Camp Sokil Turns 50

By Chrystyna Kowal

It is now 51 years ago that a group of members of the Ukrainian National Federation (Toronto Branch) came across an extraordinary piece of land some 100 km north of Toronto, then owned by Mr. Pugsley, an Ontario chicken farmer.  Having approximately 1000 feet of frontage on Lake Simcoe, it was perfect for a children’s camp. Totalling 250 acres, it was big enough to parcel out as lots for members to build their own summer homes.  The sale of the lots, they reasoned, would assist in financing this huge expenditure, an expenditure the likes of which the UNF was slightly intimidated to take on,  but take it on they did, not realizing in their wildest dreams what an impact that one action would have on future generations.

This group of founding fathers started a chain of events that changed the lives of many people.  They built a camp where thousands of children would spend their summers basking in the warm sun, swimming in the clear waters of Lake Simcoe and learning the innocent joy of singing around a bonfire under a starry sky. At St. John the Baptist Chapel, cottagers, campers and visitors would join together to worship on Sunday mornings throughout the summer and countless babies would be christened and couples would be wed.  In past days, youth at the school house would spend 5 weeks of each summer learning the history, geography, culture and literature of Ukraine. After an energetic (or not so energetic) day at the beach, volleyball court, tennis court or baseball diamond young and old alike would gather at the waterside pavilion for a traditional zabava, whether planned or impromptu.  A water well serves the 100 or so cottages that have sprung up over the years and the camp grounds, as well as, motel and trailer park.

However, most importantly, they provided a sense of community unlike any other.  They created a bond between the generations of people who have grown up there and share not only memories within their age group but a bond that transcends age. Mention “the point”, “the dock”, “the shkola”, “the pavilion”, and no other explanation is required. 

Effortlessly, we learn about Ukrainian traditions at Camp Sokil.  It would probably take hours of Ukrainian school lessons to learn about the festival of Jordan.  But stand in the cold outside the Chapel during January listening to the priests conduct the Mass, join the procession to the snow covered beach where a cross has been cut out of the ice on the lake and you immediately understand the meaning and tradition of Jordan.  More importantly, you envision Jordan celebrations years ago and countries away – in Ukraine – where the frost was no less biting, the crowd no more numerous and the feeling, no less emotional.

And similarly with Ivana Kupalo – a pagan festival celebrated at the beginning of July.  We could explain to our children the tradition of young maidens throwing wreaths into the water and boys jumping in after them.  We could only imagine the bonfires of Kupalo and the parubky jumping over the flames to impress the girls, but at Sokil, we can actually see it, we can live it. The first weekend of July 2009 was Ivana Kupalo and the 50^th Anniversary celebration of this incredible facility where 1000+ people gathered to partake of a weekend full of activities culminating with the traditional Saturday evening concert and vatra, followed by a zabava, and all by the water. This tradition within the Sokil community goes back almost the full 50 years!

The focal point of the festivities was the waterside pavilion which was newly renovated (by volunteers) just for this occasion.  Here, a full day concert programme entertained guests, featuring: the Canadian Bandurist Capella, Koliory Music Ensemble, Chaika Dance Ensemble, Suziria of MYHO Edmonton, PYX and the Shotokan Karate display. At zabava time, the pavilion packed full of young and old reverberated with the sounds of Dunai.

For those with slightly more athletic tastes, there were children’s soccer games sponsored by Karpaty Soccer Club, and a fan favourite; an old-timer’s baseball game reminiscent of the ever popular baseball weekends of the 1970s and 80s.

On Sunday morning, we all gathered at the Chapel for High Mass and prayed for another successful 50 years at Sokil, followed by a special blessing bestowed on the new camp barrack, rebuilt after fire destroyed the original one.

Although each summer minor updates had been made to the facility, it wasn’t until the current directors of Sokil – led by the energetic young President of the UNF (Toronto), Slawko Borys - that the “oselia” began to undergo extensive work and renovation. This includes the relocation and modernization of the trailer park with a full modern bathroom and laundry facilities, the revamping of the shkola, which in recent years was not used to its potential, into fully contained seasonal accommodations, with bathroom facilities which are currently being upgraded.  The tenting area has not only been relocated, but has also been subdivided into lots so that tenters can pre-book a favourite spot and the management can have more control over overnight visitors.

Currently, with funds raised during the 50^th anniversary celebrations, the Camp Kitchen is undergoing a full renovation, including new flooring, new appliances, a more functional layout and stainless steel work surfaces.

Thanks to a donation from the Ukrainian Credit Union, the waterside pavilion received a facelift last year, with a new enlarged stage, new lighting and new flagpoles.  After its completion and just 24 hours before the 50^th Anniversary celebration were to start, a group of local youngsters damaged the new flagpoles, ripped out the new lighting and defaced the pavilion with spray paint. Words cannot explain the frustration to see weekends of hard work destroyed so maliciously.  President Slawko Borys immediately called the authorities and wrote local politicians and dignitaries to apprise them of the devastating events. Luckily, our Sokil community volunteers banded together and repaired the damage that very same day.

On behalf of our community, I would like to thank Mrs. Anne Rebryk and Mrs. Anne Fedun for managing the Chapel each Sunday for countless years. To Bob Wojciechowsky for running the children’s camp and all the camp directors before him – Taras Mycyk, Olha Cwyk, Donna Orlick and Terry Mokrij, Pearl Harasymchuk, but to name a few. To all the “hospodars” in years past including Haraton Brayer, Jaroslaw Kowal, Bob Didulka.  But especially we would like to thank Slawko Borys, the current hospodar for his dedication to this facility. His love for Sokil began during his childhood summers spent at his grandmother’s cottage and has blossomed into a zealous passion to organize, improve, renovate and coddle this Ukrainian resort into what it is today – a mini-paradise by the lake.

PHOTOS

1 – Canadian Bandurist Capella

1 – Commemorative Stone placed to mark Camp Sokil's 50th Anniversary