By Sheldon Spackman

Planning To Reopen

Camp for developmentally disabled secures renewed funding

Apr 7, 2021 | 12:18 PM

A central Alberta camp tailored to meet the needs of adults with developmental disabilities that was facing closure due to funding cuts has been offered new hope.

Camp L.G. Barnes, located on the southwest shore of Gull Lake near Bentley, saw its provincial funding ended last fall with the government saying that as residents have aged and their health needs have changed, the number of visits to the camp has decreased.

However, the camp has now been granted a two-year renewal of operational funding from Community and Social Services, totaling $104,000, as well as money to hire two staff members while the camp transitions away from government funding.

‘”Things are really looking up, really positive,” says Deb Simmons, President of the Society of Parents and Friends of Michener Centre which has owned and operated the camp for decades.

“They’re allowing us to hire two staff for a year only, to transition. Those two staff start back to work on Wednesday (Apr. 7). One will be full-time (transitional manager), and one will be part-time (operational manager), because we’re not open right now.”

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Simmons says the transitional manager will helping the board implement a new needs assessment and strategic business plan for the camp.

“We have eight proposals (following an RFP process). For the next week and a bit, we’ll be going through them and short-listing and we’ll be presenting to the members on the 18th, our choice for a consultant.”

However, camp officials were disappointed to find out on Tuesday they were unsuccessful in their Civil Society Application that was to fund the consultation process.

In the meantime, Simmons highlights the camp’s ongoing fundraising efforts, including a GoFundMe campaign and a Cash Raffle that runs until June 5.

The camp’s third annual Spring Flower Fundraiser is also still running. In partnership with Ever-Green Greenhouse of Red Deer, flowers sold will be delivered to Camp L.G. Barnes the week of May 3. Pre-orders will be taken until April 15.

Holly’s Green House in Rimbey is also offering $20 gift certificates for sale, with a portion of the proceeds going to the camp.

Simmons says they hope to see Camp L.G. Barnes open later this year once pandemic restrictions allow.