Historic Scouts Canada camp lodge burns to ground in Quebec's Laurentians
Former scout leader Micheal Reid has fond memories of Camp Tamaracouta.
"I learned how to cook there. I learned how to track animals. It was really just an eye-opening experience," he said.
Over the weekend, the main lodge was destroyed by fire. It was the second fire on the campground in a month.
The camp, Tamaracouta Scout Reserve (TSR), was built in 1911 in Mille-Isles, Que., about 80 kilometres northwest of Montreal in the Laurentians.
Six years ago, the camp closed and Scouts Canada has been trying to sell it since 2023.
"This building has a strong scouting history, even hosting the 2007 Canadian Jamboree, and holds a special place in the hearts of many," Scouts Canada said in a news release.
"Those who experienced the adventure of past camps at TSR fondly remember this gathering place as a hub for friendship, camp traditions, decorative memorabilia and more."
The cause of the fire is unknown, the organization says, and Scouts Canada is supporting the police in their investigation.
Howard Sauvé, mayor of Mille-Isles, Que., said seeing the lodge burned to the ground left him heartbroken. (Charles Contant/CBC)
In the meantime, the site will be fenced off.
Since its closure, the camp has been visited by the staff warden five days per week for maintenance and security. Meanwhile, the property is for sale and Scouts Canada says they'll be selling to the highest bidder.
"We'll be certainly seeking the highest value that we can while keeping in line our values," said Christopher Blais, the organization's director of asset management.
However, some want to see the land and camp protected.
"That history and heritage shared by both the scouts and the municipality are very important to us and we don't want to see that go away and disappear off the face of the Earth," said Mille-Isles Mayor Howard Sauvé.
Seeing the lodge burned left him heartbroken, he said, as the camp has been part of the community for more than 100 years. Since its closure, he said the camp has been largely abandoned and it has attracted vandalism.
Part of the site, where there is no construction, has been protected from development, said Sauvé. He said he hopes the site's sale will ensure the camp won't continue decaying.
"I hope that whoever they sell it to will at least keep a scouting piece in the sale of the property," he said. "It would be a shame if they sold it to somebody and the scouts were erased from the site altogether because they have so much history."
Reid said Scouts Canada is prioritizing profits over its scouting spirit and youth engagement.
"For me, them trying to sell it, over and above some of the smaller camps where they won't get a big payday, is a crime because, to me, they're forgetting about their mission," he said.
