EMMA LAKE (Skwn) — The Okema Society for Christian Development is proud to be celebrating 50 years of summer camp programming. We continue to share God’s love through the beauty of His creation, fostering fun, faith and friendship.
This summer, the Okema Society Board is planning a special open house on Saturday, July 4 to celebrate this milestone. We invite campers, volunteers and friends from the past 50 years to join us in celebrating God’s love. Everyone is welcome to attend any or all of the day’s events.
Registration for the banquet and Colour Run is available on our website and social media.
July 4 celebration schedule:
11 a.m. – Service of Thanksgiving and 50th anniversary program
12:30 p.m. – Okema Banquet (pre-registration required)
2 p.m. – Colour Run (walk or run; pre-registration required)
3:30 p.m. – Summer swim, crafts, tours and Walk Through History
5 p.m. – Wiener roast and campfire
You are welcome to participate in as much or as little of the day as you wish. Overnight stays will be available on Friday and Saturday evenings, if you are interested. Special 50th anniversary merchandise will also be available
As we reflect on Okema’s history, Jesse Holmes had the opportunity to speak with Bishop Tom Morgan about the formation of the Okema Society. Up until 1976, the diocesan camp, known as Camp Okema, was owned and operated by the Diocese of Saskatchewan. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the diocese began considering
selling the camp. A significant portion of the property had already been sold to local buyers — land extending east of the current camp site toward the Kenderdine Campus School of Fine Art near Murray Point. Summer cabins had been built, and that area was beginning to flourish.
Meanwhile, the diocese recognized that the remaining camp property was becoming difficult to sustain. It held considerable financial value — perhaps $1 million or more — but maintaining it was increasingly challenging.
Diocesan Council faced a difficult question: Should the camp continue? At the time, only two or three camps ran each summer, lasting just a few weeks.
The responsibility for maintaining the camp fell on a very small diocesan staff — the bishop, the executive archdeacon and a secretary. Their duties included repairing buildings, recruiting staff, finding cooks, ordering food and preparing the site. It was discouraging work, and camps were sometimes cancelled at the last minute due to staffing shortages.
Two parish priests, Ken Burningham of Arborfield and Tom Morgan of Kinistino, could not bear to see this beautiful place disappear. Together, they developed a plan to relieve the diocese of the burden of operating the camp while allowing its mission to grow.
They recruited local lawyer Terry Bekolay to help incorporate the Okema Society for Christian Development.
Under this new structure, the camp would operate independently from the Diocese of Saskatchewan, welcoming participants from across the province — including the dioceses of Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle — and beyond. The Society would lease the camp for a symbolic fee of $1 per year and focus on its mission: sharing the Gospel and nurturing Christian discipleship.
After much consultation and careful planning, the proposal was presented to Bishop Vicars Short and received unanimous approval from Diocesan Council. In 1976, the Okema Society for Christian Development was officially established — and, as they say, the rest is history.
Since then, Camp Okema has grown from strength to strength. This growth has not come without hard work, prayer, and perseverance, but always with a clear vision: to offer renewal and a place of belonging to all who come to the shores of Emma Lake.
We give thanks for the many dedicated volunteers and leaders — especially the younger generations — who continue to carry this mission forward.
The Okema Society remains committed to building a Christ-centred community rooted in the vision of its founders. In recent years, the board has renewed its mission and vision statements. They are:
Mission Statement: Camp Okema is an Anglican Church camp that celebrates God’s love within His natural creation. Our mission is to deliver programs that develop lifelong friendships, provide new experiences and nurture faith and spiritual growth.
Vision Statement: Our vision is to be a continually growing and evolving camp — a welcoming community that inspires spirituality and fosters enduring relationships with God and others.
These core values guide Camp Okema:
Christ-centred: We seek Christ through one another, through prayer, and through spiritual growth.
Welcoming: All are welcome to encounter Christ at Okema; we value acceptance and respect each person’s spiritual journey.
Community: We are a caring, intergenerational community that values relationships, fairness, and respect.
Stewardship: We strive to be good stewards of our gifts, acting with integrity, accountability, and transparency.
