Clarington July 5, 2016/- Clarington Council has approved an agreement that would see the Municipality assume ownership of the historic Camp 30 lands from its current owners Kaitlin Developments and Fandor Homes.
Over the last few years, Camp 30 has been plagued by vandalism. Ongoing efforts have been made by the property owners to ensure its security, but it continues to be a challenge.
“This is a slice of history right in our backyard. Council would like to restore and rehabilitate the buildings which are historical landmarks in our community,” said Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster.
Before Clarington assumes ownership of the property, the current owners will demolish any buildings that have not been identified for historic preservation and also clean up the area, including removing all graffiti, as well as installing security cameras. They will also make a one-time donation of $500,000 to the Municipality, to assist with the maintenance and care of the Camp 30 property.
Camp 30 was designated as a National Historic Site in 2013. It initially opened in 1925 as a training school for delinquent boys. Later, during the Second World War, it was used by the Allies to house captured high-ranking German officers. It is the only known PoW Camp left, with six original buildings from that era, in Canada.
“The Municipality is eager to assume stewardship of this historic property. It is in the public’s interest that we create a plan to restore the buildings, preserving our history so that future generations can learn about their past,” said Clarington Chief Administrative Officer Franklin Wu.
Once the Municipality assumes ownership of Camp 30, it will work with the Jury Lands Foundation, a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to the conservation of historic lands, on a long-term plan to preserve the property. That plan would include seeking funding opportunities from other levels of government, to cover the cost associated with restoring and preserving the historic buildings.
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