A faith-based girls’ camp in southwestern Ontario is still closed after campers were sent home and health authorities shut it down on Monday due to a disagreement over its legal status.
The unexpected closure on Monday night by health officials in Elgin County forced many families to rush on Tuesday to retrieve their children from the Port Burwell, Ont. summer camp.
Fix the paperwork. Don’t take it out on the kids.- John Zanin, parent
John Zanin, whose two daughters Kate and Anna had been going to Anchor Camp at the John Paul II Cultural Centre in Port Burwell for several years, expressed his “very disappointment” with public health officials for sending his kids home because the camp’s pool liner was the wrong color and it was incorrectly classified under provincial law.
“Fix the paperwork. Don’t take it out on the kids,” Zanin said. “As parents, we save up all year for this experience every summer, and now just 36 hours in, it’s over.”
Anchor Camp charges up to $350 per camper. Roelands wouldn’t confirm if families would receive full refunds due to the closure.
Parent John Zanin says he’s ‘disappointed’ after health officials shutdown a summer camp over a pool liner and an administrative error
Parent John Zanin says he’s ‘disappointed’ after health officials shutdown a summer camp over a pool liner and an administrative error
Zanin shared that he received a call from the camp nurse late Monday informing him that Elgin St. Thomas Public Health Unit had ordered its closure.
“We had to pick up our daughters by 10 a. m.,” he said. “Fortunately no one was hurt, but then we started wondering ‘why would they close the camp down?'”
Zanin mentioned he reached out multiple times to the health unit seeking clarity about why they ordered the camp’s closure, but each time he received vague responses from public health officials.
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People take shelter from the rain as they wait with their belongings under an awning at John Paul II Cultural Centre a day after the facility’s summer camp was shutdown and campers were ordered to go home by health officials on Monday. (Colin Butler/ )
“They simply said they were closing it down for a safety violation and we had to go pick up our daughters, and that was that,” he said.
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The sudden shutdown of the camp on Monday night left parents and relatives scrambling to pick up campers on Tuesday morning. (Colin Butler/ )
On Tuesday morning, many campers sheltered from rain while waiting for their parents or relatives to arrive with their belongings. Some had driven for hours from places like London, Toronto, Sarnia in Ontario, and even Michigan in one case.
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One of the violations according to health authorities was that the pool liner was too dark. John Paul II Cultural Centre hired a company right away who replaced it early next morning. (Colin Butler/ )
“Our primary concern is ensuring everyone attending camp remains healthy and safe,” she added. “We’re ready to collaborate with anyone willing so activities can resume there.”
“It’s an issue regarding how we classify camps,” Martin Roelands stated, founder of John Paul II Cultural Centre as well as operator of this summer program.” We’re consulting some advisers while sorting through all these matters.”
“I want [families] to stay hopeful,” he remarked.” It’s unfortunate [public health officials] had no choice but remove kids from their camping experience this year; hopefully they’ll join us again next year.”
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‘It’s an issue regarding how we classify camps,’ said Martin Roelands founder of John Paul II Cultural Centre as well as operator of this summer program.(Colin Butler/)
Roelands noted after learning about his incorrect pool liner he quickly sought out contractors who could replace it.
“We’re doing everything possible comply with regulations,” he mentioned.
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Parent John Zanin says he’s ‘disappointed’ after health officials shutdown a summer camp over a pool liner and an administrative error
Parent John Zanin says he’s ‘disappointed’ after health officials shutdown a summer camp over a pool liner and an administrative error
Zanin shared that he received a call from the camp nurse late Monday informing him that Elgin St. Thomas Public Health Unit had ordered its closure.
“We had to pick up our daughters by 10 a. m.,” he said. “Fortunately no one was hurt, but then we started wondering ‘why would they close the camp down?'”
Zanin mentioned he reached out multiple times to the health unit seeking clarity about why they ordered the camp’s closure, but each time he received vague responses from public health officials.
‘They wouldn’t elaborate’
Wrong pool liner
“Those stories are very compelling, and I understand that it’s really upsetting when these things get interrupted,” Cathie Walker, director of health promotion for Elgin St Thomas Public Health Unit told on Tuesday. “This has caused major inconvenience for people and we regret that.” “The issue is we have specific inspection processes along with various classifications for these types of premises,” Walker explained while noting that they shut down the camp due to its misclassification according to provincial law. Monday night’s routine inspection also revealed that the pool’s liner was too dark; therefore officials mandated it be drained and replaced immediately.Source link
