🔔 UPDATE: January 19, 2026 — Council to Decide the Future of the Camp 30 Cafeteria Building
On January 19, Clarington Council will make a critical decision regarding the Camp 30 cafeteria building — the most historically significant structure on the site and the location of the Battle of Bowmanville, the only battle fought on Canadian soil during the Second World War.

Following earlier Council discussions, Manorville Homes has completed an updated professional structural assessment of the cafeteria building. That assessment will be presented to Council on January 19 and will help inform their decision on whether the building should be preserved.

Council has been clear that they want to see demonstrated public support and credible fundraising momentumfrom the Jury Lands Foundation to show that the community is willing to help raise the funds needed to save this historic building.

⏳ This is a pivotal moment.

Petition signatures, donations (if able), and continued sharing all matter right now. These actions help demonstrate to Council that preserving the Camp 30 cafeteria building has meaningful community backing.

At the same time, the Jury Lands Foundation continues to advocate for all remaining Camp 30 buildings, including the Triple Dorm, to receive the same opportunity for proper assessment and thoughtful consideration before any final decisions are made.

Thank you for continuing to stand with us. Your support is being seen — and it matters now more than ever.

🔗 Support the fundraising effort:
https://jurylandsfoundation.com/make-a-donation/

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Below is our previous update from October, which provides important background on how we arrived at this moment.

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Update: Council to Decide the Future of All Camp 30 Buildings (October 27, 2025)
We have another important update to share — and our deepest thanks to everyone who continues to sign, share, and speak up for Camp 30 — Canada’s last intact WWII prisoner-of-war camp.

At the October 27 Council meeting, Clarington Council discussed an offer from Kaitlin Homes, the developer that still owns the remaining Camp 30 lands and heritage buildings. If accepted, the proposal would transfer ownership of these properties to the Municipality — bringing the entire Camp 30 site, including the historic Triple Dorm — known for its World War II history of escape attempts, including one that was successful — into public hands.

At this time, we do not yet know the outcome of that discussion.
A member of the Municipality’s Communications team has explained that because the settlement offer relates to ongoing Ontario Land Tribunal litigation, Council discussed the matter in a confidential closed session, as permitted under the Municipal Act. During that closed session, one resolution was passed to provide direction to staff, but the details of that direction have not been made public.

As a result, it remains unclear whether the offer was accepted, rejected, or whether a counter-offer was proposed. We hope the public will receive clarity on this soon.

What is known is that Council heard the significant public concern raised at earlier meetings and averted an immediate vote on demolition, choosing instead to give the Jury Lands Foundation more time to demonstrate that the Cafeteria Building — the site of the Battle of Bowmanville — can be restored.

Council directed that an updated professional structural assessment be completed and provided within approximately 30 days. That assessment has now been completed and will be presented to Council as part of their upcoming decision-making process.

The Jury Lands Foundation has also asked that the same opportunity be extended to the other buildings on site, so each can be properly assessed and thoughtfully considered before any final decisions are made.

This remains an extraordinary opportunity for Clarington to protect our wartime history and demonstrate what adaptive reuse can achieve — transforming a nationally significant heritage site into a place for education, culture, tourism, community, and local economic activity.

Please continue sharing this petition and encouraging others to sign. Your voices are being heard, and they are making a difference. Together, we can help ensure Canada’s last intact POW camp is preserved — not erased.

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⚠️ Original Petition Text (October 20, 2025)
On October 20, local officials in Clarington, Ontario will vote on whether to demolish the historic Camp 30 Cafeteria building — the heart of a site that witnessed the only World War II battle ever fought on Canadian soil.

This is not just a local issue — it’s a national loss in the making. Camp 30 is a Canadian heritage site of international significance, where German prisoners of war were held during WWII and where the Battle of Bowmanville took place. Its story reflects the strength and integrity that defined Canada’s conduct during the Second World War.

If demolished, we lose a part of our national identity — a place where future generations could learn, reflect, and connect with our shared past.

The Jury Lands Foundation, a non-profit organization of volunteers, has proposed transforming the Cafeteria building into a Community Hub that serves both as a heritage destination and as a space for education, culture, and community life. Across Ontario, similar projects have been funded through Community Benefits Charges, a provincial tool that supports the reuse of historic buildings for public benefit.

We will continue to pursue heritage grants, community fundraising, and partnerships with the federal and provincial governments (and their European counterparts), local contractors, and the private sector to make restoration a reality.

🕰️ We have only days to show that Canadians everywhere care about preserving this part of our history.

We, the undersigned, call on Clarington Council to:

• Reject demolition of the Camp 30 Cafeteria building
• Pursue Community Benefits Charges funding to make Camp 30 a Community Hub
• Protect our heritage by restoring the Cafeteria Building as a Community Hub and heritage destination, creating space for education, culture, tourism, and community building

Demolition would erase a key chapter of Canada’s wartime history. Preservation would ensure it lives on — as a place of memory, learning, and community.

📣 Sign now to help save Camp 30 before it’s too late.

Learn more 👉 jurylandsfoundation.com