Surrounded by ocean and forest Camp Artaban is a magical place waiting to be discovered by generations of children and youth. Located on Gambier Island in Howe Sound, on a sprawling 47 acres of waterfront land, Artaban is more than a camp; it is a place where lives are transformed by the Holy Spirit.

With all things, renewal is required and that is certainly true of the original dining hall building at Camp Artaban that was constructed in 1935 with a generous donation from the Buckerfield family. The building has been an integral part of the ministry of the camp and the experiences, meals and shared stories generated there remain in the memory of countless campers long after they return home.

Preliminary sketch of Artaban’s new dining hall by architect Bryce Ferguson shows a new building will be on the same site as the old but somewhat wider, with 10,500 square feet on two floors. The dining hall, kitchen, and lounge are on the upper floor. The lower floor will be used for a variety of camp programs for the hundreds of campers each year.

Because the building has lived beyond its useful life and future ministry at the camp requires a new facility, preparations are underway to build a new two-level camp centre. It will incorporate not only a new dining hall and kitchen facilities, but also a covered outside deck and a large program room on the lower level. The building must meet all the new seismic, health and safety codes. An exciting new preliminary design has been approved by the camp's board of directors.

The board's new fundraising committee is also hard at work preparing to raise the funds required to complete this project. The final cost has yet to be determined but it should be well over two million dollars. Gifts of about $500,000 have been secured to date, including $100,000 from the diocese.

The fundraising campaign, under the title of "Our Precious Jewel," will begin in earnest in the late Summer and Fall and the board wants to be sure that all Anglicans, former campers and friends of Artaban are informed about the project and have an opportunity to participate in creating the future of Camp Artaban.

To make sure you are included, please contact the Our Precious Jewel Campaign, Camp Artaban Society, 1058 Ridgewood Drive, North Vancouver, BC V7R 1H8. You can also email, campaign@campartaban.com.