James Nightingale and Edith Palmer (T M Palmer) purchased the Tillicum property in 1926.  Mr Nightingale wanted a lakeside property where boy scouts could enjoy a summertime water and camping adventure.  In his frequent boating excursions around Lake Nipissing, he searched the shoreline for a suitable location for a scout camp. There was no road to the property but he persisted until he acquired the property from CNR. This was the beginning of a camp that soon became popular with scouts and church groups. After first functioning under canvas, a few permanent buildings and sleep cabins were erected beginning 1929.  Several noteworthy volunteers assisted with construction.
 
Tom Palmer was a driving force in developing programs for the camp.  TM was an outstanding citizen who established a reputation around the province for his contribution to boys work.  He became Rotary president in 1940, district governor in 1961 and throughout this period maintained a high interest in local matters serving as mayor in 1951.  TM is our first Paul Harris fellow.  With that energy, Palmer and Nightingale oversaw the development and operation of Tillicum. Together they made the camp an attractive and yearning destination for the countless youth who enjoyed the camping experience each summer.
 
Through the generosity of Edith Palmer and James Nightingale, the camp property and title were gifted to the Rotary Club of North Bay in February 1949.
They transferred the valuable camp property so that Rotary could continue to provide a camp for boys and girls.
 
The Rotary Club turned the property management over to the Camp Tillicum Inc, an Ontario company owned by shareholders who are members of The Rotary Club of North Bay.  Corporate governance is achieved through an elected board of Directors, with the addition of an appointed director from the Nipissing Rotary Club. The board of directors is responsible for the direction, management and operation of Camp Tillicum Inc.
 
In the first 35 years of Rotary ownership, the club invested over $100,000 on improvements and maintenance.  The camp is equipped and consists
of sleep cabins, a dining hall with kitchen facilities, a sizeable recreation hall,  workshops, and ancillary services.  Outdoor facilities include a complete sports field, two beaches a long dock.  The camp accommodates 130.    
 
In 1978, the Directors leased Camp Tillicum to the Department of National Defence for army and sea cadets.  This tenant made a number of leasehold modifications to facilitate its program.  In this period, there were some property and building improvements but the camp facilities did not undergo any significant overhaul of its assets.  While DND had exclusive use of the camp, they permitted numerous scouting and youth groups to visit and enjoy the facility.
 
When the DND discontinued their camp involvement, the club entered into a lease with YMCA who established programs that respected the founding donors’ principles to maintain a vacation playground for boys and girls.  The summertime youth programs are managed and operated by the YMCA.
 
Under YMCA operation and annual capital funding for facility improvements by two Rotary clubs, Camp Tillicum was revitalized and restored as a summer playground and beach facility for youth from North Bay and area.