Talks to save Wilderness Discovery camp 'delight' lobby group

The spokesperson for a citizens group that's been lobbying to keep a one-of-a-kind accessible camping facility on Lake Shebandowan open says there's a lot to celebrate this week.

On Monday, the Executive Director of HAGI Community Services in Thunder Bay, David Shannon, announced that substantive talks have taken place between local businesses and service clubs with the potential for a new conglomerate to be formed to keep the Wilderness Discovery Family Resort and Conference Centre open.

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HAGI had previously said this would be the last summer the facility would take guests, before closing.

"I'm just delighted that it's turned out like this," said Catherine Cummins, the spokesperson for the Friends of Wilderness Discovery.

"I'm so proud of Thunder Bay for the effort that went into saving Wilderness Discovery. This is big news for us."

HAGI officials are cautioning that there's still a lot of work to do to get a deal in place, but there is optimism.

The news of those talks capped off a big day for the lobby group, said Cummins, adding that members also delivered a petition to Premier Kathleen Wynne during her visit to Thunder Bay, urging the province to keep the camp open.

Thatpetition garnered a lot of support.

"That's 30,000 people saying 'don't let Wilderness Discovery close,'" Cummins said. "On the same day, we find that there is [a] local coalition interested in operating Wilderness Discovery."

"For us, that was like a double-victory."