A local camp has received money help pay for its roof repairs, but more repairs need to be done.
Camp Gencheff was given $37,000 of the $50,000 needed for its roof by the Canada P.E.I. Infrastucture program on Sept. 29.
But while the money helped repair the roof, there are still many repairs that need to be done, said camp counsellor Elysia Hickox.
The technology to help take care of the campers also needs updating. There have been many advancements since the facilities were last updated in 1992.
The camp needs new doors. They can’t afford automatic ones and must hold current ones open with bungee cords, said Hickox.
The camp also needs new plumbing and windows.
Camp Gencheff can re-apply to the infrastructure program next year, but the program will only pay up to 75 per cent, so the camp must fund the other 25 per cent, said Arsenault.
This means the camp will not be able to do the renovations unless it can come up with its share of the money.
Camp Gencheff is a non-profit organization. It costs the camp about $900 per child during the summer. The campers pay $50.
Money they receive from the government goes towards debts from taking care of the campers, so there isn’t much left over to put toward repairs.
And now, Gencheff has even more campers than ever before, which means more debt.
In the past year, they added an extra weekend because they were turning away about 15 people a month.
It would be nice if they could get more funding in the future so they can start upgrading and repairs, said Hickox.
“We definitely don’t get enough attetion from the government, being one of the only special needs facilities and summer camps on P.E.I..”
Camp Gencheff was one of 34 projects approved through the recreation funding of the infrastructure program.
Programs qualifying under this part of infrastructure Canada are required to involve some physical activity, but because Gencheff is a camp for the disabled it was not so simple, said spokesman John Arsenault.
“Gencheff was looked at carefully, as they are special circumstances.”
Canada P.E.I. Infrastructure program is part of the federal stimulus program in the Building Canada fund.
The program has put hundreds of millions of dollars into sewers and recreation, with two-thirds to three-quarters paid, said Arsenault.
