Our History

+ Dan Bell

Dan worked at Shadow Lake from 1986 to 1993. He started out as part of the Maintenance Team and worked his way to providing support at the Shadow Lake Group Home. Dan’s supervisor in his early years at camp was Phil Ruhl who was the Properties Supervisor at the time, as well as a Volunteer Fire Fighter for the Town of Stouffville. This was a factor in Dan’s decision to work for the Fire Department, servicing the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville now for over 22 years. His current position is as the Training Officer.

Shadow Lake is used each and every winter by the Fire Department to train their staff on Ice Water Rescues and they have provided their trucks during events such as the 50th Anniversary Reunion in 2015. Dan and his team have also been very valuable to Shadow Lake over the years with their support for the many upgrades to the fire safety at the camp. Dan’s connection to Shadow Lake is very strong. He met his wife Kaurina (nee Coulter) at the camp, and remains in contact with a number of friends from back in the day.

+ Brian “Bubba” Brown

It was with great sadness that we learned about Shadow Lake alumni Brian “Bubba” Brown passing away in late June 2018. Bubba worked at the camp from 1981 to 1985 as a counsellor, but he remained extremely active with Shadow Lake right up until his death. Bubba’s company, Marketing Services Network, has been creating the Shadow Lake shirts, hats and apparel for decades. He was personally involved with the annual design and creation of the products and made a point of delivering them to the camp himself every year. He also helped create a website so alumni, guests, staff and families could order Shadow Lake merchandise online. For many years his hockey team rented out the camp for a getaway weekend and he was always interested in what other alumni from his era were up to. If you knew Bubba you were a lucky person. Always smiling, outgoing, and always there to lend a helping hand. You will be missed Bubba.

+ Brian and Dolores Ellerker

Shadow Lake Alumni from 1973-80, Dolores continues to serve the community as CEO of Etobicoke Services for Seniors (ESS), a large, not-for-profit service provider that provides a multitude of programs and supports that allow seniors who are frail and disabled to continue to live in and enjoy their community. Late last fall, Dolores took a group of active seniors from ESS to Shadow Lake for an overnight at Crystal Palace. They spent a day-and-a-half hiking the property, having a campfire with a sing-along, great conversations, great food (and wine) and, in general, a wonderful time. They plan to do it again this fall.

Brian retired as an administrator from the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) in 2005 and now serves as a part-time education consultant for the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto. He also trains educators around the province in understanding and managing high risk and special needs students with aggressive behaviour safely and with dignity.

+ Steve Yablo

“I am not 100% sure what my Shadow Lake years were; maybe someone can help me figure it out. I am going to guess 1973 or so to 1975. Music was a huge part of camp life as I remember it. Apart from the usual campfires and sing-alongs there was a musical built around 70’s radio songs; “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” was one of them, I’m pretty sure. How the camp song came about I can’t honestly remember. I’m touched and honored to think it is still being sung. Thanks to everyone it has meaning for. I couldn’t help but notice that a new verse or two has snuck in, as befits a living tradition! Not that anyone asked, but the new bits have my blessing. May summer always roll around every year, with Shadow Lake bang in the middle of it. Give me a buzz sometime!!”

+ Sylvio Janelle

“Hello Gary,

You might remember me as one of the Quebecers from the summer of 1990. My summer at SLC has changed my life! I keep fond memories! As you may or may not remember, I went to SLC to practice my English before I went to study in the US to become a chiropractor. I graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1994 and am practicing in St-Georges, Québec. I'm married, have three daughters (21, 19, 17). I am also a full-time pastor. I remember when my parents dropped me off at SLC: I was so shy that my mom had to talk with you and the other counsellors! After they left, in the next 10 weeks, I was to become pretty much bilingual. During my first week at camp, I was working one-on-one with Roy, an older gentleman. You came to see me and told me ‘Sylvio, do you realize what you're doing with Roy?’ I thought: ‘Oh, oh! I'm in trouble now!’ But I wasn't as you went on and said: ‘What you're doing is AMAZING! Roy has NEVER been so active in all the years he's been coming here!’ I was just doing my job... Keeping him busy... When I left, a week or so before the end of the summer, you told me that I could come back and work for you whenever I wanted. I still keep that in mind, but I'm pretty busy with my two jobs! :-) At some point during the summer, you had asked me to get a Quebec flag. I did and you put it up on the flag pole! That summer was key in my development to become a responsible adult. I not only learned English, but I developed my social skills as I went from being an introvert to still being an introvert but a functional extrovert... I hope all is well for you and your loved ones! It's impressive to me that you are still at Shadow Lake Centre!”