A Big Thanks to Bob Rumball & Family
The Ontario Camp of the Deaf is bringing adventure, fun and comraderie into the lives of a new generation of hearing-impaired youth—and others
Snuggled deep in the bush off of Crane Lake Road in Seguin, Ont., is a hidden gem called the Bob Rumball Ontario Camp of the Deaf, also known as The Ontario Camp of the Deaf. Perhaps “hidden” isn’t quite accurate, because there are signs for the camp on Highway 400 and on Blackstone Crane Lake Road itself. Local residents know of the camp, since it’s been active in the Parry Sound district for more than 50 years.
What was never hidden was camp co-founder Reverend Robert Rumball’s passion and commitment for creating a place where individuals considered “marginalized” in society could enjoy a summer-camp experience and get a reprieve from feeling
“different” or “special.” The story goes that while driving in the Parry Sound area in the early 1960s, the reverend saw a “For Sale” sign on some land south of the town and closed the deal quickly. Under the auspices of the Evangelical Church of the Deaf and the Ontario Mission of the Deaf, Reverend Rumball proceeded to form The Ontario Camp of the Deaf.
Then, as now, the camp ran on a shoestring budget, and it’s easy to imagine that campers really roughed it in regards to accommodations and recreational facilities. There certainly wouldn’t have been the Splashpad, skateboard park or climbing walls that are available for the campers today. What was in abundance, however, was love, acceptance and the awareness that for the first time in their lives, children had a camp designed for them that was owned and operated by the deaf.
While still alive both Reverend Rumball and his wife Mary Jean were “hands-on” at camp, spending every summer working and raising all seven of their children there. I imagine it wasn’t always easy on the children sharing their parents with the camp
24/7, or having a father who spent much of his time speaking to community and service clubs about the camp and the potential it had. The Reverend’s unwavering passion in raising awareness helped to make possible ongoing improvements to the camp through the years, such as the boathouse, water system, docks and washrooms, to name a few. Throughout the years, donations of money, needed items and labour have allowed the camp to continue providing year-round recreational opportunities for the deaf, hard of hearing, and multiple-handicapped children, adults and their families. The commitment and generosity of benefactors have allowed the camp to also provide a unique venue for events, such as corporate retreats or family reunions.
Although both Robert and Mary Jean are now deceased, the legacy of the camp continues in the competent hands of two of their children. Their son Derek is the president of the Rumball Canadian Centre of Excellence for the Deaf and an active presence
at the camp as director, while daughter Jennine serves as yearround program director.
So perhaps the joy and unique experience the camp provides to hundreds of deaf, hard of hearing or handicapped individuals isn’t a secret. What remains hidden, and I’m hoping will be exposed here, is the stunning beauty of the actual camp, and it’s accessibility to all.
From the first moment I drove through the beautiful gates of the camp, I was struck by just how peaceful and beautiful the site truly is. Although only minutes off of Highway 400, it feels like a different world. Over the rustic bridge and up the hill lies the heart of the camp with the main lodge nestled between Second and Third
Lakes (yes, those are the actual names of the lakes). Stunningly scenic as the camp is, for me the true beauty lies in the kindness and commitment of the Rumballs who run it. Derek and Jennine are truly the products of a family who made love and compassion for all people a priority. In the years since my husband Wayne and I have volunteered at the camp, we have both witnessed and benefited from their drive to ensure that every person who comes through the gates is treated with dignity, respect and kindness.
This was made most evident shortly after Wayne accepted a position at camp as residential gatekeeper. We had recently retired and sold our home, so we jumped at the chance to keep an eye on the grounds in the off-season and do some housekeeping and general maintenance in exchange for accommodations. A few weeks after we moved in, however, Wayne had a stroke, leaving us no idea of how we were going to meet the commitment we made with Derek and Jennine. We were very concerned about that, but all Derek said when asked was, “Just bring him home.”
Home. That’s truly what the Ontario Camp of the Deaf feels like to us and the campers who stay here—a home, a haven, or in my Celtic tongue, an “aisling.”
There hasn’t been a day since Wayne suffered his stroke that we haven’t given thanks for the love and support we are cradled in at the camp. At an age when people too often become invisible, Wayne and I are privileged to play a small part in ensuring that the camp truly is a safe haven for all who enter.
For more, visit bobrumball.org