Good evening and a warm welcome to the 2008 Wendake Gala.  To those who don’t know me my name is Fred.  I have been asked to share with you some of my experiences at Wendake as well as its purpose and spirit.

Some of you already are aware that Wendake is a First Nations Huron word for “a place set apart”.  Camp Wendake is situated at Huron Church Camp near Bayfield On.  But to some of us it is much more.  To us it is sacred ground, a most holy place, a circle of healing and a circle of friends.

Even after 12 years it is still difficult to express in words what Wendake means to those infected or affected with HIV/AIDS.

To begin, I am an old but vibrant gay male and have been living with HIV/AIDS for 12 years.  For the first 2 years I lived in the shadows of darkness.  I believed death was knocking at my door.  I lost all hope to survive.  All my siblings and both of my sons abandoned me.  Many of you here have shared the same depth of despair.  But then I was invited to Camp Wendake and was accepted for who I was.  You don’t know what it is like to finally feel you belong and have purpose in life.      

At what point in the timeline of Wendake did I feel it’s power and strength, I really do not know – maybe it happened when my spirits were low and Lois would take me aside and give me words of encouragement.  Or perhaps when I was in physical pain and Carol with her intuition would massage my aching muscles and take away the pain.  It may have come to fruition when Jan would give me warm hugs – even though she barely reached past my waist, they still felt wonderful.  Whenever it happened I know I became part of Wendake and Wendake became part of me.

Just like many other camps, Wendake offers a wide variety of fun filled activities.  Camp provides great food, meditation, swimming, campfires and arts and crafts.
Wendake is also very unique on its own.  It is the only camp of its kind in Canada for both adults and children.  It is also special in it’s diverse group of people.  Whether young or old, black or white, male or female, gay or straight, infected or affected all are welcome at our table.

As in any camp situation we must be prepared to make it our home.  In this regard we arrive by car, truck and yes even an old yellow school bus.  Campers are loaded down with sleeping bags, pillows, swimsuits, whatever they need to hunker down for a week away.

However there is a world of difference.  To this camp the majority of campers arrive with extra baggage on their backs.  You cannot see it, but it does exist.  In it you will find despair, depression, poverty, hunger, low self esteem, abandonment, stigma, loss of family and friends and the feeling of not being loved.

At Wendake we try to instill in each and everyone whether infected or affected that you are loved and worthy to be loved.  You will not be judged and you can be who you are or whatever you wish to be.  With this in mind we become special people.  We become the Wendake family.

A year may have passed since the last camp, but when I receive a sweet smile or a friendly hello, I know in my heart that they come not only from the one giving but also from the spirits of those no longer with us.  It permeates my whole being and soul. 

To those at camp, the big event of the week is talent nite.  It is truly amazing how after only two days such a diverse group of people with such fears and hurts fill to what some of us call “The Bob Schimer Performing Arts Centre”, sounds of joy, laughter, song and dance.  It is truly a sight to behold.  Some presentations go way beyond our wildest expectations, while some are a little off key or out of step.  The fact remains that they cast aside their pain and presented to us a gift.  A gift we can call courage.  I am sure the sounds of joy and delight could shake the very foundations of the hall.  I know deep in my heart that it awakens the spirits and souls of our friends who have departed from this earthly plane.  For this gift we are truly thankful and will always cherish it in our hearts.

I believe, as the week draws to a close, we have helped heal some of their troubles.  We have not erased all of their burdens that have scarred their shoulders but if we have lightened their loads just a little then we have succeeded in our mission.

So I ask all of you to become part of the family – the Wendake family.  It is a life changing experience.  Join us and bring the spirit of Wendake back to your own community and help the world become a refuge of love, compassion and understanding.

It has now been over 25 years since this scourge was thrust upon us and we are now in a worldwide pandemic.  Still great advances have been made in drug cocktails and therapies and we are living longer with HIV/AIDS.  However there is no cure and the end is not in sight.

12 years ago a small band of loving souls had a vision and a dream.  How can we ease the suffering of those living with HIV/AIDS?  What they found was a refuge for abiding love, lasting friendship, deep compassion and total acceptance.  They christened it “Wendake – a place set apart”

                        Thank You and O Siem

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