The Canadian Recreational Vehicle Association (CRVA) received the We Care Corporate Award from Care Camps Foundation for its national fundraising and awareness campaign supporting pediatric oncology camps across Canada. The recognition highlights how industry associations can leverage milestone celebrations to create substantial community benefit while strengthening sector cohesion.
CRVA President Shane Devenish accepted the award during the RV Dealers Association Convention in Las Vegas from Care Camps Foundation Executive Director Gwynn Sullivan. The honor specifically acknowledges CRVA's coast-to-coast 50th anniversary initiative that mobilized the Canadian RV community around supporting medically supervised camps for children with cancer and their families. Sullivan noted that "Care Camps exists because of the outdoor industry and partners like CRVA who go above and beyond" and that CRVA's initiative "exemplified what it means to lead with heart."
Throughout 2025, CRVA traveled nationally with the CRVA 50th RV, donated by General Coach Canada, connecting with campground owners, dealerships, and community partners at events across the country. This mobile campaign created numerous engagement opportunities where industry participants shared personal stories, donated generously, and helped amplify Care Camps' mission. CRVA Chair Marty Bloemberg explained that while celebrating the association's milestone was important, "we wanted to find a way to give back in a meaningful way, and CRVA's Board was unanimous in its support of Care Camps."
The initiative's success demonstrates how industry associations can serve as catalysts for social impact beyond traditional business advocacy. By aligning anniversary celebrations with charitable giving, CRVA created a unifying purpose that resonated across the RV ecosystem. President Shane Devenish observed that "one of the greatest joys of our 50th anniversary year for me personally was meeting people face-to-face" and "watching how quickly everyone rallied to support our mission this year with Care Camps."
In accepting the award, CRVA emphasized the collaborative nature of the achievement, sharing recognition with RVDA of Canada, Go RVing Canada, and the Canadian Camping and RV Association. These organizations provided essential support through advocacy, marketing, and community leadership that strengthened the campaign's national reach. Devenish noted that the recognition "doesn't belong to CRVA alone" but should be shared with "every dealer, campground owner, manufacturer, current RV owner, and everyone else who dropped by and said hello at one of the events, donated to Care Camps, shared our message, or simply encouraged us along the way."
The award underscores a growing trend where industry associations are expanding their roles beyond regulatory and business functions to include community engagement and social responsibility initiatives. For business leaders, this demonstrates how milestone events can be transformed from mere celebrations into platforms for meaningful impact. The campaign's success suggests that industries built around lifestyle activities like RVing can effectively leverage their community networks to support causes aligned with their values.
As CRVA moves beyond its 50th year, the association has reaffirmed its commitment to industry leadership, community engagement, and supporting causes like Care Camps that reflect the values of the RV community. The initiative serves as a model for how trade associations can create win-win scenarios where celebrating industry achievements simultaneously addresses important social needs, potentially strengthening member loyalty and public perception while making tangible contributions to community wellbeing.
