The township of Selwyn had a successful first year as operators of the Lakefield Campground.
During Tuesday afternoon’s Council meeting, staff gave an update on how the first year as operators for the site went.
Selwyn Township took over operations of the Lakefield Campground, located adjacent to the Lakefield Beach, on November 1, 2025.
Otonabee conservation (ORCA) had previously been operating the site since 2022 in partnership with the township.
The township and ORCA entered into a partnership after the township terminated their agreement with a private operator.
At that time, it was agreed that ORCA would take over operations, opening up the campground and creating more offerings such as canoe rentals.
However, ORCA terminated their agreement in March of 2025 with a letter that stated, “As previously discussed on several occasions, there are significant operational issues and challenges with the Operating Agreement which have become evident during the term of the Agreement. As a result, it has become clear that the financial and operational risks are such that it is not prudent for the Authority to continue carrying out the administration and operations of the campground beyond the current season.”
At the Nov. 10 Council meeting, Mike Richardson, manager of Recreation Services gave council an update on how the first year as operators went and the revenues that were brought in.
Richardson told council that it was a very successful first year. His report included season highlights such as
:• Filled all available seasonal sites in yellow and green areas.
• Maintained the seasonal site holders for 11 sites in the blue area that were protected by the legacy decision by Council in 2021
• Created a 24-person waiting list for seasonal sites in 2027
• Completed significant clean-up and site upgrades, numbering, maintenance throughout campground
• Exceeded $460,000.00 in combined revenues with nearly double the budgeted amount for boat rentals, 40% over budgeted transient rental numbers and exceeding budgeted concession sales.
• More than $200,000.00 in net profits that can go into paying down the campground’s capital loan, subsidize the new Recreation Coordinator salary and/or other parks’ related expenses, as Council directs staff to do
• Received dozens of complimentary feedback from seasonal and transient campers
• Partnered in campground events for the holiday weekends, and with musical events with seasonal site holders.
• Developed relationships through greater interactions between staff and all campers while completing more regular park maintenance including the in-house pump out services
• Ensured frequent and direct, email communications and updates with all seasonal site holders throughout the season.
According to the financials Richardson reported to council, in 2026, the total revenue received from the campground was $459,439.
Expenses for the campground consisted of wages, operations, and utilities totaling $243,000.
This means that the total net revenue received from the campground operations moving in house was $216,439
While it was such a successful year, staff at the campground did receive many complaints about the electrical system at the campground.
According to Richardson, the one consistent complaint from site holders and staff is the failing electrical system. Site holders with medical concerns, freezers and fridge concerns, AC requirements and general electrical needs have continuously communicated the need to upgrade and repair the aged system. His report stated that staff are regularly resetting breakers, and electrical contractors are required to attend the site to perform repairs and nuisance work at a significant and ongoing cost.
His recommendation for the 2027 season was to:
• Increase the seasonal site numbers by 17 sites in the blue (seasonal) area. This would be within the area of 10 of the 11 existing seasonal blue sites. Important change to accommodate most of the current waiting list and to still offer the manageable number and location of transient sites for maximum revenue generation
• Complete the water and/or electrical services in the 6 pink coloured sites in the blue area that are currently without full services
• Major electrical upgrades to 50-year-old electrical system with increased capacity, new panels, breakers and outlets.
Mayor Sherry Senis said that it seems like ORCA did the township a favour by terminating their partnership agreement.
Richardson wholeheartedly agreed, the township staff did a great job taking over and implementing responsibilities as operators of the campground.
Coun. John Boyko asked if the loan for the major infrastructure upgrades was captured in these numbers.
Richardson said that while other operation expenses were captured, the loan repayment was not.
Boyko also asked what the estimated cost of the proposed electrical work needed at the site would be.
Richardson explained that while he does not have exact numbers, it would not exceed $300,000.
It was also mentioned during council that while there is no designated campground reserve fund, there is a parks reserve in the capital budget
Finally Boyko said that when the township first started looking at finding a new operator for the campground in 2022, they sent out a survey to residents and stakeholders. Through that survey 43 per cent of residents said they would rather have parkland then a campground. Boyko expressed concern that by expanding the seasonal sites, would that compromise the trail areas or set a precedent for going back on a decision to preserve parkland and trail areas.
Richardson assured council that that was not the intent. The recommendation would preserve the trails and much of the parkland on the site.
Coun Brian Henry asked if they had a plan through their marketing to manage the potential impacts of the forecasted construction happening in Lakefield next year with the bridge rehabilitation.
Richardson said that the plan is to communicate with their guests alternative routes to get into the village and to their sites. He said that there are always ways around construction, they key is communicating that to their campers.
Henry also asked if by increasing the seasonal sites, it may impact the charm of the site and what it offers to guests.
Richardson said that the hope is that it would actually add to the charm by reorganizing the site to fit more cohesively together. The intent with the additional sites it to allow for seasonal campers to all be together with the transient sites also grouped together so that seasonal guests aren’t constantly interrupted by rotating arrivals.
To close, Henry asked if, with the major work that has been done at the campground and what is planned for the electrical upgrades, if staff had been working on creating an asset management plan specifically for the campground.
Richardson said that yes, it was part of their plan for 2027 to create an asset management plan and inventory.
The recommendations within the report were approved by council.
