In 1917, Mary Susanna Edgar, renowned author, philanthropist, women and girls’ advocate, founded Camp Oolahwan on Lake Walfred in Ste-Marguerite de Lac Masson in the Laurentian mountains, north of Montreal. She was the Girls’ Work secretary of the Montreal YWCA from 1915 -19. Over the years, her love of camping has empowered thousands of young women to adopt healthy life habits, attitudes and leadership roles, to love and protect nature, learn new skills, enjoy sports and find friendship singing around a campfire at sunset.
Although Camp Oolahwan ceased to exist physically in 2005, its spirit is alive in the memories of its campers and counselors who will come together to celebrate its centennial on August 25-27, 2017. Camp Ouareau in St-Donat has graciously agreed to host the celebrations which are being organized by a committee of former campers and counselors.
The Montreal YWCA has included a page on their website devoted to the history of Camp Oolahwan http://www.ydesfemmesmtl.org/propos-de-nous/historique/campoolahwan/ We hope campers and staff in the photos will contact us so they might come to share their Oolahwan memories. The YWCA will add more photos to the archive as finances permit. Should anyone wish to send us photos, we have a Facebook page where they can be posted: https://www.facebook.com/events/119118471851838/
For current information on the Centennial Celebrations go to http://www.campoolahwan100.ca
