An Essex County campground that attracts youth from around the region has received a grant for upgrades.
The Kiwanis Sunshine Point Camp, located at 955 County Road 50 east of Colchester, received $198,400 in funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).
Operated by the Kiwanis Club of Windsor, the club will use the capital grant over a six-month period to expand a building on the camp.
The building will be expanded to include five additional bedrooms, a nurse’s office and a new washroom to support the increase of camp staff and their needs.
The project will either take place in the fall or in the spring of 2025, explained Kiwanis Club of Windsor past president Angelo Ciardella. He said they have been a supporter of the camp since 1947.
“It’s our 77th year,” Ciardella explained.
The Ontario government has previously support the Kiwanis Sunshine Point Camp in other ways, he added, including upgrades to cabins and playground equipment. The club leverages its partners and also fundraises to help its operations and to maintain the camp.
The camp has had an average of about 66 campers per week and 430 for the summer. He said the club is always looking for new members to help out and those interested can e-mail info.kiwaniswindsor@gmail.com.
“This year, (camp enrolment) is down a bit but it ebbs and flows every year,” said Ciardella.
The money was officially presented by Essex MPP Anthony Leardi. Leardi pointed out the Kiwanis Sunshine Point Camp has a long history in the region and the province is a proud supporter of it.
“It’s an important place for a lot of kids,” said Leardi.
The local Member of Provincial Parliament added the camp has not just served this generation, but upwards of four generations of kids.
“That speaks well of the Kiwanis Club,” he said. “The Kiwanis Club is doing great things and people want to come back for generations.”
The provincial government is providing more than $28 million through the OTF’s capital grant stream to support 291 projects at non-profit organizations across Ontario.
The funding enables local non-profit organizations to deliver in-demand community support programs and services and also will improve local infrastructure.
“The OTF helps places like this so people can enjoy them year after year,” Leardi told the campers before having lunch with them.
Kiwanis Sunshine Point Camp receives OTF grant for upgrades
By Ron Giofu
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