Camp Fircom

 society, interesting place

Camp Fircom, located on beautiful Gambier Island, has its roots in the downtown east side of Vancouver. The camp began as an outreach program for First Presbyterian Church (the forerunner of First United Church) and Community Services (the forerunner of Social Services). The name came from these two institutions: FIR from "First" and COM from Community.

Rev. J. Richmond Craig was concerned about the crowded living conditions of the rooming houses and in particular about the mothers and children living in these conditions. In 1923, Rev. Craig and members of his congregation rowed out into Howe Sound to explore a homestead on Gambier Island. The result was the purchase of 65 acres of property that was developed into Camp Fircom.

In the early years, campers arrived by rowboat and slept in tents in the open fields. The original farmhouse was used as the kitchen and dining hall and the campers ate in shifts as only 15 people could be accommodated at a time! The meat, milk and butter were cooled in the stream that runs through the property.

In the 1930s, Jubilee Hall was built and has remained the heart of the camp. (Jubilee hall is the large building seen the cleared grassy area)Over the years cabins, wash houses and other buildings have been added to provide shelter and activity centres for campers. Through these changes, Camp Fircom has maintained its rustic charm and capacity to nurture both the physical and spiritual needs of campers.