For almost 50 years the Easter Seals camp near Shawnigan Lake has offered camping programs for kids with disabilities. But not next summer. Declining donations have forced the organization to suspend operations at 2 of its 3 camps next summer. Camp Squamish will also be closed.
Charlene Krepiakevich is president and CEO of Easter Seals BC/Yukon -- also known as the BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities. She says in recent years they've seen changes in the charitable sector:
"Donations are declining, technology is changing, giving patterns are changing, we've got demographic changes. There's a lot of things happening in the charitable world that are really impacted a relatively small charity... and we've seen donations decline to the point where we can no longer afford to operate all 3 of our camp programs for kids with disabilities.
Krepiakevich estimates the organization is a million dollars short. But she says a pause in operations next year will hopefully allow the team to re-think and re-imagine what's possible for the future.