$15k in equipment stolen from kids' boating camp in Kingston, Ont.
Summer camp is a time for kids to get out and get active, but for one day camp in Kingston, Ont., a recent theft is making that more difficult, and the organization says it’s not sure when it will be able to replace it all.
The Limestone Boat and Board Club is a small club in Kingston’s west end. On July 25, camp councillor Andrew Chin says he and his fellow councillors arrived to find three paddleboards had been stolen.
“They’re not small and they are not light, so this would have had to be organized,” says Chin.
The three boards were brand new and had a special seat to them. The club sits in Rotary Park, out of a storage unit. The paddleboards were kept on a wooden shelving unit, and were locked up, says fellow councillor Eddie Vandyke, but it was cut open.
“They’re all locked and around all the boards, so there had to be some force used,” he explains.
What’s more shocking, explains Vandyke, is this was the second time the club had been hit, after a boat motor was taken from the dock.
“We felt really devastated and it really shocked us,” says Chin of the whole thing.
The camp’s owner says about $15,000 worth of equipment was taken in all. He says it will be difficult for them to cover because it’s a not-for-profit camp, and says they only make enough to cover operating costs through the summer.
It took the club several years to save up the money for the equipment, and then another two years to get it because of shipping delays. It is not known when it will be able to be replaced.
“We lock it up, think that’s enough, and then people take advantage of this little local business,” Chin says. “We’re just trying to help the community, get some kids in the water, teach them some skills, and they’re taking stuff from us which is frustrating overall.”
The group is raising money through a GoFundMe to help with costs, but say for now, camp continues.
“When people steal stuff, they think it only affects certain people,” says Chin. “But it affects the kids, it affects us, it affects the owners of the club, it affects a lot more people than people think.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air quality advisories issued in 5 provinces, 1 territory
Air quality advisories are in effect across Western Canada as smoky conditions plague some areas, according to the latest forecasts. Here's where.
'Oh my God, you're my brother': Man in his 70s discovers 6 unknown siblings
After receiving a DNA kit one Christmas from his son-in-law, Hugh McCormick soon discovered that he had six unknown siblings, with whom he shared the same birth parents.
No refund for travellers who cancelled flight already scrapped by airline: regulator
Four years on, the controversy over whether airlines owed refunds to passengers after cancelling hundreds of thousands of flights during the pandemic continues to simmer, aggravated by a sluggish, opaque complaints process.
Just how bad are ultraprocessed foods? Here are 5 things to know
Many foods fall under the category of ultraprocessed foods, depending on their exact ingredients. This type of food has been studied a lot lately, and the results aren’t great.
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
Rates of cancer declining in Canada, but more work needed to save lives: projections
A new study projecting declining rates of cancer cases and deaths in Canada demonstrates the success of prevention and early detection programs, but also highlights areas where more work is needed to save and prolong lives, researchers say.
DEVELOPING Trump trial arrives at a pivotal moment: Star witness Michael Cohen is poised to take the stand
The star prosecution witness in Donald Trump's hush money trial is set to take the stand Monday with testimony that could help shape the outcome of the first criminal case against an American president.
India's mammoth election is more than halfway done as millions begin voting in fourth round
Millions of Indians across 96 constituencies began casting their ballots on Monday as the country's gigantic, six-week-long election edges past its halfway mark. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third straight term with an eye on winning a supermajority in Parliament.
Ottawa pizzeria places among top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world at international competition
An Ottawa pizzeria is being recognized as one of the top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world.