Rev. George Dawe accepted a call to pastor First Baptist Church, Salmon Arm, in September 1939. Within months, God birthed a vision to start a Bible Camp on the shimmering shores of Shuswap Lake. He later wrote, "We had no equipment, no money, no professional expertise - just a vision and "a will to do His good pleasure." (The Sunnybrae Story, The First Forty Years, By George R Dawe, Founder)
They began with two camps in the spring of 1940, one for the boys and one for the girls. A total of 7 staff served 36 campers, and camper fees were $1.50 per week. Held on a plot of land in Blind Bay secured with a $5 handshake, the ministry was expanding so quickly that it needed a more permanent location, and the camp moved to its current location in 1944.
Consisting of the churches of Kamloops, Barriere, Salmon Arm, Enderby, Armstrong, Vernon and Kelowna, the newly formed Association of Fellowship Baptist Churches of South Central BC held a name the camp contest in 1945. So began Sunnybrae Bible Camp - along with decades of development. SBC continued to grow, such that the Association of regional churches launched the Journey of Faith Campaign in 2002. This endeavour seemed especially ambitious, with a goal of $1.821 million… but God faithfully went ahead. New facilities provided increased ministry opportunities and opened up the winter months with warm dorms and a large Dining Hall.
In 2010, SBC entered into a ministry partnership with Millar College of the Bible, and again, God multiplied SBC's capacity and ministry. It is a privilege to share together in His work.
Camp Staff, Summer 1941
L to R: M. Dyck, Les McLean, F. Hausfeld, Mrs. Milligan, Rev E. Carter
Junior & Intermediate Boys Camp, Summer 1941
Junior Girls Camp, Summer 1941