Alumni News!

Saturday, August 21, 2004

During my time on Ahmek staff (1971-78, 1982), I was Pot Washer, Arts & Crafts Instructor in the Bantam Section, Camp Driver, Drama Director, Counselor in both Bantam and Mountaineer sections and finally program director at the Outpost (the first year they had a program director).

I also sang a lot. I recorded a pop album with Henri Audet under the name Bonfield Dickson - Portage for Ahmek Records (a company founded by Ginny Ridpath - a cottager on Canoe Lake). The cover for the album was created by John Semple who was at the time Arts & Crafts Instructor in the large craft shop. Dan Gibson did the photo for the back.

I am also the person who thought of and organized the recording for the camp album entitled A Song & A Time to Remember. The photo for the cover of that album was taken by Peter Calverley. The poem on the back was by David Lindsay.

Much of my singing career was developed at camp. I now have 2 record/educational publishing companies (Musique Jacquot and Sound Language Solutions). In fact, last summer for my latest CD, Henri Audet joined me in studio to record some back-up vocals. Hadn't seen him in a number of years. In the driveway of the studio I also bumped into a former Ahmek Staff: Tom Hawks (he knows our engineer and happened to be there).

If there are any parents looking for great French songs to help their kids learn and enjoy French, visit my web-site at: www.soundlanguagesolutions.com. You can even hear Henri and me singing together on the song Je suis né.

Recently I found Jack and Elizabeth's name on a card and called them. Spoke with Elizabeth (first time is about 16-17 years).

Camp has meant more to me than any other experience I have had (except for the birth of my daughter). I think of camp often. I became an outdoors person there. When I met my present wife, Dr Tay's daughter lent me her little cabin on Canoe Lake for 10 days where I introduced my wife to the outdoors. What a gift Ahmek/Wapomeo/Canoe Lake was for me.

Best wishes,

St-Catharines, Ontario
Ahmek staff 1971-78, 1982
Please visit www.jacquot.net

Thursday, August 19, 2004

My father David Burk and I will be attending September Camp from Sept 1 to 6. See you there!

Whistler, British Columbia
Camper and staff 1971-86, 1989-90

Wednesday, August 18, 2004

Just a quick note to let everyone know that the Lodge is now in use at Wapomeo! There are some things that will be completed in the fall including the finished floor and some painting/staining but otherwise it is finished. I have posted the latest photographs on my web site.

Toronto, Ontario
Ahmek Staff 1985-91
Please visit www.davidsnellarchitect.com

Friday, August 6, 2004

Father, Charles T. King, worked in craft shop in 1936, first person to bicycle into Algonquin Park in 1936, Pickering College (1933-1937), passed away at Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto, in his 86th year, on 27 July, 2004.

Jerusalem, Israel
Camper 1952-56

Thursday, July 22, 2004

Well, I just realized with great horror that it has been TWENTY YEARS! Twenty years, people! since I toured the lovely Quetico region with a mighty fine group of folk.

So if you did Quetico in '84, write & say hi!

New York, New York
Camper & Staff '81-'89

Sunday, June 13, 2004

I'm writing to let you know that I have embarked on a whole new adventure by establishing my own architectural practice, David V. Snell, Architect. This has been in the works for many years as I have been doing design projects on the side, including a new house in Niagara on the Lake. I am continuing to work for HOK Canada, a large international architectural firm, but I am now spending one day a week officially on my own practice. I have established a web site which I hope you will visit and pass along to anyone who you think might be interested. My latest project is for the Taylor Statten Camps in Algonquin Park, and I have included construction progress photographs on my web site. Please visit www.davidsnellarchitect.com, and drop me a line if you know of anyone who might be thinking of renovating or building a new home or cottage.

I've just updated my web site with "up to the minute" (well, almost) photos of the Lodge. The timber frame is now complete and it was wonderful to see it go together so well. Please let everyone know that they can see the latest photos on my web site.

Toronto, Ontario
Ahmek Staff 1985-91
Please visit www.davidsnellarchitect.com

Sunday, April 25, 2004

Dear Friends,

I was taught that if you have a dream you must go after it with everything you ever have been, or could be. In my family, this lesson was first learned on the shores of Lake Couchiching, and then passed down through the generations. Ten years ago I accepted the challenge of telling the tale of a woman who tested the Boston law banishing Quakers on pain of death, with her life. My American Eden: Mary Dyer: Martyr for Freedom has been published by the Burd Street Press, a division of White Mane Publishing out of Pennsylvania.

A work of historical fiction, my novel covers the years 1635-1660, in New England, where four Quakers gave their lives for the cause of freedom. The story also encompasses a period in England where during the turmoil of the English Civil War, Mary Dyer traveled and studied with George Fox, founder of the Religious Society of Friends. Told through the eyes of her devoted Irish servant, it is the story a woman struggling to survive, while in the service of a Protestant martyr. Primarily, it is a tale of friendship. When envisioning seventeenth century life in the new world, I was able to draw heavily on memories of a Canadian Eden, found in Algonquin Park.

Advance copies are now available at www.elizabethbrinton.com. You may learn more about the book on my web site which I hope you will be able to visit. You may also order through Amazon, or Barnes and Noble this summer.

Love to all friends far and wide. Go Leafs Go!!!!

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Camper 1960-1969, Staff 1972, 1974
Please visit www.elizabethbrinton.com

Sunday, April 4, 2004

Hey,

Just wanted to say a hello to all my friends, counselors, trippers and section heads that I've had over the years. Right now, I'm in Israel, doing a work/study program, and in a few months, I'll be joining the Israel Army for three years.

Israel is a very interesting country with a very hot climate. I've been having fun, meeting lots of cool people, and I think of Camp Ahmek all the time.

Thank you to everyone who made my summers so good, especially those few who I got to know well, and may the northwind spirit guide you and be with you always.

Cheers everybody,

Ben Greisman
Israel
Camper 1990s, Staff 2000

Wednesday, March 3, 2004

Hello Alumni,

I have spent most of my days since university (Huron College) in Thailand. Met my wife Nongyao (an English teacher) at the school at which I was a volunteer. I also worked for the Thai ministry of education for a few years on a World Bank project. Now my wife and I have a company that produces English language education materials: a monthly magazine, software, DVDs, plus a web site. We live in the north of the country in Chiang Mai and work from home by renting the house next door as an office.

Our son JuJu will be 6 in July, and we are expecting our second child in June.

On vacation in the Golden Triangle

Most of my camp days were spent on canoe trips at Outpost, Quetico, Kipawa, so I have fond memories of summertime, but I am happy now to live in a warm climate to escape the Canadian winter. Cold here is 70 degrees!

Cheers,
David Quartz
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Ahmek camper 1975-83, staff 1984-85
Please visit www.yindii.com

Tuesday, February 17, 2004

HOLA! Carmen Rives from Spain again! This site is so great! I've found some good friends from camp thanks to the message I left! I've heard on the news that the winter in Canada is very cold! You should come to Spain to warm up!

I am writing because my little nephew is going to Ahmek this summer. He is only nine years old and hardly speaks English He is also the cutest kid in the world!

His name is Ignacio. I am sure everyone is going to take care of him, but if someone that will be there this summer in July reads this message just could say hi to him and make him feel a little special, he is the most adorable little boy!

Just say that I'm looking forward to keep in touch with anyone I knew at camp, not only my Quetico friends!

Besos,un saludo desde España, Madrid

Carmen Rives
Madrid, España
Camper 1990-1996

Wednesday, February 11, 2004

Saw the advert for Taylor Statten Camps in today's "Globe" and followed through the site to the Alumni section and, here I am. There won't be too many of my camp friends around now but, never know.

I was a senior camper in 1939. Staff were Red Douglas and Geoff Fitton. In my cabin were Harold Mattews from Peterborough and David Goldman from Cincinnati. Other campers in our section that I remember: Bob Macaulay, Bud Porter (brother drove the "Streetcar" to and from the Portage Store docks), Henri Laurier, Norm Hass from TCS was in one of the Mountaineers. Peter Sauvé ran the dining room (just previously built after the fire—same year that chicken pox went through the camp. I was at Onondaga that year.) Carson McGowan and I were in sick-bay the night the fire broke out in the guest cabin. Soon as the alarm bell was sounded we made a dash to awaken the guests and get them safely out. Did a canoe trip with Morris Wearing and Geoff that year. In 1940, Bob Macaulay and I were CITs - Pee Wee (Page Statten) ran the camp that year—Tay had gone off to war. Bill Thomas was the sailing master. Ran into Bill at Kings College when we both did our Naval Officers training course, Halifax summer of 42. Bob and I were counsellors in Jr section in 41, Peter Cosgrove was the section head. Bob and I were in the triple cabin. The campers in my cabin included John and Jim Tory, Eric McGregor and, I draw a blank on the others! I went to Australia in 69 returning in 98. Bob Macaulay and I kept in touch up till a couple of years ago and, before going to Australia, used to see Bud Porter at bridge competitions and other more friendly matches. Was back here in 89, rented a canoe at the Portage Store and paddled into Ahmek. Had a brief visit with Tay. Two Ahmek canoes passed me on their way to the store and I wondered "where has the Ahmek gone to?"

I could fill a book with all my memories......the wonderful music, our dance band and the dances with the maidens from Wap, the raising and lowering of the flag each day, going up to Joe Lake Station with Roy Stringer for all the food and dropping off at Wap and then back to Ahmek and calling out "milk line!" to haul up the huge milk containers to the ice water tank....and on and on. The most meaningful moments will always be our quiet time after breakfast when Chief gave us our food for thought for the coming day.

Yes, by all means, put my letter on The Fires of Friendship (love the name). Would indeed love to hear from anyone of my by-gone era. And as they say, thanks for carrying the torch of remembrance and keeping memories alive.

Can go on but enough for now.

Toronto, Ontario
Ahmek 1939-41