Our Story.
Our family is proud to have welcomed guests to experience, explore and care for this beautiful land for four generations spanning 80 years.
We also acknowledge that our family’s story has just begun when compared to the thousands of years that Anishinaabe people have lived on and cared for this land.
Anishinaabe Land Stewardship (time immemorial - present day)
Since time immemorial and into today, the Aanishnaabeg have lived on and stewarded the land where our resort is located - the traditional territory of Thessalon First Nation and Mississauga First Nation. As the original people of this place, the Anishinaabeg have always lived in reciprocal, respectful relations with the land and waters and all living things. Despite hundreds of years of harmful colonization efforts that continue into today, they retain an unbroken natural relationship with their land through speaking their original languages; practicing their ceremonies; hunting, trapping and fishing; and practicing cultural traditions passed down for thousands of years. As a settler-run business operating on Anishinaabe land, we are committed to recognizing, respecting and supporting their rights and practices however we can.
Lyn’s Camp (1939-1969)
The original Lynn’s Camp was built in the 1940s by Lynn and Maudie Forder (pictured at right). At that time Highway 129 was a dirt road used mainly for logging, which was still done with horses, with logs driven down the Mississaugi River. The first cabin (Cabin 1 - now Rowan Cabin) was built using trees hauled from the property. There was no electricity or running water. In the winter water was hauled from a hole cut in the lake. Huge blocks of ice were cut from the frozen lake using a hand saw to store over the summer for refrigeration. Over the years Lynn and Maudie built eight cabins, which were mostly rented by Americans who were interested in hunting and fishing in Canada’s remote wilderness. Lynn and Maudie’s daughter Marian grew up catering to guests at the resort. She would later marry Mel Allen and together they would build and manage Allen’s Camp (now Aubrey Falls Trading Post) and Mashagama Lodge (now privately owned) with their two children Marsha and Michael.
Kegos Camp (1969-2020)
Lynn and Maudie Forder sold the camp to Fred and Ruby Knecht, who renamed it Kegos Camp. From 1969-1990 the camp passed out of the family until Mike Allen (grandson of Lynn and Maudie Forder) and Gillian Lloyd purchased it in 1990 - the same year they were married at the camp. Mike and Gillian, along with their two daughters Stephanie and Robin, would run the camp for the next 30 years. During this time they built two new cabins and renovated and upgraded the others. They also introduced new services including Art Escapes, ATV guided tours, and Canoe Shuttles. Their daughter Robin and son-in-law Fred also managed the Backcountry Cabin. The clientele gradually shifted from fisher-people and hunters to families looking for a classic vacation in a beautiful setting. Over the years, many of their return guests became like a second family. Some even purchased property in the area, becoming life long friends and neighbours.
Northern Skies Resort (2021-)
As of Summer 2021, Kegos Camp has been owned and managed by Mike and Gillian's daughter Robin Sutherland and her husband Fred Post. Robin and Fred and their two children are the fourth generation of our family to run the resort. They are committed to working hard to preserve Mike and Gillian's 30 year legacy of providing the warm and welcoming customer service our guests have come to love; to honour the memory of Lynn, Maudie and Marian; and to learn from and carry forward the Anishinaabe spirit of land stewardship. As part of this ownership transition, Robin and Fred renamed the business Northern Skies Resort. They will continue to focus on providing classic family vacations while adding a focus on eco-tourism which will include renting their off grid backcountry cabin, hosting health and wellness retreats, and creating local wilderness, arts and culture experiences in partnership with local rural and Indigenous communities.