The Mission and History

Our Mission

Fircom, a United Church island camp, creates a safe and welcoming environment for all and nurtures personal growth, leadership and fun.

• We believe that all are called to sit at the same table.
• We promote co-operative living and healthy relationships.
• We provide opportunities for people of all income levels to experience Camp Fircom.
• We are guided by the life and teachings of Jesus.
• We believe in the expression of faith in a variety of ways.
• We respect people of other religious faiths.
• We are stewards of the mission, environment and resources entrusted to us.
• We believe that God is with us and we are not alone.

Our Commitment

The staff and volunteers at Camp Fircom are committed to:

• Safety - we will take the utmost care to provide a welcoming and safe camping experience
• Self-esteem - campers are treated as unique, important and capable individuals
• Community - our programs and staff nurture a cooperative, accepting camping community
• Appreciation of the natural environment - outdoor experiences encourage respect for our natural world
• Leadership and learning - we provide strong leadership and a positive environment for learning
• United Church Camping - we offer times for reflection and celebration of our friendships and experiences at camp

Our beginnings as an
outreach mission...

Camp Fircom has its roots as a mission in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, Canada's poorest neighbourhood. The camp began as an outreach program of First Presbyterian Church (the forerunner of First United Church) and Community Services (the forerunner of Social Services). The name came from these two institutions: FIR from "First" and COM from Community.

Even in 1923, Rev. J. Richmond Craig was already concerned about the crowded living conditions of the rooming houses and in particular about the mothers and children living in these conditions. In the early years, Rev. Craig and members of his congregation rowed out into Howe Sound to explore a homestead on Gambier Island. The result was the purchase of 65 acres of property that was developed into Camp Fircom. This became the heart of a place of rest and healing for many that didn't have the chance in the grime of a growing city.

In the early years, campers arrived by rowboat and slept in tents in the open fields. The original farmhouse was used as the kitchen and dining hall and the campers ate in shifts as only 15 people could be accommodated at a time! The meat, milk and butter were cooled in the stream that runs through the property.

There had been 6 summers of camping before Dr. J. Richmond Craig moved to Winnipeg in late 1929. By this time, several small cabins had been built, but credit for the major construction of Camp buildings goes to the Reverend Andrew Roddan.

Beginning with the summer of 1930, Camp Fircom was a major interest of Dr. Roddan, the Superintendant of First United Church.

The Golden Jubilee of First United Church was in 1935, and a fundraising campaign was launched to rebuild First United Church, build a new facility for Welfare Industries, and to build a new dining hall for Camp Fircom. This campaign was only partly successful, but happily for Camp Fircom, the construction of Jubilee Hall was able to proceed.

Building materials were donated, and Roddan organized a combination of paid and volunteer labour to complete the construction of Jubilee Hall, among other smaller buildings, in time for the 1936 summer camping season. Jubilee Hall became the physical heart of the camp.

From this time until his death in 1948, Andrew Roddan was the major personality presenting the needs of Camp Fircom to the wider community. He believed in the Mission of Camp Fircom, and injected his time and energy to expand Fircom’s ability to deliver on that Mission.

...our current social mission

Over the years, Camp Fircom has maintained its rustic charm. Fircom's capacity to nurture the physical and spiritual needs of campers, regardless of their economic status, has remained central. People from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds participate in the camp - as campers, leaders, staff, board and committee members, and as financial supporters.

Thousands of children and families have come to Fircom with the help of individual, church, and business donations. These "camperships" allow those who would not otherwise be able to go to camp a chance to be at Fircom without anyone knowing that they are subsidized. When we are at Fircom - we are all equals!

Camp Fircom continues its unique mission through its summer program of camps for youth, children and families. In addition, various church and other groups use the site during the spring and fall months for retreats and conferences. Silent Spiritual Retreats, Community Wellness Retreats, Drug Recovery Groups, Carnegie Community Centre, and other non-profit groups have all found a home at Fircom.

Everyone has a place where they can belong and share in Camp Fircom's ability to renew, challenge, and nurture personal growth in individuals. Many are the stories of new self-awareness, acceptance of others, new confidence and new hope.

The distresses in families who face poverty, abuse and limited resources have continued to be the driving forces of the mission of Fircom. Under the historical umbrella of First United Church, Fircom has responded to the needs of the Lower Mainland community. Fircom's work with family services and other non-profit organizations on the Downtown Eastside has connected many families in need with our camping programs.

The experience of leaders and staff has opened their understanding and compassion to families less fortunate. Guidance, mission, and leadership have laid the groundwork for these young people to have a sense of purpose for community work and social justice.

In 2008, a major donation from the Ford family expanded the property to it's current 120 acres, greatly increasing our ability to further Fircom's mission.

To find out how you can help Fircom to continue this mission, please explore our donation options: Click here!

If you have any questions or would like further information,
please contact the office.

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