The Chamber That Built a Campsite: A Look Back at Gull Lake’s Business Community (1959–1987)
- Aug 16
- 4 min read
When residents discuss projects that shaped Gull Lake, one achievement consistently stands out: the Gull Lake & District Chamber of Commerce Campsite. For nearly three decades, the Chamber played a central role in business life, civic development, and community pride. Though the organization no longer exists, its legacy remains visible — especially in the northeast corner of town.
A Campsite That Became a Landmark
The idea of a community campsite began taking shape in the late 1960s. By 1971, the Town of Gull Lake and the Chamber formalized an agreement to build the new facility:
Town contribution: $2,000
Chamber contribution: remainder of the $5,140.85 total cost
Additional Council support: $1,000 for Homecoming development
Chamber fundraising: $500 as project sponsors
The campsite officially opened in 1972, offering:
electrical service
washrooms with hot and cold water
picnic tables
barbecues
mature shade trees
Rather than attracting “thousands of tourists,” the early campground provided steady seasonal traffic—travelers, hunters, and families passing through Highway 1—and quickly became a valued community asset.
Financial records confirm this steady use:
1973: operational profit of $1,389.14, capital expense $1,543.26, net loss $154.12
1974: profit of $537.77
The campsite the Chamber built in the early 1970s has expanded significantly over time. Today, the campground offers 26 electric & water sites (30‑amp and 15‑amp), including three pull‑throughs, along with 22 no‑service tenting sites—a far larger and more developed layout than the original Chamber‑built grounds.
Life at the Campsite: A Caretaker’s Story
One of the most vivid accounts of the campsite’s early years comes from a resident who served as caretaker in 1973–74–75. Her recollection provides a rare look at daily operations:
She earned 35% of the campsite’s income as wages.
Fees were $2.50 without power and $3.00 with power.
Showers cost ten cents for roughly eight minutes.
She cut grass with a walking mower, watered the grounds, cleaned facilities, and handled day‑to‑day maintenance.
She and her son saved pop and beer bottles, sold the Leader Post and Gull Lake Advance, and sold ice blocks to campers for seventy‑five cents.
Her story includes memorable moments—including a Toronto police family upset about paying for showers and a young man who complained about the ten‑cent fee. She handed him a dime from selling a newspaper and told him it would buy eight minutes of water. He simply stared at her.
She ended her recollection simply: “I liked the work and people.”
This personal account adds depth to the campsite’s history, showing how much hands‑on labour and community spirit went into keeping the grounds welcoming.
A Chamber Connected to the Province
Each January, the Chamber held its annual meeting, electing officers and presenting reports. These gatherings often featured prominent guest speakers, reflecting the Chamber’s strong provincial ties.
Notable visitors included:
E.K. (Ted) Turner, President of the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool
Hon. Otto Lang, Minister of Transport and Minister‑in‑Charge of the Canadian Wheat Board
Hon. Don Cody, Minister of Telephones and Sask Housing Corporation
George Porteous, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan
For a rural community, hosting leaders of this calibre highlighted the Chamber’s influence and the respect Gull Lake commanded across Saskatchewan.
The People Who Led the Chamber
From its incorporation in 1959 through the late 1980s, dozens of residents volunteered to guide the Chamber’s work. Their names record local leadership during a time of growth and change.
Presidents (1959–1987)
1959–60: Charles Haley
1961–62: Nick Corman
1963–65: Don Busse
1966–67: Al Countryman
1968: Kelly Holtby
1969: Chig Potter
1970–71: Harvey Arnold
1972–73: Don Busse
1974: Ross Chalifour
1975: Scott McLeod
1976: Harold Wilde
1977: Len Spence
1978: Scott McLeod
1979: Wayne Buck
1980: Al Nyen
1981: Jamie Graham
1982: Ray Holowaty
1983–84: Art Johnston
1985: Dan Coderre
1986: Gil Watson
1987: Bob Attridge
Secretary‑Treasurers (1959–1987)
1959–61: Maurice Zakresky
1962: Don Busse
1963: Chip Sweeting
1964: Gordon Dunn
1965: Jack Campbell
1966–67: Frank Stevenson
1968–69: Chip Sweeting
1970–71: Emil Lich
1972: Alan Adlem
1973: Dale Irwin
1974: Betty Sweeting
1975: Lorraine Mortensen
1976: Betty Sweeting
1977: Pat Doane / Betty Sweeting
1978: Don Jensen / Doug Lawson
1979: Doug Lawson / Kathy Zelowski
1980–84: Ralph Cunningham
1985–86: Dexter Samida
1987: Marilynn Holowaty
These individuals helped shape policy, organize events, advocate for local business, and support community projects—often quietly, and always with commitment.
What Happened to the Chamber?
Like many small‑town Chambers across Saskatchewan, the Gull Lake & District Chamber of Commerce gradually became less active in the late 1980s and eventually dissolved. Economic shifts, changing business patterns, and declining volunteer capacity all played a role—trends seen across rural communities during that era.
Though the Chamber formally wound down, its work didn’t disappear.
A Legacy That Still Matters
The Chamber’s contributions remain part of Gull Lake’s story. The campsite continues to welcome travellers. The names of its officers appear throughout other community projects. And the spirit of collaboration that defined the Chamber still shows up today—in volunteer groups, local initiatives, and the people who step forward when Gull Lake needs them.
The campground remains as popular as ever, continuing to generate steady revenue for local businesses and serving as a quiet link between Gull Lake’s past and present.
The Chamber’s history is more than a list of officers and meetings. It’s a reminder of what a small group of committed residents can build — and how those efforts can shape a community long after the organization itself is gone.
Have Something to Add?
If you have photos, documents, or memories connected to the Chamber or the early campsite, feel free to share—they help preserve our community history.
Gull Lake Events
Source: Gull Lake Memories: A History of the Town of Gull Lake
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