Quebec Lodge holds work day, Thanksgiving meal
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
Quebec Lodge (QL), a nature-themed summer camp for children in Hatley Township, held a volunteer work day and Thanksgiving meal Oct. 7. Around 20 people attended, including current and former staff and their families.
“It’s our annual Thanksgiving work day,” said Brian Wharry, QL Camp Director. They invite people to join them in a little clean-up work in the morning followed by a Thanksgiving meal. Some families stay for the whole weekend, for free.
Most people that attend are QL alumni, Wharry noted. The event attracts individuals from as far away as Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, but many are local.
The “old” QL, before it closed down and reopened, had their annual fall supper around this time and Wharry wished to continue the tradition. It is no longer a fundraiser, but he serves the same meal that they used to: ham, scalloped potatoes, baked beans and pumpkin pie. Previously, a huge volunteer team from across the Eastern Townships would put the meal on; it was up to three sittings of 100 people each.
In the fall of 2018, before their new lodge existed, Wharry held a small Thanksgiving dinner for a few people out of one of their yurts. “It has just grown since then,” he said.
The camp is seasonal and this is their “closing down weekend”, Wharry explained. One group went down and put away all the boats and buoys and sealed up the boathouse for the winter, while another team cleaned up deadfall near the path and burned it in the field.
Around 1 p.m., the group joined together at the lodge, sang a song of thanks, and dug into the meal that Wharry had been preparing since the day before.
“It’s a lot of fun, I enjoy doing it,” Wharry said.
