Tumpline March 2015
Published: Thu, 04/02/15
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Maison-de-Pierre, 1957 Part IV Andy Webster
John Blachford drove up to Camp Nominingue on a Friday and by noon the next day, we had decided to embark on a more ambitious canoe trip than either of us had ever been on. This decision on my part meant that I must quit my counselling job, but the money I would have to forfeit was inconsequential when I compared it to the overall experience of the trip we were to take. The following is an account of the 14 days we spent out in the bush. Friday, August 9 Friday morning was dismal and overcast, but as we paddled up the lake towards the portage to Lac Choquette, the cloud and mist rose to show the bright, hot sun. By noon, when we were portaging through a swampy, hardly penetrable trail from Choquette to Lac Dugal, the sun beat down on us so that we sweated hard and rested a good deal more than usual. On the trail from Lac Dugal to Madon Bay where the reservation is situated, after we had covered a good three miles of rough trail, we saw from the top of the hill, through an opening in the trees, the First Nation community on a point that sloped towards the water and the Hudson’s Bay Post on the other side. It was not an ordinary village except that a church spire rose above the small, coloured huts. The village looked dead and unoccupied from a distance, but as we walked closer towards the bay and finally place our canoe on the water, a number of the villagers lined the bank and watched us from a distance. They were dressed in jeans and flannel shirts, which I supposed they obtained from the Post. One man walked by with a big smile. I tried to speak French with him, but was unable to make myself understood.  The people in the community seemed surprised – not simply because of our presence, but they appeared to regard us as being behind-the-times. I suspected that this was the first time in many years that they had seen anybody carry a canoe over the particular portage which we had just covered. It was a paradoxical situation. We had no sooner paddled out into the middle of the lake when one individual whizzed by in his motor-driven canoe. We discovered that all the canoes in the community had outboard motors attached to them. This is why they must have thought it strange to see us paddling across the lake to the Post. We were, of course, equally surprised to find that the community had abandoned their traditional method of travel. I would even go as far as to say that we were slightly disillusioned. Part of the enjoyment that comes from tripping is that you think you are imitating the old First Nation style of travel. The reason John and I enjoyed canoe tripping as much as we did was probably because we had long admired the historic self-sufficiency and sense of adventure of their way of life compared to the domesticated, unadventurous lives of most Canadians.  The Hudson’s Bay Post on the other side of the lake was white and modern and clean. Nobody came to greet us, but we saw a man eating dinner through the window of the largest white house, which was the residence of the factor of the Post. John and I had thought that the factor would have been surprised and happy to have visitors. When we knocked on the door, however, a tall, heavy-built man with black brushed-back hair came out to the veranda and eyed us suspiciously. We could plainly see that he was neither surprised nor happy to see us; he was indifferent. The only living being who reacted to our arrival was a small mongrel dog who both barked and wagged his tail furiously. We needed a few supplies for the week remaining of our trip and we wanted to find out the condition of the trails west of the reservation towards Lake Mitchinamecus. The man in charge of the Post said that he would open his store at the regular time which was in 15 minutes. When the store opened, we bought oatmeal, side-bacon, two pencils and permitted ourselves the luxury of two chocolate bars. Lettre pour Nominingue Jérémie Lord-Rainville
J'ai hâte de retourner à Nominingue pour refaire toutes les activités comme: le ping pong, le tennis, le canot.J'ai eu le plus de plumes dans ma tente. J'ai hâte de refaire du tennis, en plus maintenant j'ai ma propre raquette! 
Research Award of Excellence
The Canadian Camp Research Award of Excellence encourages research in fields that relate to camping in Canada in its social, economic, technological, political and organizational environments.The annual Award honours and celebrates excellence in research and writing that makes a significant contribution to the body of academic literature relevant to the organized camping movement in Canada. It encourages graduate students, faculty and independent scholars to examine issues and/or practicalities of camp phenomena from a social, educational, economic, technological, political, natural and/or organizational perspective from any academic discipline or professional field.  It augments the body of research literature electronically accessible worldwide on the CCA Research webpage, and as more durable hard copy in the unique Camping Collections at the Trent University Archives for long term access by future researchers. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, September 30, 2015. Link to application information. Lien aux informations pour appliquer. Coming of Age (Part II) Hay Finlay
From the Totem Pole Voice of the CNCA Spring 1945We were exceedingly fortunate in securing an efficient staff. It consisted of an Irish cook and his wife, Errol Amaron, Stan Read, Dr. Nooly Philpott, and of course Van and Myself. We had some great times that first year. When a hike was called, the whole camp went. Van and I took turns canoe-tripping, and soon the country which was poorly charted at that time, was blue-printed for miles around. Our prints were in great demand by the government for people interested in tripping in our district. We gladly supplied them and kept on exploring more and more.  These were the beginnings of what we feel was a successful experiment to provide a good camp, well-run and supervised, which would appeal to the discriminating parents of boys. From then on, the camp has grown continually. The second year, there were 41 campers, the third, 75, and now last year a record 144. Many amusing things have happened during those twenty-one years and the recollections are mostly happy ones. There used to be a Black Horse sign opposite the station years ago and the counsellors took great delight in climbing the horse’s back to have their picture taken.  Jokes among the counsellors seemed to be more prevalent years ago. At one time, "Holy" Amaron had taken a trip to the city, and on his return, the counsellors decided to have their little joke. Dressing one of the senior campers in a dress, they armed with a bouquet of flowers and took "her" down to Bellerive. "She" was instructed to go on the train and, when it arrived at Nominingue, to grasp Holy’s arm, as if "she" was accompanied by him. Meanwhile, the whole camp had gathered at the Nominingue station with confetti and streamers to welcome the returning bride and groom. Needless to say, it was a rather embarrassing moment for "Holy". Another occasion for hilarity was when Gordon Copping, now Lieutenant Colonel, was to leave one day for the city. At the last minute, he was unable to find his pants. The counsellors had packed them in his bag and taken them to the village, without his knowledge. This did not faze Gordon in the least! After eating his lunch, he started for the village wearing only a jacket, shirt and underwear. Then he calmly embarked upon the train, much to the amusement of the assembled villagers.  There were many such occasions as these and all served to deepen the everlasting friendships formed at camp and which have lasted through the years. There are of course, some who can never more be with us, but who will forever have a niche in the annals of Camp Nominingue history. Over a period of twenty-one years, there have been more than a thousand boys at Nominingue as campers, and we believe that as long as we give our best to the camp, we can maintain the high standard and good reputation that the camp has enjoyed for the past twenty-one years. 2015 Spring Events – Évènements printanières
Parent and Son Information Evenings at 7:15 PM (For new and prospective campers and their families) Wednesday April 22 Chimo Hotel Ottawa Thursday April 23 Lower Canada College NDG Tuesday May 12 Lower Canada College NDG Thursday May 14 Chimo Hotel Ottawa If you are interested in any details concerning these events, please contact us at the camp office.  Soirées d’informations pour parents et garçons à 19h15 (Pour nouveaux campeurs inscrits ou intéressés) mercredi 22 avril Hotel Chimo Ottawa jeudi 23 avril Lower Canada College NDG mardi 12 mai Lower Canada College NDG jeudi 14 mai Hotel Chimo Ottawa Pour plus de détails, svp contactez le bureau du camp. 2015 Boys’ Camp Senior & Intermediate Staff – Directeurs et moniteurs en chef du camp de garçons 2015
Senior StaffGrant McKenna Director Directeur Elisa Van Wagner Business Manager Directrice commerciale Jennifer Miller Waterfront Director Directrice de programmes aquatiques Graham Hutchison UC Director Directeur des 13 à 15 ans Rafic Dagher Craftshop Director Directeur de l’atelier Brendan Clouthier MC Director Directeur des 11 et 12 ans Philippe Rioux LC Director Directeur des 7 à 10 ans Mat Easey JC Director Directeur des assistants-moniteurs Bruce Gray JC Director Directeur des assistants-moniteurs Charles Weyman Trip Director Directeur des excursions  Intermediate Staff Richard Moore LC Head Counsellor Moniteur en chef LC Emmett Blakey MC Head Counsellor Moniteur en chef MC James Coll Sebes MC Head Counsellor Moniteur en chef MC Eric Waldvogel UC Head Counsellor Moniteur en chef UC Maxence Frenette Assistant Waterfront Assistant natation et sauvetage Mike Patenaude Assistant Trip Director Assistant excursions de canot Nicholas Proulx-Jones LIT Program Programme leader-en-formation Alumni Association News / Nouvelles de l’association des anciens
Dan Quinn announces that Caroline Crawford and he got married in Winnipeg on January 3, 2015. In attendance were Nomininguers Pat Quinn, Adam Spilka, Julie Cameron and Greg Sinclair. Camp Nominingue isn't typically known as a good place to meet girls, but it is where Caroline and I met. We had some great times and met some great people there. Sad News On March 8, 2015, Nancy Mingie passed away. She spent many summers in the 1950s and early 1960s at camp with her husband, Walter Mingie, who served as upper camp director and trip director before moving on to work for many summers at Camp Carowanis. Nancy and Walter returned to Nominingue in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, to lead family campers in a yearly square dance. She will definitely be missed! Please share with us news that you would like to include in the Tumpline that you think might be of interest to other Nominingue alumni. SVP envoyez nous des nouvelles que vous aimeriez inclure dans une prochaine édition du Tumpline.  Alumni Socials Each spring and fall, we try to hold at least one Alumni Social in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto. It is always great to renew with recent and less recent alumni. The next opportunity to re-connect will be announced soon. Dates and locations of future get-togethers will be posted on Facebook on the Nominingue Socials Group page at http://www.facebook.com/groups/NominingueSocials/. To get involved with CN Alumni Association, please contact John Christou at john@prospectorfilms.ca. Tumpline Submissions - Soumissions pour cette lettre de nouvelles
We are looking for submissions for our newsletters from campers, staff and parents… from this summer, as well as from recent and less recent alumni. These submissions may be general memories of camp experiences or specific memories about a canoe trip, about a favourite program or a funny experience. Please send your submissions to grant@nominingue.com. You may submit your stories and memories in English, French or Spanish. Nous sommes à la recherche de textes de campeurs, parents et de moniteurs de l’été 2014… et de souvenirs de nos anciens campeurs et moniteurs des années récentes et moins récentes. Vos textes peuvent décrire vos expériences en générale ou une excursion de canot, un programme favori ou une expérience drôle. SVP envoyez votre texte par courriel à grant@nominingue.com. Votre texte peut être écrit en français, en anglais ou en espagnol. |
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Camp Nominingue | Tel. 450-267-2555 | Toll-free 866-910-1551 (Canada & US)
Email: info@nominingue.com | Web: www.nominingue.com |
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Camp Nominingue
Winter Address: 112 rue Lippée, Les Coteaux, QC J7X 1J4 Summer address: 1889, chemin des Mésanges, Nominingue, QC J0W 1R0 |
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