In 1970, I first went to Camp Latona , situated on the north side of Gambier Island in Howe Sound.   I was in a cabin named “Haida”, my counsellor was “Miss Kathy”, the camp director was “Sister Theresa”, and we had powdered milk on our cereal.  I kept going back every summer in session 1, the first two weeks of July.  Session 1 was always the wet session and the girls in Session 2 always got the sunshine.  At camp reunions we would identify with our session — those of us from Session 1 liked to talk about how we formed our friendships as we struggled to stay dry in our primitive lean-tos with those old sleeping bags that never dried after they got wet.  I grew up at Latona, as a camper until I became a counsellor-in-training, then a counsellor.  I also spent time as the “outtrip director” at boys camp in 1977.  I returned in the late 80s as a counsellor, then the next year as the Junior Counsellor director and Director of Senior Co-Ed Camp.

When the camp closed in the mid-90s and was sold, I never thought I would ever see it again.  Declan Lawlor, ”waterfront director” in the 80s, bought Latona and has re-opened a summer camp.  Declan and I have fond memories of pranks and being captains of the “Gumbys” where we painted ourselves green and made carboard heads in the shape of our favourite flexible character.  I am so glad that children in Vancouver have a chance to experience Latona again.  It was my home away from home.