History

About Camp St. Basil

Camp St. Basil exists because of the vision of four members of the Executive of the Ukrainian Catholic Youth of Western Canada, (Fr. W Firman, Parish Priest of a Parish in Saskatoon and UCY-Spiritual Director for Saskatchewan; Fr. Sebastian Kurylo, OSBM, UCY-Spiritual Director for Alberta; Fr. Boniface Sloboda, OSBM, UCY-Spiritual Director for Manitoba; and Bro. S. Methodius Koziak, F.C.S., St. Joseph’s College, Yorkton Saskatchewan who in March, 1946 made a decision together to provide their services to give youth training in leadership.

These were held in different provinces till 1947. From 1948 to 1950 were held in Edmonton and at Camp St. Basil (initially known as St. Basil’s Villa), beginning in 1951.

With the continued vision of providing youth in leadership training, practical study of religion, Ukrainian Language, history, folklore, folk-singing, folk-dancing and crafts.  It is with this vision and purpose that Fr. Sebastian Kurylo, OSBM  as YCY-Spiritual Director of the Youth  Organization in Alberta began searching for a suitable site to carry out the mission of youth education in the Ukrainian catholic Eparchy of Edmonton.  Thus, the beginning of Camp St. basil in Spring of 1951.

Friends of Camp St. Basil Society

The Friends of Camp St. Basil Society was incorporated on July 7, 2000; primarily to assist the Basilan Fathers in the operation of Camp St. Basil.  In a Five year Lease Agreement signed in January, 2008 between the Society and the “Order of St. Basil the Great in Canada” placed the operation of the camp in the Societies hands for the daily operation of the camp and to make leasehold improvements as required for the further development of the camp and camp facilities.

Strategic Thrust

The Strategic Thrust of the Friends of Camp St. Basil Society is based on a business and charitable model to be able to put in place strategies and action plans to support its vision, mission, goals and objectives established yearly for the betterment of youth education and family networking.

Our Vision

Camp St. Basil and the Friends of Camp St. Basil Society are striving to be a pro-active provincial, eparchial, and parish organization of the Ukrainian Catholic Church united, and self-sustaining body that provides a high standard of leadership and support in maintaining and developing facilities for the education and development and destiny of the Ukrainian Catholic Family and Youth in Canada.

Our Mission

Our mission is for Camp St. Basil to grow, maintain and develop facilities that respond to the needs of the Parishes served by the ‘Order of St. Basil the Great’ (Basilian Fathers) in the Edmonton Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy, Edmonton Eparchy, various youth clubs and organizations, families and communities in Alberta.