The YMCA of Cape Breton's Story

This plaque commemorates the summer that group of young people, the Crew of Nozark, spent at YMCA Camp Barrachois in 1948. The camp is on the shores of the Bras d'Or Lakes in Cape Breton built by the Sydney Y's Men and given to The YMCA of Cape Breton in the 1980s.

This plaque is one of many created and installed by campers over seventy years.  They also carved or painted their names into beams, tables and walls.  Although the camp was closed in 2009 pending a study into its best use for the future, its memory lives on through Norm MacAulay, Harry Henderson and the other counsellors-in-training.  Listen to Norm, who is still a YMCA member at 78, tell the story of their exciting canoe trip and a stormy night spent on a bed of coals.

This plaque demonstrates that young people leave their mark on the YMCA -- and the YMCA leaves an indelible imprint on their lives.