About
Built for Atlantic Canada’s community of military and first responder families.
VISIT US
Get Involved
About Camp Cassidy
Camp Cassidy is a charitable organization founded in 2019, dedicated to providing a recreational and wellness centre exclusively reserved for Canadian active and retired military and first responder personnel and their immediate families in the Atlantic Provinces. Situated on a picturesque 150-acre waterfront property at Cassidy Lake, New Brunswick, the Camp currently offers a range of amenities and activities. Notable features include a professionally designed 3.2 km hiking trail that winds through a captivating forest adorned with scenic streams, and a historic 140-year-old church repurposed as a secular Gathering Place for small group wellness events.
The Camp’s trail offers the calming experience of walking in a forest, often referred to as “nature therapy,” that has been shown to have a profoundly positive impact on mental health, promoting relaxation, and reducing stress. The lush green surroundings, fresh air, and soothing sounds of nature help reduce stress and anxiety levels. The exposure to natural compounds released by trees can boost the immune system and improve mood. And the act of walking promotes physical activity, which releases endorphins and other mood-boosting chemicals in the brain. This combination of sensory engagement, natural aromatherapy, and gentle exercise contributes to a sense of rejuvenation, and improved overall well-being.
Active and retired Canadian military and first responder personnel, as well as their immediate families, can access the Camp’s trails between the Victoria Day and Thanksgiving weekends, during daylight hours, at no cost. The Camp’s Gathering Place can be accessed by contacting the Camp at admin@campcassidy.ca.
Meeting a Need
For six generations, the Cassidy Family from Cassidy Lake, NB enjoyed their one hundred and fifty acre forested property at the Lake (the “Property”) as a place to live, work and pursue outdoor family recreational opportunities such as hiking, boating, picnicking, fishing and swimming.
They strongly believe Atlantic Canada’s community of military and first responder families (both serving and retired) deserve the opportunity to enjoy those same experiences on the Property, in a family setting and in a facility dedicated to their unique needs.
Just as Canada’s military and first responder personnel have access to similar facilities in other parts of the country, these special Canadians and their families living in the Atlantic Provinces will benefit from an outdoor recreational facility combined with a first class wellness centre designed for their exclusive use. Developing the Property as Camp Cassidy will meet this need.
The Benefits to Our Military and First Responder Community
Camp Cassidy is aware military and first responder personnel and their families face unique challenges as a result of, among other things, deployments for training, combat roles, security service, first response responsibilities and peacekeeping missions. Such challenges include operational stress injuries, anxiety, hyper-vigilance, depression and conflict management, along with issues caused by prolonged or recurring separation and relocation.
The development and operation, on a non-profit basis, of a wellness centre with recreational facilities and programs at the Property is intended to provide a safe, unique experience for military and first responder families to experience the therapeutic and revitalizing benefit of wellness programs and outdoor adventure and education at little or, preferably, no cost to them.
Camp Cassidy understands military and first response personnel can obtain significant benefit from outdoor activities that allow them to connect, and, in some cases, re-connect with their family members. The Cassidy Family places a high value on the positive, healing value of strong family bonds, and the emphasis at Camp Cassidy, from design to operation, is on family-oriented recreation and wellness. For example, individual family style cabins with sleeping quarters will be established, rather than large traditional “bunkhouses” found at kids’ camps. Individual kitchen and dining facilities built into each cabin will maximize family oriented meals. Infrastructure for a “Gathering Place” building (a large congregating area) will be created with separate meeting/seminar rooms for group events, therapy and wellness counseling.
A Rare Opportunity
There is currently no facility in the Atlantic Provinces like that envisioned for Camp Cassidy. The goal for Camp Cassidy is to create a non-profit, privately owned and operated first class camp setting for both wellness and recreation, easily accessible to military and first responder families living in Atlantic Canada
Military and first responder families have access to public facilities such as provincial and national parks, but it is on the same terms as provided to the general population i.e. there is generally no access to these facilities reserved solely for them. Further, provincial and national parks often charge various fees, which for some families can be cost-prohibitive, even with discounts, when considering the overall family budget.
Overnight park use is also frequently affected by waiting lists for camp sites that can be quite long, given that they cater to both the local general population and, of course, tourists.
Help Us Grow
By providing top notch wellness programs and outdoor recreation opportunities and facilities available solely for military and first responder families at little or, preferably, no cost to them, Camp Cassidy will provide an important and rare opportunity to meet the unique needs of these special Canadians.
A Favourable Location
The Property is a 1.5 hour drive from CFB Gagetown, one of Canada’s largest military bases, and the town of Oromocto, NB, a vibrant community of 10,000 primarily made up of military families and veteran personnel. The Property is easily accessible by major highway from all three of New Brunswick’s largest cities, and from other bases and military communities in the Atlantic Provinces. Amenities (grocery stores, etc.) are located in the nearby town of Sussex and the village of Norton.
Camp Cassidy Extends Grateful Thanks to Ron Anaka and Canadian Tire Corporation for Their Generous Donation and Strong Support
July 20, 2023.
Camp Cassidy, a charitable organization providing recreational and wellness services to military and first responder personnel and their families, is delighted to extend its sincerest gratitude to Ron Anaka, and his Canadian Tire Store in Bridgewater, N.S. for their exceptional donation and strong support towards the enhancement of our recreational facility and wellness centre.
With an unwavering commitment to serving those who have served our nation, Camp Cassidy has been striving to create a haven of rejuvenation and support for our valued military and first responder communities. We take immense pleasure in recognizing the invaluable contributions of Ron Anaka and Canadian Tire Corporation in helping us achieve our mission.
This generous donation will play a pivotal role in empowering Camp Cassidy to enhance its amenities, ensuring a holistic recreational experience for our esteemed visitors. The funds will be utilized to further develop and maintain the Camp's 150-acre waterfront property at Cassidy Lake, New Brunswick, as well as to improve existing facilities and create new opportunities for relaxation, wellness, and personal growth.
Furthermore, the donation will help the expansion of the Camp’s 3.2 km professionally designed hiking trail, meandering through our breathtaking forest and enchanting streams, offering our visitors moments of serenity and appreciation for nature's beauty.
Camp Cassidy's commitment to supporting active and retired military and first responder personnel and their families remains unwavering. Thanks to the benevolence of Ron Anaka and Canadian Tire Corporation, members of these esteemed groups can enjoy complimentary access to the Camp's facilities, including the newly established amenities, during daylight hours between Victoria Day and Thanksgiving weekends.
"We extend our heartfelt thanks to Ron and Canadian Tire Corporation for their remarkable generosity and strong support," said Nicola Cassidy, a Director of Camp Cassidy. "Their belief in our mission has allowed us to create an environment of healing and relaxation, where our military and first responder communities can find solace and strength."
Camp Cassidy is a registered charitable organization whose mission is to develop and operate the outdoor recreational facility and wellness centre at the Property.
Interested parties are invited to contact Camp Cassidy to learn more about participating in the Action Plan to develop Camp Cassidy.