The Presbytery of Red Deer held several camps at Sylvan Lake starting the summer of 1934, but the first camp held at the official site took place during the summer of 1943. Camp Kannawin’s site was purchased in 1941 by the Synod of Alberta, but development of the site only started in June of
1943. The first campers slept in canvas tents borrowed from a lumber camp. In 1944 the W.M.S purchased an additional 6.73 acres of land for the camp. The Camp’s original name was “Presbyterian Camp, Sylvan Lake” but was later changed in 1947 to Camp Kannawin, to honour Rev. Dr. W.N Kan-nawin, a powerful influence in establishing Glen Mhor, the first lakeside camp in the church. Camp Kannawin’s main building, the Ruby Walker Centre, was built in the 1980s and houses the kitchen, dining hall, and activities area. Camp Kannawin hosts camps for a variety of age groups, as well as family camps, adventure camps and arts camps.

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