​I wanted to take a moment to provide a quick update on the Bursary as we close out 2020. The Bursary Fund is fortunate enough to be in an excellent financial position. So much so that when Covid hit in the spring, we decided to suspend fundraising activities while still providing all necessary bursaries for 2020. We also decided that we would support all 2021 bursaries, regardless of any fundraising activities.
 
And while camp was cancelled this summer, we continued to support some of our not-for-profit camps to help them through their financial difficulties. Since we are healthy financially, we thought we should use our funds to help keep the Canadian camping community as strong as it can be. 
 
This is a testament to all of you, annual donors, art show ticket buyers, and art purchasers, and of course, the Bursary Board and Committee members. We have received tremendous support over the last 48 years from all of you, and we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all of your time, effort, and donations. Without you, we would not have the financial stability or the confidence in our decision to support 2021 campers.
 
We look forward to not only sending kids to camp in 2021, but in seeing each of you at one of our events or maybe even up on Canoe Lake! 
 
Regards,
Tim 'Mouse' Welsh
Chair, Taylor Statten Camping Bursary Fund
[email protected]
647-998-4622


 

Hello everyone,
​
2020 has certainly been an interesting year, and as it comes to a close I wanted to reach out with an invitation to our AGM and to provide an update on how our year has progressed, how we have allocated some funds, and our thoughts towards 2021.
 
The Annual Meeting of the members of the Taylor Statten Camping Bursary Fund will be held on Wednesday, October 28th, at 6pm EST by Zoom meeting.  The purpose of the meeting is to:
 

1. Approve the minutes of the 2019 Annual General Meeting;
2. Receive the Audited Financial Statements for 2019;
3. Appoint the Auditors for 2020; 
4. Elect Directors; and
5. Provide an update on the TSCBF’s activities.

 
To come to the meeting, please RSVP to [email protected] and you can join at the following link:
https://fcbcanada.zoom.us/j/98943632726?pwd=L1M0ckljdVJGNVFwV0pBT2cxVEdhUT09
 
We look forward to seeing many of you at the AGM. If you cannot make it but have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected] anytime.
 
Over the past decade, we have seen a substantial increase in the number of camper applications. The first year we saw a significant spike, the Board decided that we would continue our commitment to never rejecting a camper that met our application criteria, no matter the cost. To that end, we now spend 3x what we used to allocate to camper bursaries. To offset the increased spend – which has been roughly $150,000 a year for the last several years – we had to increase our focus on fundraising. With the Hockey Tournament, Live and Silent Auctions at September Camp, and our Art Show, and an increased social media presence, we have created a more engaged and powerful brand that has attracted a growing, more diverse, and dedicated donor base.
 
Through these efforts, the Bursary Fund is fortunate enough to be in excellent financial position. So much so that when Covid hit in the spring, we decided to suspend fundraising activities while still providing all necessary bursaries for 2020. We have also decided that we will support all 2021 bursaries, regardless of any fundraising activities.
 
And while camp was cancelled this summer, we continued to support some of our not-for-profit camps to help them through their financial difficulties. Since we are healthy financially, we thought we should use our funds to help keep the Canadian camping community as strong as it can be.
 
This is a testament to all of you, annual donors, art show ticket buyers, auction bidders, and of course the Bursary Board and Committee members. We have received tremendous support over the last 48 years from all of you, and we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all of your time, effort, and donations. Without you, we would not have the financial stability or the confidence in our decision to support 2021 campers.
 
We cannot thank you enough for your continued support. We look forward to not only sending kids to camp in 2021, but in seeing each of you at one of our events or maybe even up on Canoe Lake!
 
If you are missing camp and in need of some Canoe Lake love, you can grab a copy of the Algonquin Special Camp Colouring Book (available at TSCBF.com) and Fires of Friendship: 80 Years of the Taylor Statten Camps (please email me directly at: [email protected]).
 
Finally, stay tuned for an update on our 2020 virtual art show. We have been working over the past several weeks on a plan to bring the show to everyone. It will take place in early November.
 
Cheers,
Mouse
 
Chair, Taylor Statten Camping Bursary Fund

Our colouring book the "Algonquin Special" is our latest fundraising initiative. It is for sale online at TSCBF.com. The holidays are fast approaching and the book makes an excellent present.

Created by acclaimed artist Steve McDonald, the book is filled with original drawings. Printed on high-quality, 100lb, artist-quality paper, with imagery from around TSC, Algonquin Park, Temagami, and the great outdoors Ontario has to offer. A must-have from anyone who went to camp. 
 
Please buy a book for yourself or as a gift for someone you love. Make a difference in a deserving camper’s life, today. 

Thanks to everyone that attended the recent TSCBF Art Show in November. We sold over $28,000 worth of art and got a very significant donation to boot. We have been at it for more than four decades, and we have sent over 1500 kids to camp in that time. In 2019, we sent children to over a dozen different summer camps in Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, and for this first time ever, B.C. This summer alone, we were able to provide great experiences to 85 campers, at a cost of over $155,000.
 
With an average family income of $42K - well below the average Canadian household income - we are truly providing opportunities to families that otherwise could not afford it. Together, we are making lives better one camper at a time.  

Join us at the TSCBF 
Holiday Skating Party

Sunday, December 2nd at Leaside Memorial Gardens

Leaside Memorial Community Gardens
1073 Millwood Rd
Toronto, ON, M4G 1X6
Map Link

Skating time from 3:00 pm to 4:15 pm.

Please spread the word. Everybody is welcome and it a great chance for us to get together before the holidays. We look forward to seeing you all there.

Helmets for kids are required and recommended for everyone.

This year, we are hosting our first annual family skate. Camp has been such an integral part of our lives and we never see enough of our camp friends so we thought one more reason to get together was a great idea. The event will take place at the Mattamy Centre on Saturday, November 25th from 1:00-3:00 pm. We look forward to seeing you there.

November 25th. 
Mattamy Home Ice (Maple Leaf Gardens)
1 to 3 pm

Please note helmets are required for kids, and strongly suggested for adults. No sticks please.

Hello all,

Thanks to everyone who came out last week, who purchased art, before or at the show, or just showed some support. For those who could not make it, hopefully we will see you next year. If you are still thinking about buying a piece, the updated catalogue is attached and the art is still for sale.
 
This year’s show was our best ever!
 
Thanks to our sponsors, we raised enough money to cover all of our costs for the evening, meaning that 100% of ticket sales and all proceeds from the art sales will go directly to sending kids to camp.
 
Art sales totalled over $76,000, which helped the Bursary raise over $44,000, which will go directly towards sending deserving children to camp next summer. Both of these totals considerably exceed our previous highs for the Art Show. In fact, last week's show was the single largest fund-raising event in the history of the Bursary Fund!
 
The Art Show is an important event for the Bursary. When you buy art, you not only help some kids have a great summer and experiences they wouldn’t otherwise have, but it also helps build leaders of tomorrow.
 
The Bursary Fund is growing and not simply through supporting an increasing number of deserving campers. We are also enhancing the camping community by infusing it with deserving campers from varied backgrounds. Campers who bring different life experiences and interests with them.
 
By providing summer experiences for a broader and more diverse group of campers, the Bursary is helping create the leaders of tomorrow and fostering stronger communities today. This community should be accessible to as many children as possible – to discover, grow, and thrive – as every child has something to offer.
 
The Bursary creates people like all of us who will give back and create better communities. We need to provide opportunities for these children to grow and prosper and make the world into a better place. And it all starts here.
 
So, thank you again. Have another look at the catalogue and buy some art, for you or for someone else. Make a difference today!
 
Cheers,
TW/Mouse
 
Chair, Taylor Statten Camping Bursary Fund

The Art Show is this Thursday so not only is this one last reminder, but I wanted to share the last iteration of the catalogue before the show. About 125 pieces in this attachment and I am expecting about 200 pieces on Thursday.


We have sold just over $10,000 worth of art over so far, so if there are pieces that you like, don't let them slip through your fingers:-)

If you cannot make the show but want to see a piece, let me know and we will see what we can arrange.

Don't forget the holidays are coming.....great gifts!

We will arrange shipping for those not in Toronto.

And it's all for the kids. We sent 76 campers this summer and need to send at least that many in 2018 and can't do it without all of your support.

Hope to see many of you there.

Cheers,

TW/Mouse