Celebrating Camp Samac’s rich heritage in Oshawa

Members of City Council and representatives from Heritage Oshawa and Scouts Canada celebrated the heritage designation of Camp Samac and installation of a heritage plaque.

Designated as a property of cultural heritage value or interest under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, a heritage plaque is now installed prominently at Camp Samac’s main gateway structure on Simcoe Street North.

Located at 1711 Simcoe St. N., Camp Samac is a more than 76-hectare (188-acre) site nestled within the Oshawa Creek Valley. The property features outdoor spaces, hiking trails and woodlands.

Since 1946, Camp Samac has been used by Scouts Canada year round for scouting and guiding programs. In the youth organization’s 75+ year history, tens of thousands of youth have had opportunities to learn outdoor skills, develop leadership qualities and teambuilding skills and enjoy outdoor sports and recreational activities at Camp Samac.

In 2022, the City of Oshawa, in partnership with Scouts Canada, designated Camp Samac as a property of cultural heritage value or interest under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. Heritage designation is a process established in the Ontario Heritage Act to recognize and protect properties of cultural heritage value or interest.

Heritage Oshawa, a City Advisory Committee, nominates candidate properties for heritage designation for Council’s consideration. For more information, visit the Heritage Oshawa webpage.

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Scouts Canada offers programming for children and youth aged 5-26. The youth organization has more than 40,000 youth participating across the country in multiple languages and is supported by a team of over 12,000 volunteers. For more information, visit Scouts.ca.

Quotes:

“The great City of Oshawa is home to many significant cultural heritage properties. This designation recognizes Camp Samac’s incredible natural features and celebrates its rich history and the legacy of environment stewardship in our community. In 1944, Colonel Sam McLaughlin generously donated nearly 150 acres to the Oshawa Boy Scouts Association and today we are proud to continue to welcome hundreds of youth and volunteers each year to this amazing property,” said Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter.

“Oshawa’s Camp Samac is without question one of Canada’s natural heritage treasures. This majestic Central Park-like property is a vital presence in the heart of our urban city that has been enjoyed by tens of thousands of people, myself included, throughout its long history. Proudly born and raised near Camp Samac, I was fortunate to enjoy almost daily visits to the property. I fondly remember the learning of lifestyles, collaborating with visitors from around the country and internationally, hiking its trails, camping, swimming and developing leadership skills at Camp Samac,” said Councillor Tito-Dante Marimpietri, Chair of the Economic and Development Services Committee and Ward 2 Regional & City Councillor.

“We are proud to celebrate with Scouts Canada the legacy of Camp Samac. The residents of Oshawa are privileged to have such an amazing property in our city, offering forested nature, woodlands, the Oshawa Creek and breathtaking views,” said Councillor Bob Chapman, Vice-Chair of the Economic and Development Services Committee.

“Since the 1940s, youth and volunteers have travelled to Oshawa to take part in scouting and guiding programs at Camp Samac, a sprawling natural property featuring hiking trails, an outdoor pool, cabins and more. Camp Samac is a beautiful space here in Ward 2 and a heritage asset to our city,” said Councillor Jim Lee, Ward 2 City Councillor.

“As the City Council representative on the Heritage Oshawa Advisory Committee, I am pleased to see that Camp Samac is recognized as an integral part of our city’s combined heritage. I remember as a young scout the annual sleepovers and outings to Camp Samac and I am so happy to see it continue as a key part of Oshawa,” said Councillor Brian Nicholson, Heritage Oshawa Council appointee.

“Heritage Oshawa is very pleased that Council chose to advance an Ontario Heritage Designation for Camp Samac. Designation and preservation of heritage properties is core to the mandate of Heritage Oshawa, and we are very proud to celebrate this important designation with the residents of the City of Oshawa. We firmly believe that Colonel Robert S. McLaughlin, who donated the land to Scouts Canada, would be very pleased with this designation,” said Diane Stephen, Chair of Heritage Oshawa.

“At Scouts, youth get to experience a world of opportunities to explore new skills and discover what they’re great at. We are grateful to the City of Oshawa and Heritage Oshawa for recognizing the importance of Scouting in the lives of youth and the community. Thanks to their support, Camp Samac will continue to offer kids exciting outdoor experiences, as an adventure-destination, for years to come,” said Kevin Anyan, National Property Operations Manager for Scouts Canada.