TOBIN LAKE — A hunting and fishing lodge is working with the Wounded Warriors Weekend to help those challenged by PTSD obtained during service to their country.
A formal alliance between Tobin Lake Trophy Adventures and the Wounded Warriors will create Camp Independence, a place where veterans, firefighters, first responders, police personnel, trauma nurses, EMTs, correctional officers as well as their family members and caregivers can spend a week at Camp Independence to have an extended opportunity to gather with like-minded people in order to help one another in their personal healing process.
“The alliance will provide an established location on the shores of Tobin Lake that will benefit those challenged by PTSD brought on by their honourable service to their country,” wrote Blake Emmons, founder and CEO of Wounded Warriors Weekend Foundation Inc, in a press release.
Plans for Camp Independence were in the works for some time, said Verda Hoppe, director of Wounded Warriors Weekend Foundation Inc.
“We had thought it would be down the road before we would be able to do it,” Hoppe said. “We do have some land down the lake but it is totally undeveloped, doesn’t even have a road down to it and that is where we thought we would set up Camp Independence eventually, but it was going to take some time yet.”
That was until Tobin Lake Trophy Adventures stepped forward.
“This gentleman stepped forward when he heard about what we do and he just purchased this land not long ago and he just stepped forward and said, ‘you guys, you can make use of it,’” Hoppe said. “And we decided a couple of weeks to start with just to see how things go.”
Hoppe calls the area “gorgeous”.
“It’s just ideal for what we would like to do for some of our Wounded Warriors and first responders and such.”
The first time Hoppe saw the facility, Emmons said it brought a tear to her eye.
“It’s been an honour and a true pleasure to have been a part of this healing process of our Wounded Warriors over the years since our first Wounded Warriors Weekend,” Emmons wrote. “And now with this incredible facility to call our home, we have the opportunity to expand our weekend to a full week and include such things as equine therapy, service dog training for participants, cognitive programs and so much more along with the fishing and other outdoor events we’ve found so successful over the years.”
The alliance was announced on Dec. 11. The first group of participants is expected for mid July 2019.
