Legacies & Lessons – The View From Here: Lessons from History

Knowledge of the past enlightens the present and, like a flashlight, discovers paths to the future. – Dr. Mary Northway, OCA Honourary Life Member

In this monthly message, the Archives Committee explores a current issue impacting camps by sharing knowledge from past and present camp leaders that you can find in the Trent Archives and use to “discover your path to the future”. Our purpose is to provide insight into our rich history, to ponder and apply to the challenges OCA members are facing today. We would love to know what you think and hear your stories on the subject. Please use the email or links provided below this article. Enjoy!

The View From Here: Lessons from History
Vol.2, Issue No.2: March 2025

“The days ahead may be challenging but those who have so ably lead our camps in the past have shown we can meet those challenges and reach our goal in helping young people realize their potential.” –Brian Blackstock, HLM

I write this Legacies & Lessons intro on March 4, 2025, as the ‘Tariff War’ officially begins and Canada/ US relations sink to their lowest in generations and, internationally, bitter wars between other neighbours continue to fester and escalate. It is indeed a challenging time.

Coincidentally, it was also March, 2003, as the ‘War on Terror’ began in response to the 9-11 attacks, when Brian Blackstock, then OCA President, wrote these words in his monthly newsletter article, The View From Here, and reflected on the important role camps can play in coping with that challenging time. It is no coincidence, though, that Brian looked to our history, to the successes of past camp leaders, and to the wisdom they gained from generations of other leaders that helped them cope with similar challenges in their time.

So, this March, as you prepare for the summer ahead and consider how to help your campers succeed in these challenging times, we are pleased to reprint Brian’s entire 2003 article as a timely legacy and lesson of wisdom across generations.

Keep discovering and making our history matter!

-Diane Blair, Archives Committee Chair

The View From Here, by Brian Blackstock, OCAsional News, March 2003

As I sit looking out from my apartment over the city this morning (March 19, 2003), the world again appears to be on the brink of another war. (By the time you read this it will, hopefully, have come and gone.) On the surface, it seems peaceful from my view but, of course, that is wrong. Halfway around the world, all hell has broken loose and we are reminded of how hard it seems for humans to learn from the lessons of history. We see again that what divides us is not time or

generation gaps “but” value gaps. It is not “OLD” Europe versus “NEW” Europe, nor the “OLD” World versus the “NEW” World nor East versus West. It has not so much to do with geography as it has to do with history.

All over this planet, there are places where those values which give stability, meaning and momentum to our lives (homes, places of worship and places of learning) are passed on, and our civilization progresses. Here in Ontario, it is also in our camps where these values are taught. Here, young people learn to live together comfortably with others- realizing that everyone has a “gift” and where kids, with the help of a caring and committed staff, discover those gifts and develop them. In these troubled times it is as important as ever that we continue to do what we have done pretty well for nearly 70 years in our camps; which, unlike our cities, are built for children — places where they can feel safe and secure and realize and develop their potential and have fun in the process.

As our camps become places of increasing diversity we are teaching our campers how, in our small world at camp, it is of value to be aware how that diversity adds to our strength as individuals and as community. Then, having developed their special gifts and skills as well as the self-confidence and many of the values needed to make the wider world a better place, they can help others realize that the fires of friendship can achieve a lot more than the dogs of war. Sometimes I think we underestimate what we do in our camps –in spite of our size, we have made a positive difference to the lives of thousands of young people in this country. We should not forget this. The days ahead may be challenging but those who have so ably lead our camps in the past have proven we can meet those challenges and reach our goal of helping many young people realize their potential in the unique environment of our camps. The torch is passed.

In times of challenge such as these, I think we can gain strength and determination from these words from one of my Dad’s (Blackie Blackstock, HLM) heroes, Abraham Lincoln, who said: “Fellow citizens, we cannot escape history, we of this Congress will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No personal significance or insignificance can spare one or another of us. The fiery trial through which we pass will light us down in honour or dishonour to the latest generation. …(We) hold the power and bear the responsibility. The occasion is piled high with difficulty and we must rise to (it)”.

Wise words, let the summer begin.

-Brian Blackstock, OCA President

Pondering the past, present and future…

  • How is this information from the past relevant to you now? How can you apply it to future actions?
  • We invite you to add your comments, share your camp’s story on this topic, or ask your questions by contacting the Archives Committee at OCAarchivescommittee@yahoo.com
  • To learn more about these and other valuable OCA camp archives, visit https://www.trentu.ca/library/archives-special-collections. 
  • For tips about archiving and donating your camp history to the Trent Archives, click here.
  • Keep discovering and making our history matter!