1922 Thinking beyond detention and punishment.
A young Ottawa judge believed that the direction of a boy’s life could be diverted through a positive camp experience. Instead of punishing delinquent boys, he offered them an escape from the city and a chance to learn about the outdoors, friendship and responsibility.
Judge John F. McKinley envisioned a retreat for these boys, away from the hot city streets, whose secret of success would be in “giving the boy responsibility, handling him with friendship, teaching him the general principles of good citizenship and doing so with the help of the open air.”
1958 The impact and legacy of Dr. Dan.
Christie Lake Kids programs were largely developed under the guidance and direction of the late Dr. Dan Offord, renowned child psychiatrist and Founding Director of the internationally recognized Offord Centre for Child Studies located at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
Before his passing in 2004, Dr. Dan, as he was affectionately known, was volunteer summer camp Director for 47 years and co-director of the pilot PALS program in Ottawa that led to the development of the CLK STAR program.
In 2001, Dr. Dan’s work in research, at Christie Lake Camp, and as an advocate for all Canadian children earned him the Order of Canada.
1985 A STAR is born.
The STAR (Skills Through Arts and Recreation) program offered skill-development opportunities at inner-city community centres to both boys and girls from low income families.
The founders of Christie Lake Kids always intended to keep in touch with campers throughout the year. But winter get-togethers were sporadic through the 1940s and ’50s. In the ’60s and ’70s, a modestly funded Winter Program was formalized, and began to incorporate Dr. Dan’s structured skill development that was becoming the basis of the camp program. Brothers, sisters, friends, and neighbours of our summer campers became involved.