"Three area Rotary Clubs and the Hill City Kinsmen formed a coalition to work with the government in an attempt reopen the camp and tender a long-term lease. On Friday, February 10th, MPP Bill Mauro (Thunder Bay-Atikokan), the Kinsmen's Jeff Jones, and Rotary's Robert Hookham, held a news conference in a room packed with Wilderness Discovery supporters to announce an agreement in principle for the coalition to proceed. The partnership will incorporate and run the facility for a twenty-year period, then assume full ownership of the operation and property." Ladies and gentlemen....YOU DID IT !!! Wilderness Discovery Resort For The Disabled will reopen in the spring of 2018!!! It was January 13th, 2015 when I wrote my first letter about the possible closure of Wilderness Discovery Resort For The Disabled. I was afraid that it could be closed and sold and you would find out after it was too late. That would have been very unfair to the people that envisioned it, built it, and loved it. If you ever wondered why this Minnesota family even cared about this, it's because of what we do every day. My wife and I have been taking care of Kirk, a quadriplegic U.S. Navy veteran, for 28 years, more than 17 in our home. We heard about your camp through word of mouth at a trade show called the "All-Canada Show" at their Minneapolis stop. We contacted HAGI, and reserved our place. It became a twice-a-year destination for family time, scenic attractions, shopping in Thunder Bay, Kakabeka Falls, and Atikokan, tranquillity on Lake Shebandowan, and the charm and hospitality of our Ontario neighbours. We knew how hard it was for disabled travellers, what a marvel Wilderness Discovery was, and that this landmark facility should never be disabled itself. I had never undertaken anything like this cause before, but I knew that it had to be done. The number of Canadians that I personally knew was in the single digits, so I figured I would need quite a few more to help us. I reached out through Facebook using suggestions and "people you may know". It took a lot of explaining to a lot of strangers, but you were willing to listen. The numbers grew, the passionate rallied, and things snowballed. The Change.org petition we started in late January was presented to Kathleen Wynne on June 15th, 2015 with over 29,000 signers, a number too large to ignore...or so we thought. Calls for the Legislative Assembly Of Ontario to designate the property as protected for use by disability community went unheeded session after session. Little did we know that behind the scenes, wheels were turning. Concerned citizens kept pressing, fighting for our disabled loved ones to secure a legacy built by thousands of volunteers hours and dollars. Ultimately, justice won out, your voices were heard, your sanctuary will reopen next year. Friends and family will again realize recreational equality. You could have let someone else solve this. You didn't have to accept some American stranger on Facebook as a friend or an invitation to join my Save Wilderness Discovery Facebook page. You didn't have to sign our petition. You didn't have to share this on social media. You didn't have to make signs and rally at the Italian Cultural Centre on a hot June evening. But you did. You showed everyone what your community is made of, what your priorities are. Although Canada & the U.S. had the largest representation, the world was watching too. I don't know about the petition of almost thirty thousand, but the Facebook page of over 4,100 has followers from 46 other countries behind you. Now that you're going to reopen Wilderness Discovery, you can expect visitors from all over the world that know how welcoming and caring you are. Please don't take the camp for granted. This is a showcase. There's nothing like it and you have the potential to make it better than ever. Please LIKE our Facebook page, Save Wilderness Discovery Resort For The Disabled. https://www.facebook.com/Save-Wilderness-Discovery-Resort-For-The-Disabled-1559139154332674/ It is NOT GOING AWAY. It will continue to be a source of information for events, benefits, raffles, silent auctions, volunteering, or whatever is needed. It also has links to the extensive news coverage our hard work and victory received WORLDWIDE!. Join the page and keep sharing and spreading the word because now, the heavy lifting begins. It will take another unified effort to get the doors open, the lights back on, and the wheelchairs rolling again. They still need your help, your compassion, your talents, and at a time to be announced in the future, your dollars....And you must. People with disabilities struggle daily with so many different challenges and never give up. We can't fall short when restoring their uniquely designed place for an escape to nature. I've learned a great deal through this campaign and for that, I'm very grateful. I'm grateful to the dozens of entertainment and sports celebrities that posed with our sign showing that they weren't so big that they couldn't support little Shebandowan, Ontario and the people who love it. I'm grateful to the friends I've made online and in person. I'm sure many of these friendships will be lifelong. I'm grateful for your hospitality, your attitude, your values, your tenacity, your humanity, and your trust. What I am most grateful for is all that you have given to us. This experience has enriched our lives in ways unimaginable. Back and forth, we've shared our personal stories, our frustrations, our joys, our tragedies, and our victories. It was one of the most engaging and positive times of my life. I will carry this with me the rest of my days. For that, and more, I thank you so very much. Due to Kirk's diminished health, it's unlikely that we can join you again as a family. We figured that might be the case. But, this fight was for you. Lorie, Kirk, and I already live on a point, on a lake, in a home with everything we need, but we came to Shebandowan because of you. We're aware that we are very fortunate. We also know how many are unable to enjoy those things we do. Had you lost Wilderness Discovery, I'm sure it would have felt crushing to the community like it would feel for us if we lost our own home. I hope we can use the valuable lessons learned from this mission. After some overdue tasks on the "Honey-Do" list and a couple of naps, my next goal is to help establish a facility in Minnesota using the innovative and imaginative example of Wilderness Discovery. It's hard to get things done from 400 miles away, so I'll see what I can do down here. Not as competition, mind you. If successful, I look forward to opening our doors and our hearts to you as you have always done for us. Again, it won't be easy. We will have to live up to your example. I know we'll be better for it. We love you, Canada. Thank you for everything you do and everything you represent. Very sincerely, Kevin Johnson Madison Lake, Minnesota, U.S.A.