Timeline: Sunnybrae's History

Rev. George Dawe accepted a call to pastor First Baptist Church, Salmon Arm, in September 1939. Within months, God birthed a vision to start a Bible Camp on the shimmering shores of Shuswap Lake. He later wrote, "We had no equipment, no money, no professional expertise - just a vision and "a will to do of His good pleasure." (The Sunnybrae Story, The First Forty Years, By George R Dawe, Founder, pg 2)

They began with two camps in the spring of 1940, one for the boys and one for the girls. A total of 7 staff served 36 campers, and camper fees were $1.50 per week. Held on a plot of land in Blind Bay secured with a $5 handshake, the ministry was expanding so quickly that it needed a more permanent location, and the camp moved to its current location in 1944.

Pictured: Rev. John Bennett, Pastor Milligan and Pastor Dawe, 1942

"Before the idea of Camp Sunnybrae was conceived in the mind of this writer [George R. Dawe], God wonderfully prepared the fabric out of which it was to emerge in His own time."
The Sunnybrae Story, pg 1

The Mobleys owned a large tract of land along the shore of Shuswap Lake. After thirty years of intercession for her husband, Mrs. Charles Mobley's prayers were answered, and Mr. Mobley received Jesus as his Saviour. His heart grew in concern not only for his family but for young people in general, leading him to make available at a nominal cost the usage and eventually the permanent site of what is now Sunnybrae Bible Camp.

Pictured: Salmon Arm, Monte Bello Hotel, circa 1940s
Source: http://www.prairie-towns.com/salmonarm-images.html 

A census taken in 1941 records 1,768 people living in the Salmon Arm DM [District Municipality) 

L to R: M. Dyck, Les McLean, F. Hausfeld, Mrs. Milligan, Rev E. Carter

Summer 1941

Junior & Intermediate Boys Camp

Summer 1941

Junior Girls Camp

"The first cabin on the ridge east of the Dining Hall, built in 1947. Below, see Pastor Apps (with Brian) working on the cabin, known henceforth as No. 1."
The Sunnybrae Story, pg 16

Picture taken in the summer of 1948; there were 67 campers in attendance for this week.

Summer 1951

In 1980 a new Dining Hall was completed,  but not before campers arrived!
"No lights...no hot water...no flooring...no stove...and camp is starting!" 

The Sunnybrae Story, 1980-1990, pg 5

"There can be no doubt,' observers Al Hern, 'that the building of the new dining hall was one of the most significant moves the camp had made, as it provided the focus and starting point around which to plan continuing improvements."

pg 7

The horsemanship program began in 1981 led by Dr. Art Weir (standing below, driving the horses in a white cowboy hat)

Construction of the George and Evelyn Dawe Underpass.

"Dedicated to the Glory of God and the safety of our children."

June 18, 1989

Chapel in the Amphitheatre

Summer 1998

Construction of the current Gymnasium was completed in 2000

The first of three in a trilogy of Campaigns, the Journey of Faith was launched in 2002 and completed in 2005. Its fundraising goal was 1.8 million. We are in the Journey of Hope, with plans one day for the Journey of Love.

Pictured: Dining Hall before the JoF Campaign

In 2012, SBC began a partnership with Millar College of the Bible to plant their BC campus using Sunnybrae's property and facilities. This extraordinary partnership has since flourished. These two distinct organizations are unified in their glorification of Christ by making Him known. Often, campers and students are completely unaware of who a Sunnybrae staff member is and who a Millar staff member is, and this is a beautiful reflection of the desire to outdo each other in showing honour.

...isn't it thrilling to look back and see how thousands of volunteered hours and gifts have intermeshed to form one powerful ministry? And isn't it comforting to know that all the sweat and struggle you poured into our camp is being recorded in full by God? Maybe nobody ever noticed your efforts at the time, and maybe you yourself have now forgotten the details, but your investment will continue paying rich spiritual dividends long into the future.

The Sunnybrae Story, 1980-1990, pg 4

Pictured: Staff Workers, L to R Vera Hausfeld, Edna Hausfeld, Agda Schmidt, Hazel Swadling and Mary Aslin, 1944

Wander down memory lane with this compilation of Staff and SALT group photos from the summer of 1998 all the way to 2024.