Trillium Childhood Cancer Support Centre

CAMP TRILLIUM

940 Queensdale Ave. E., Hamilton, Ontario L8V 1N4
1-888-999-CAMP (905) 527-1992

The Trillium childhood Cancer Support Centre or "Camp Trillium" is a charitable organization offering support, friendship and camping adventure for children with cancer and their siblings.

Founded in 1984, Camp Trillium has grown to be one of the largest facilities of its kind in North America - a place where children afflicted with cancer can enjoy many of the things most of us take for granted ...fun, friendships, and a respite from hospitals and treatment.

"Camp Trillium", the first of its kind in Canada is also the only camp in North America to offer family camp sessions. Camp Trillium is a fully accredited camp by the Ontario Camping Association and began operating its first full time "Summer Home" on Garratts Island near Picton in 1987. Recognizing that having a child sick with cancer places a financial strain on a family, all families and children attend camp free of charge. With the strong support of the Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division, Camp Trillium provides much-needed respite for over 1,000 campers living with childhood cancer.

Garratt's Island, near Picton, is a 70 acre island on West Lake, near Sandbanks Provincial Park in Picton, Ontario. The site has 5 cottages, a medical building, dinning hall and activities hall. Last summer over 1,000 children were hosted at the site and four family camps in the spring and fall. Garratt's Island is operating at full capacity. Since it is on an island, only summer use of Garratt's Island is available, All winter camping programs must run in rented facilities.

Sadly, however, the cancer is growing faster than the Camp. Over 350 new cases of childhood cancer are diagnosed in Ontario each year. This means that the existing Camp Trillium is stretched beyond its limit.

The need for a second site became apparent to the board of directors in 1993 and after a search, the site of Rainbow Lake was chosen. Rainbow Lake is a 140 acre park of grasslands and forest with a 35 acre lake located on Regional Road # 9 near Waterford. The $6.4 million campaign to build and operate Camp Trillium - Rainbow Lake has begun. Already $2 million of that amount has been raised from the Long Point Region Conservation Authority and other donors. The camp now has six cottages completed, a dining & recreation hall, a medical building, arts & craft building, day care centre and nearing completion, the office building and staff home for the maintenance person. The coming year will see construction of two more cottages, a beach pavilion and maintenance building at Rainbow Lake. Commencing June 15, Rainbow Lake will be filled with campers through to September.

The Masonic Foundation of Ontario, along with the Masons of Brant District, Wilson Districts ( North and South) , Hamilton Districts (A, B and C), Waterloo District and Wellington District, have contributed their time and resources in assistance to this project. R.W.Bro. Gerald E. Postill - Brant Masonic District, R.W Bro. Kenneth Guiler - Wilson South District, R.W.Bro. James Fisher - Wilson North District, R.W.Bro. Brian W. King - Hamilton District "A", R.W.Bro. Beverley C. Alexander - Hamilton District "B", R.W.Bro. Paul James - Hamilton District "C", R.W.Bro. Wilbert Fries - Waterloo District, R.W.Bro. Richard J.R. Roberts - Wellington District, have taken leadership roles in making their membership aware of the project and assisting in its success.