SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. – As Ray Gowan cuts back on the number of acres of wheat and rye he once produced, he is helping to cultivate a crop of growing young minds.
Nestled at the bottom of ancient hills where the Swift Current creek flows sits Gowan’s Grove. It is a park-like setting planned by Ray’s parents, Joseph and Lorraine, in 1970 as a family camp and a place to share with Girl Guides and Boy Scouts; organizations with which Ray’s parents were involved.
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But then people moved away, guides and scouts moved to a new location and the camp fell silent.
Today, the sounds have returned. Laughter and the sounds of splashing in the creek are back as young people gather to take art lessons.
Aspens planted 40 years ago by Joseph (now deceased) tower above.
“It feels good. It’s nice to see it used,” said Gowan, who has lived all his life on the mixed farm, about a 20 minute drive up-creek from the city of Swift Current. He and wife, Shann, have three daughters: Jessi and Carly have their own careers while Alix, the youngest, lives at home.
“I love the farm. I love the swimming hole. It’s a good place for them to come and do their art camp. Lots of those kids that come out to art camp have never been on a farm. Most of them have never swam in the creek, don’t know what teepee rings are. That’s why it’s a good place to have it out here,” said Shann.
Kim Houghtaling, director and curator of the Art Gallery of Swift Current, said the Gowan camp gives young people a broad understanding of culture, arts and heritage.
Houghtaling admits he was influenced years ago when, as a scout leader, he brought his troop to camp at Gowan’s Grove.
“The premise, the approach is to have a concentrated period of time where people get together and make art work. There’s a long history of that in Saskatchewan and throughout the world with artists. You get together and work near each other and kind of feed off of each other. The camp retreat scenario is a good one,” he said.
Houghtaling said the camp is an extension of Gowan’s values – nurturing a crop of wheat is similar to providing a good atmosphere for a young mind to flourish.
“I think it’s the pursuit of growth, or building, or saving something. I think that’s the kind of goal that he applies to everything. Ray has always been a go-to guy for fixing things, helping to build community development things.”
He said Gowan’s Grove has retained its pioneering attitude in that when people need something done, they get together as a community and do it for themselves.
He said the camping site the Gowans built has become like a regional park or community centre.
“I think the idea of (the Gowans) building it themselves, that‘s just the way things were done. You got together with the neighbour and you developed something that you and your community could use. I think it’s an extension of that. Certainly Ray has that attitude, as does Shann. They’re willing to share it in order to make a better quality of life for others.
“I know Ray and Shann like to see things happen. They like to imagine the possibilities and build something. It’s not the first thing that comes to mind is monetary value for them, or the amount of time it’s going to take. They’re going to contribute what they can in order to make something special happen. I think that comes out of that community development and spirit.”
