Rumball Deaf Camp Buys 3 New Bobcat Machines
Robert Leslie “Bob” Rumball, a Toronto Argonaut player at the time, as well as a preacher and an advocate for deaf and special needs children, was sitting on a bus travelling through Parry Sound when he happened to notice a property with a For Sale sign. When he eventually got off the bus, he immediately found a ride back to that For Sale sign, and it wasn’t long after that Rumball Deaf Camp was born back in 1962. Additionally, a few years later in 1979 he also opened Bob Rumball Canadian Centre of Excellence for the Deaf in Toronto and in 2006, Bob Rumball Senior Centre for the Deaf in Barrie, Ontario.
Bob’s vision was to give all deaf and special needs children both nationally and internationally, the opportunity to enjoy summer camp, through learning to ski, jumping off a high dive tower, and other waterfront programs with likewise children. But more importantly, he also wanted to provide opportunities to deaf and special needs children to learn job skills as he felt strongly that such children were lost in the system. Bob’s various works over the years has been recognized with many honours including the Order of Ontario, the Order of Canada and the Appointment of Citizenship Court of Judge. Today, it is his son Derek Rumball, a third generation pastor in the family, who is carrying on his father’s legacy and passion.
Rumball Deaf Camp sleeps and feeds 200-250 kids at a time, and is a registered charity that does not receive government subsidising. It is due to the help of generous donors and volunteers that this camp continues to be a great success. Donors like Honda Canada, Lions Club, Rotary Club, Quota Club, Rumball Excavation, South Shores Homes, Dominic Amicone President of Amico Infrastructures Inc. or an ex-camper who donates $10 a month. “We are good Stewart’s of donors money. Every penny people donate, it goes to the camp, we don’t take money for admin costs etc.,” stated Derek.
Bobcat of Parry Sound has been another great partner. In 1993 they were only a seasonal camp but now we are year round, so they needed a compact track loader that could push snow. They needed new Bobcat machines as they killed their last machine from overuse. They got a great package deal from Oliver Kahl, sales specialist for Bobcat of Parry Sound, and were able to get their generous donors to support this deal. “You develop close relationships with people. My local dealer is generous, and I don’t get an ‘exhale’ when I call for service. You don’t want to buy headaches. Bobcat® machines are the perfect size and are reliable machines.”
They purchased a Bobcat T300 compact track loader to plow through snow and three acres of ice, as well as for beach grooming. “Best machine and you stay warm,” stated Derek. They also purchased a Bobcat 3400 utility vehicle, a Bobcat Toolcat 5600 and a Bobcat E50 compact excavator. “If for any reason you get stuck, the Bobcat Toolcat 5600 4-wheel drive will help get you out. That 5600 and the 3400 runs all over the property back and forth doing chores. The Bobcat E50 compact excavator we use for excavating, and clearing with the rotary mower attachment.”
The Bobcat attachments Derek uses are the utility–loader and Toolcat grapple attachment to get firewood. They have the sweeper attachment to get rid of all stones as they have to be wary of children in wheelchairs. One stone in the path of a wheelchair and they can go flying. The thumb attachment also helps as they go through 100 chords of wood a year, as that’s what heats the house. “The forestry cutter attachment destroys everything I need it to cut through in 600 acres. All Bobcat machines and attachments enhance all the programs we can offer the kids. Next we plan on building beach volleyball courts and a baseball diamond.”
A silver lining of Covid-19 was the opportunity to catch up on property maintenance and allowed them to finish off their outdoor theatre using their new Bobcat machines. The camp has also been emergency housing for people who are deaf and didn’t have anywhere to go during Covid-19.
“We are blessed that people have been so generous. All it takes is touching someone’s heart. As a result, these children are given a chance they wouldn’t have been given otherwise. When you see a teenager grateful for something, that’s all that matters. People come and care a little more when they leave here. Thank you Bobcat of Parry Sound and Oliver Kahl for being part of that too.”
Thank you Derek.