By Geoff Smith

No camp for Sask. Hospital patients following winter fire

Apr 28, 2016 | 12:17 PM

Patients at the Saskatchewan Hospital in North Battleford will be missing out on a summertime rite of passage.

A fire January 2 destroyed the main building at Camp Cosmo, a facility for the hospital’s patients located on Jackfish Lake in Battlefords Provincial Park. While the health regions hoped to have the building replaced by the end of this summer, Lynda Shynkaruk, director of the hospital said this means there won’t be summer camp this year.

“The patients are very disappointed that this senseless act occurred,” Shynkaruk said. “They really enjoy going out to Camp Cosmo either for day trips or overnight stays, as well.

“It allows patients to rejuvenate from their busy day-to-day life and have some peace and relaxation, just as you and I enjoy when we take vacations. It’s really important for patients to get away from the hospital environment for a while.”

Shynkaruk said the camp can accommodate up to ten patients for overnight stays, and as many as 30 for day trips. They enjoy typical camping activities, including campfires, swimming and hiking.

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Patients won’t completely miss out on the great outdoors this year. She says activities may include day trips to the Saskatoon Zoo and Forestry Farm and Bud Miller Park in Lloydminster, for example.

Camp Cosmo underwent renovations in 2014 thanks to donations by a number of groups and businesses. Those improvements included new shingles, siding, windows and railings.

Shynkaruk said there was “not really good security” at the site, but they’ll certainly look at what they can do to improve it now. RCMP said it’s not unusual to see break-ins and vandalism in cottage and resort areas during the winter months.

It was the third time the site had been broken into. RCMP arrested four youths on charges of break-and-enter, arson and mischief. The case is still before the courts.

Camp Cosmo was first established in 1980 by the Cosmopolitan Club of the Battlefords. Since that group disbanded it’s been overseen by the Saskatchewan Hospital auxiliary.

gsmith@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @smithco