was tough in the best of times, and even harder when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. “There’s no words to describe how we feel. If there are angels, we found one,” said Robertson. “We are so grateful for this person,” added Poupard. “It’s like lightning struck and we all won the lottery.” The social investor wishes to remain anonymous, they state. Numerous groups and organizations have approached the BYC Optimist Club hoping to use the Texas Road campground for their functions. “If we weren’t there, I don’t know where these groups would be going,” said Robertson. Robertson and Poupard emphasized the money from the social investor is a loan and that fundraisers will have to continue.
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NOTICE OF INTENT TO DESIGNATE THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF AMHERSTBURG IN THE MATTER OF THE ONTARIO HERITAGE ACT, R.S.O. 1990, C.O.18, AND THE MATTER OF LANDS AND PREMISES AT THE FOLLOWING MUNICIPAL ADDRESS 65 – 67 Richmond Street The Town of Amherstburg Province of Ontario NOTICE OF INTENT TO DESIGNATE TAKE NOTICE that the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Amherstburg intends to designate the property including the lands and building at the following municipal address as property of historical and architectural value or interest under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act R.S.O. 1990, c.0.18 65 – 67 Richmond Street PT LT 13 W/S RAMSAY ST PL 1 AMHERSTBURG AS IN R1296175; AMHERSTBURG Amherstburg, Ontario REASON FOR DESIGNATION: Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest 65-67 Richmond Street, built 1885, is representative of smaller-scale, wood-frame commercial-type buildings which were constructed at the time, and which historically contributed to Amherstburg’s commercial core. The property is valued for contributing to Amherstburg’s historic commercial activity, and particularly recalls Amherstburg’s status, and its downtown as a thriving commercial centre in the late 19th century; it was built, and operated as a drug store 1885 – 1927. The property is significant for its association with druggist, Charles M. S. Thomas (18551927), who commissioned the building. He was a fixture in the town’s retail sphere and well-known for his service on town council, the school board, civic committees, fraternal and community organizations. He is also remembered for publishing a small newspaper from the building – the Independent – which existed 1883 to c. 1886, advocating temperance, worker’s rights and other issues. The site has contextual value in helping to define, maintain and support the historical commercial character of the area; it is integral to reinforcing the historic high street status of Richmond Street. The building is physically, functionally, visually and historically linked to its surroundings being compatible in form, scale, age and use with the other properties in the area. ANY PERSON may, within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice, send by registered mail or deliver to the Clerk of the Town of Amherstburg notice of their objection to the proposed designation together with a statement of the reasons for the objection and all relevant facts. If such a notice of objection is received, The Council of the Corporation of the Town of Amherstburg shall consider the objection and make a decision whether or not to withdraw the notice of intention to designate the property within 90 days after the end of the 30-day period. Further information respecting this notice of intention to designate the property is available from the Town of Amherstburg. DATED at the Town of Amherstburg this 13th day of October, 2021