2012: Launch and Early Media Coverage
- SooToday (Jan 26, 2012) – “Rainbow Camp Near Thessalon focuses on bullying”: The Sault Ste. Marie news site announced the inaugural Rainbow Camp as a five-day retreat for LGBTQ youth and allies, quoting co-founder Harry Stewart on creating a “safe space where youth can come, be who they need to be and have clear, supportive mentors” in an area with few supports for queer teens. The article set the context of local anti-bullying efforts and the need for such a camp following high-profile teen suicides, positioning Rainbow Camp as a “humble effort to offer support” in Northern Ontario. Click Here
- Xtra (Mar 15, 2012) – “Camp Somewhere”: Canada’s LGBTQ news outlet Xtra profiled Rainbow Camp in an Ottawa edition piece about new queer-friendly summer camps. It noted that for many queer youth “summer camp is a horrible, hetero experience. Not anymore.” Rainbow Camp would offer a traditional camp week where LGBTQ youth, their friends and family can be themselves without fear. The article highlighted the Welcome Friend Association’s program as a much-needed safe space for teens to have fun and build community. Click Here
- Sault Star (Apr 8, 2012) – “A place where teens can forget ‘fitting the mold’”: This Northern Ontario daily reported on Rainbow Camp as one of Canada’s first camps for LGBTQ teens. It emphasized that “everybody needs a safe place” and described Rainbow Camp as a harassment-free environment for youth “who don’t suit [the] straight sexual model.” The piece underscored the camp’s goal of letting teens forget about conforming and instead enjoy a supportive community. Click Here
- CBC News (July 27, 2012) – “‘Rainbow Camp’ encourages teens to be themselves”: CBC’s coverage (Northern Ontario bureau) introduced Rainbow Camp to a broader Canadian audience as a week-long summer camp where LGBTQ youth could “come OUT and be [themselves]” in a judgment-free zone. It highlighted the camp’s role as a pioneering safe haven for queer teens in Northern Ontario and noted that organizers invited youth from across Canada to attend. (CBC also aired radio segments locally to spread the word about the camp’s first season.) Click Here
2015–2017: Growing Recognition and Community Support
- Sault This Week (July 14, 2015) – “Rainbow Camp™ ‘transformative’”: This community newspaper ran a feature story by Ali Pearson describing Rainbow Camp’s impact in its fourth summer. It quoted camp director Dr. Deborah Woodman saying the camp “fills a void… regarding gender, sexual identities and expressions,” and an intern who called the camp a “space of radical transformation and inclusion.” Founders Stewart and Southin described Rainbow Camp as an experience “created by need, moulded with love and built on education and inclusion,” with most campers coming from across Ontario to find a sense of belonging. (By 2015 the camp’s location was kept semi-confidential for privacy, the article noted.) Click Here
- SooToday (Dec 7, 2015) – Coverage of a fundraiser “TD Presents Colin Mochrie & Debra McGrath – One Couple Show”: Local media announced that famed improv comedians Colin Mochrie and Debra McGrath would perform in Sault Ste. Marie in support of Rainbow Camp. “We are pleased to present Colin and Debra for such a worthy cause as Rainbow Camp,” organizers said, underscoring community enthusiasm for supporting the camp’s missionwelcomefriend.ca. (Mochrie and McGrath, who are parents of a trans daughter, have been strong public supporters of Rainbow Camp.) Click Here
- Wawa-news (June 5, 2017) – “Northern Ontario’s Documentary ‘Rainbow Camp’ Now in Post-Production”: This online news piece (via CNW press release) announced that a documentary film titled “Rainbow Camp” was being produced about the camp. Filmmaker Dan Nystedt spent two summers capturing candid camper and counselor interviews to tell the story of a special place “that provides a safe space” for LGBTQ2+ youth to be their true selves. The article quoted Nystedt calling Rainbow Camp his “passion project” and noted that the film would share “the campers’ stories, feelings and experiences in [their] own words,” highlighting the universal need for belonging and acceptance. Click Here
- SooToday (June 2017) – “Comedian Colin Mochrie to help Rainbow Camp crowdfunding campaign”: SooToday reported that Rainbow Camp was launching a national crowdfunding campaign to raise roughly $40,000 for its upcoming season. With Colin Mochrie as a celebrity ambassador, the campaign aimed to broaden financial support and “promote a safe space for queer youth.” The coverage reiterated that Rainbow Camp (founded in 2012 by Stewart in Thessalon, Ont.) had grown into an important haven for LGBTQ2S+ teens, and this funding would help more kids attend regardless of ability to pay. Mochrie’s involvement drew wider attention to the cause. Click Here
2018–2020: Major Donations and National Exposure
- Local Media (July 2018) – TD Bank’s $50,000 Donation: Multiple outlets covered Rainbow Camp receiving its largest-ever donation. Sault Star and SooToday reported that TD Canada Trust presented a $50K cheque to the camp on July 26, 2018 as part of TD’s #TDThanksYou campaign. Click Here The articles noted that Rainbow Camp, which started at a church camp in 2012, was now expanding – in 2018 it moved to Camp Wakonda in Echo Bay and was running three one-week sessions. TD recognized Rainbow Camp as a “community hero,” and co-founders Harry Stewart and Chris Southin were on hand to receive the donation, which would “help support this year’s camp season”. Click Here CTV Northern Ontario also aired an interview with co-founder Chris Southin about the donation and the camp’s impact, as part of the bank’s surprise Thank-You events (broadcast July 26, 2018. This influx of support was widely seen as validation of Rainbow Camp’s positive influence on 2SLGBTQ+ youth.
- CBC The National (2017/2018) – Television Feature: CBC’s flagship TV newscast featured Rainbow Camp in a segment titled “Rainbow Camp offers LGBT teens chance to connect.” This nationally broadcast piece (also shared widely online) showed how the northern Ontario camp provides a welcoming community for LGBTQ youth, including a growing number of transgender campers, to feel accepted and find peer support. The segment – viewed hundreds of thousands of times on YouTube – emphasized the importance of a place where teens can “be themselves and feel a sense of belonging”, bringing Rainbow Camp to the attention of viewers across Canada. Click Here
- TVO.org (June 24, 2019) – “How northern Ontario’s Rainbow Camp creates a safe space for LGBTQ youth”: Ontario’s public broadcaster TVO published a detailed Q&A with co-founder Harry Stewart. In the article (by Claude Sharma), Stewart recounted Rainbow Camp’s origins in 2012 and its growth “over the past seven years.” He discussed why creating a supportive environment for LGBTQ youth is so important – especially in rural/northern communities – and described camp activities from canoeing and arts to workshops on queer history. This piece highlighted personal stories of campers finding acceptance, and reinforced the camp’s model as one that other regions could emulate. Click Here
- Rainbow Camp in Morning Media (July 30, 2019) – SaultOnline “Mornings with Lou-Anne and Tim”: The camp’s directors and participants have also appeared on local talk shows. For instance, Steph and Mark from the Rainbow Camp team were interviewed on SaultOnline’s morning show, discussing the Leader-In-Training program and how camp helps youth grow in confidenceyoutube.com. Such TV and online interviews (in this case on a Sault Ste. Marie web TV program) helped personalize the story of Rainbow Camp by featuring the voices of staff and campers, and encouraged local viewers to support the cause. Click Here
- SooToday (Oct 2018) – “Rocky Horror comes to life in the Sault”: As a creative fundraiser, community volunteers staged The Rocky Horror Picture Show live in 2018 to benefit Rainbow Camp. SooToday’s entertainment section noted the two Halloween-season performances sold out quickly, with full audience participation (costumes, props, call-outs). The event not only raised money for the camp but celebrated individuality and queer culture in the community. (The following year, a 2019 reprise was announced: “‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ returns in support of Rainbow Camp” – scheduled for Nov 9, 2019 at a larger venue. This demonstrated an ongoing tradition of flamboyant fundraising events that garnered media buzz while supporting the camp’s financial needs.) Click Here
2021–2023: Milestones, Awards and Challenges
- Governor General’s Award (announced Feb 2021) – Media in 2021 celebrated Rainbow Camp’s co-founders for receiving one of Canada’s highest civilian honors. SooToday reported Harry Stewart and Chris Southin were awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) from the Governor General “for founding Rainbow Camp, which gives LGBTQ2S+ youth a safe place” to have fun and be themselves. Click Here This national honor recognized the significant positive impact the Welcome Friend Association had on queer youth. (The official Honours citation noted Rainbow Camp’s role in helping change social attitudes in Thessalon and beyond.) Click Here
- SooToday (Nov 17, 2021) – “Rainbow Camp® will celebrate its 10th anniversary with added programming and dates”: As Rainbow Camp reached a decade, local news carried a press release outlining big plans for Summer 2022, its 10th seasonwelcomefriend.ca. The camp doubled the number of sessions and added new programs – offering five camp sessions (including some two-week camps and a leadership-in-training program) to meet growing demand. Co-founder Harry Stewart noted that after COVID cancellations, many kids were “hoping we would have actual camp” again and parents were seeking a “safe place” for their kids. This coverage highlighted how far the camp had come since 2012, now drawing 200+ campers from across North America. Click Here
- GuelphToday (Spotlight, 2021) – “Camper turned Program Director: How Noah found a space to feel seen and accepted with Rainbow Camp”: In a sponsored content piece, GuelphToday profiled Noah, a former Rainbow Camp camper who became a staff member. Noah described attending Rainbow Camp as life-changing – a place where he finally felt seen and accepted – and later helping to run it so other youth could have the same experience. The article also noted that during the pandemic, Rainbow Camp innovated an online version (Rainbow Online Connection, or ROC) to support 2SLGBTQ+ youth virtually. This human-interest story, though regional, broadened awareness in southern Ontario and showed the camp’s adaptability and personal impact. Click Here
- Broadview Magazine (Mar 9, 2022) – “Colin Mochrie’s game show win nets $100K for Ontario LGBTQ2S+ camp”: The United Church’s national magazine (formerly Observer) reported that beloved comedian Colin Mochrie had directed his $100,000 prize from the show “Last One Laughing Canada” to Rainbow Camp. The article noted this windfall came as the camp resumed in-person programming in 2022 after two years online, and that it was “well timed” to boost the camp’s finances. Broadview recapped how Rainbow Camp was founded by Stewart and Southin in 2012 with just 14 campers, and by 2022 was planning six weeks of camp plus a canoe trip. Mochrie’s high-profile support – he also serves as Rainbow Camp’s national ambassador – garnered nationwide attention and underscored the camp’s importance. Click Here
- Sudbury.com / Village Media (July 19, 2023) – “‘It’s devastating’: Staff shortage forces Rainbow Camp to close”: Regional news outlets (Sudbury.com, SooToday, etc.) reported the difficult news that Rainbow Camp had to shut down its 2023 summer sessions mid-season due to an acute lack of volunteer staff. Co-founder Harry Stewart explained that many campers require significant support, and without enough counselors the camp couldn’t operate safely. The coverage emphasized the impact on youth: Rainbow Camp provides an “inclusive and safe space for kids… to be their true selves,” so cancelling camp was a serious loss for a “high-risk group” of LGBTQ teens who often face isolation. This story of a staffing crisis resonated as part of a broader post-pandemic labor shortage affecting many camps, and it doubled as a call for community members to get involved so the camp could rebound. Click Here
- CTV News Northern Ontario (Aug 18, 2023) – “Sault theatre company production supports Rainbow Camp”: CTV profiled a local theatre troupe’s effort to help Rainbow Camp following the closure news. A Sault Ste. Marie theatre group put on a special show (the West End Theatre Project’s production mentioned in the piece) to raise funds for Rainbow Camp’s next season. The report noted “this year’s camp had to be closed prematurely due to staffing shortages,” but Stewart and Southin were determined to “bounce back in 2024.” It showcased the community rallying around Rainbow Camp – through benefit performances and donations – to ensure the vital program continues for years to come. Click Here
- SooToday (Oct 2023) – “Celebrate individuality at Rocky Horror fundraiser for Rainbow Camp”: SooToday highlighted that the annual Rocky Horror charity screening had become a tradition, returning for a third time in 2023. The article framed the event as a celebration of individuality coinciding with the cult film’s anniversary, and noted that all proceeds go to Rainbow Camp’s programs. This recurring coverage of the Rocky Horror fundraisers (2018, 2019, 2023) underscores a lighthearted yet meaningful way the camp’s supporters engage the public and keep Rainbow Camp in the news.
2024–2025: Updates and Continuing Mission
- United Church of Canada (May 10, 2024) – “Rainbow Camp Is Welcoming”: The United Church’s official blog featured Rainbow Camp’s story as a Mission & Service-supported ministryunited-church.ca. Co-founder Chris Southin recounted how they launched the camp in 2012 with church backing despite having little camp experience, knowing that “young people would benefit” from a welcoming spaceunited-church.ca. Harry Stewart shared a poignant memory from the first camp – a camper who finally felt safe enough to reveal his truth – illustrating how by “the second full day” campers were already opening up in ways they couldn’t at homeunited-church.ca. The piece affirmed that Rainbow Camp provides a place for youth to be themselves without judgment, and it updated readers that the camp is “paused until the 2025 camping season” due to recent challengesunited-church.ca. This candid update in a national church venue both celebrated Rainbow Camp’s achievements and acknowledged the need for ongoing support to restart in 2025.
- Shaun Proulx Show – SiriusXM Canada Talks (May 30, 2025) – Noted broadcaster Shaun Proulx invited one of Rainbow Camp’s founders on his LGBTQ-focused radio show to discuss the camp’s journey and impactshaunproulx.substack.com. In this interview, the founder shared stories of the “beauty, joy, discovery and transformation” that take place each summer at Rainbow Camp, underlining why such spaces are life-changing for queer youth. This recent media appearance on a national platform speaks to Rainbow Camp’s enduring relevance: even after a difficult hiatus, its mission of 2SLGBTQ+ youth empowerment and safe-space creation continues to inspire conversation and support across Canada.
Each of these media appearances – from local news articles and TV segments to national magazine features and radio interviews – has spotlighted Rainbow Camp’s core themes: creating a safe space for 2SLGBTQ youth, the classic summer camp fun woven with identity-affirming support, combatting LGBTQ isolation (especially in Northern Ontario), engaging parents and allies, and the ongoing fundraising and community efforts that keep the camp accessible. Together, this comprehensive coverage (2012–2025) documents Rainbow Camp’s evolution from a grassroots idea into a celebrated haven for queer youth, as well as the challenges and triumphs encountered along the way.
Sources: The above list draws on coverage in Canadian media (e.g. SooToday, Sault Star, CBC, CTV, TVO, Broadview, United Church News) and international LGBTQ press (Xtra), as well as interviews featuring Rainbow Camp’s founders. All entries are supported by publicly accessible sources and reportswelcomefriend.cabroadview.org, ensuring verifiability of dates and details.