Camp Ouareau

In 1922, the original mission of this English-speaking camp for young girls, above all for girls wishing, in addition to the pleasures of life in the open air, courses in land and water sports, horse riding, the study of nature, crafts, etc., and the opportunity to go camping and canoeing expeditions in the great outdoors.

In 1976, the camp became bilingual with the introduction of the language program; now about 50% of registrations come from French-speaking girls and 50% from English-speaking people.

The estate includes a peninsula on the south side of Leguerrier Bay, as well as two islands on Lake Ouareau.

The camp site covers 14.5 hectares and stretches for 0.25 km along the southern shore of Leguerrier Bay of Lac Ouareau.

The main entrance to the camp is located on the east side of the trailhead leading to Mont Ouareau.

The recreation building featured a large stone fireplace, and was equipped with a stage, library area, desks, games, piano and gramophone.

Outdoor amenities included a diving raft, row boats, canoes, tennis court, playgrounds and a horse riding course.

Today, the Ouareau camp no longer holds religious services or rituals; however, the space once occupied by the chapel is used for campfires and various activities.

The sports activities offered by the camp include: swimming, canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing, sailing, survival in the forest, hebertism, archery, climbing, tennis, basketball.

In 1921, Mabel C. Jamieson and Ferna G. Halliday; both then residents of Montreal, jointly acquired the land from Mr. Leguerrier, where Camp Ouareau will be located.

[8] In the spring of 1922, Ferna G. Halliday was on an information tour, notably to Sherbrooke, to promote the opening of the camp to young girls.

She then became the director of Camp Oconto which began operations in the summer of 1924 in Tichborne, north of Kingston, Ontario.

[19][20][21] This student village was designated the "La Cordée Youth Center" in 1956, administered by the "Ordre de Bon Temps" (Order of Good Times).

In addition, the hamlet "Camp-Ouareau", located about one kilometer east of the camp, that is to say in the area near the end of the Leguerrier bay of Lake Ouareau, was formalized on December 5, 1968 at the Bank of names.

Sign at the entrance to Camp Ouareau
View of the Lodge of Camp Ouareau
Campers playing in their tent at Camp Ouareau, 1940s