Fire at Tamaracouta Scout Reserve destroys main building
Police are investigating after a fire broke out at a former Scouts Canada camp in the Laurentians over the weekend.
The fire at Tamaracouta Scout Reserve on Saturday afternoon caused "complete damage to the main office lodge building," according to a spokesperson from Scouts Canada.
No injuries were reported.
The organization has fenced off the site in Mille-Iles, about 20 kilometres northwest of Saint-Jerome.
In 2011, the camp hosted an international scouting jamboree and was one of the oldest continuously operating Scout camps in the world.
A historical Scouting landmark, the camp and property have been closed since 2018 following "years of successive financial hardship."
According to Scouts Canada, numerous municipal heritage buildings on the property needed urgent structural and electrical repairs, as well as a new septic system. A spokesperson said a warden visited the site five days a week since its closure for "maintenance and security."
The property was put up for sale in 2023.
Local authorities say they've been concerned about the deserted site and asked Scouts Canada to do more to keep it secure.
"It's a sad situation. In fact, the municipality even sent a letter to Scouting advising them of the public safety problem with this because obviously, there's no lifeguard, and there's nothing going on at the camp. The vandalism because dangerous and it being a private property, only the owner is allowed to call authorities for any event," said Mille-Iles Mayor Howard Sauve.
The the main office lodge building at Tamaracouta Scout Reserve was destroyed (CTV News)
The site left abandoned and unsold – and now a fire to its main building – spell a difficult future for a camp with such rich history, said Sauve.
"It's just another sad chapter in the seemingly slow demise of the remnants of the TSR which was the central point for scouting in Quebec. I mean, Knights of Tamara, all the scouts that came from the world for the Jubilee. It was amazing. I'd say scouting at its peak, I guess. And to see it going the other way now, it's just it's very, very sad," he said. "Whatever happens to the camp down the road, that the Scouts can keep some sort of a foothold in there, to keep some sort of a link to their past. I mean, they built the place and now it just seems to be going nowhere."
Police are investigating the cause of the fire. Scouts Canada said it is supporting police in the investigation.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Lanny McDonald and a few old Flames take the Stanley Cup on a surprise visit to the man who saved his life
The Stanley Cup was passing through town Friday, and Lanny Legend took it upon himself to take it for a surprise visit.
Bathroom break nearly derails $22 million project at city council meeting
A brief break during Wednesday's city council meeting in Saskatoon nearly cost the city dearly.
Chad Daybell sentenced to death for killing wife and girlfriend’s two children in jury decision
Jurors resumed deliberations Saturday on whether a man should be sentenced to death after being convicted days earlier of the murders of his wife and his girlfriend’s two youngest children in Idaho.
Robert Pickton stabbed with toothbrush and broken broom handle: victim's family
The family of one of Robert Pickton's victims says the convicted serial killer suffered an incredibly violent death at the hands of another inmate.
Father who killed one-year-old son with axe may be allowed to travel in southwestern Ontario
A Mennonite father who killed his one-year-old son with an axe may be allowed to travel to parts of southern Ontario in the coming months
'It feels like freedom': Why some Albertans like going nude in nature
Few people can say they accidentally purchased a nude beach — but Shelley can. When she saw a piece of land she could fondly remember camping on was up for sale, she inquired about it and ended up purchasing it. She soon found that there were already inhabitants on it.
This Calgary home has a giant tree in the middle, and it's for sale
There's a luxury 'tree home' for sale in Calgary.
China lands spacecraft on the moon amid growing space rivalry with U.S.
A Chinese spacecraft landed on the far side of the moon Sunday to collect soil and rock samples that could provide insights into differences between the less-explored region and the better-known near side.
Pedestrian dies after being hit by train in Brockville, Ont.
Brockville Police says a pedestrian has died following a collision with a train that was heading to Toronto.