Skip to content

Orillia was home to Camp 26 and about 600 recruits in 1942

The recruits stayed in tents behind the armories on West Street while the new barracks were being built by Brennan Construction near Brant and Park Street.
273-camp-26-at-toronto-exhibition-1943
During the summer of 1943 the military held a track and field day at the C.N.E. grounds in Toronto. This running team from Orillia competed against other military camps in Ontario. The names of the men in back are unknown. In the front row, from left, are Doris Charka, F. Roberts, Evelyn Jamieson and Dot Newton.

Postcard Memories is a weekly series of historic postcard views and photos submitted by Marcel Rousseau.

Some were previously published by the Orillia Museum of Art and History and in the book Postcard Memories Orillia.

In the fall of 1942, more than 100 workers with the Brennan Construction Company were rushing to complete the building of No. 26 Canadian Basic Training Camp located north of Brant and east of Park streets. 

Over 40 buildings were being constructed to house up to 600 men. The recruits were staying in tents behind the armories on West Street hoping to move into the new Camp by Oct. 1.  

In late September, Brennan Construction was given a new contract to build barracks near the Brant Street camp entrance for the Canadian Women Army Corps. On June 1, 1943, the first CWACs arrived at Camp 23. Up to 20 women were sent to Orillia to relieve men for active duty.

During the summer of 1943 the military held a track and field day at the C.N.E. grounds in Toronto. The running team from Orillia, pictured, competed against other military camps in Ontario. 

The names of the men in back are unknown. In the front row, starting from the left, are Doris Charka, F. Roberts, Evelyn Jamieson and Dot Newton. This photo was submitted by Evelyn Jamieson Davis who gave us a very interesting account of her time at Camp 26. 

If you or your family have any memories of Camp 26, also known as Champlain Barracks, we would be happy to hear from you. Please call the Orillia Museum of Art and History at 705-326-2159.

 


Comments

Verified reader

If you would like to apply to become a verified commenter, please fill out this form.