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
More Canadians only making minimum payment on credit cards: TransUnion
Some Canadians are seeing their credit card balances grow as the cost-of-living crisis and higher interest rates eat into household budgets, a new report shows.
Tornado touches down west of the Island of Montreal
Emergency services in the town of Rigaud, Que. are investigating after a tornado touched down shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Friday.
Teen was doing homework at family's Mississauga, Ont. restaurant when gunman opened fire: testimony
The 13-year-old sister of a young man killed in the attack on her family’s Mississauga restaurant in 2021 took the stand in a Brampton courthouse on Monday to describe the terrifying moments of coming under fire.
Tanks reach Rafah's centre as Israel presses assault despite global scrutiny
Israeli tanks reached the centre of Rafah for the first time on Tuesday, witnesses said, three weeks into a ground operation in the southern Gaza city that has sparked global condemnation.
What a CBSA strike could look like, according to an expert
Slowed or interrupted travel, the passing of goods and significantly restricted borders should be expected if Canadian border workers take upcoming strike action.
Arm of mummy came off after mishandling by museum staff: Mexican government
Mexico's federal archaeology agency on Monday accused the conservative-governed city of Guanajuato of mistreating one of the country’s famous mummified 19th century bodies.
Five of Ontario's top 10 worst roads are located in the Toronto area
A new pothole-riddled street in Hamilton has taken the top spot for the worst road in Ontario, according to a new list released by the Canadian Automotive Association (CAA) on Tuesday.
DEVELOPING In Trump's hush money trial, prosecutors and defence lawyers are poised to make final pitch to jury
Prosecutors and defence lawyers in Donald Trump's hush money trial are set to deliver closing arguments to the jury Tuesday, each side looking to score final points with the panel before it starts deliberating the fate of the first former American president to be charged with felony crimes.
Red Lobster in Ontario court to discuss U.S. bankruptcy case, Canadian assets: docs
A lawyer for Red Lobster Canada, Inc. says he will ask an Ontario court today to recognize and enforce the chain’s U.S. bankruptcy protection proceedings, a process which documents show could include selling Canadian assets.