As wildfires burn and smoke blankets large parts of Canada, a Newfoundland and Labrador Knights of Columbus council that housed and fed firefighters during last year’s wildfire season has received an international award for its service.
Monsignor McCarthy Council 5902 in Carbonear, Newfoundland, received the Knights of Columbus International Community Program Award during the organization’s 144th Supreme Convention, held in Denver Aug. 4–6.
The award comes as Canada faces another severe wildfire season. More than 4,500 fires had burned approximately 3.9 million hectares across Canada by Aug. 6, while more than 100 fires remained out of control.
In early August 2025, Council 5902 members opened Camp McCarthy, the council’s retreat and youth camp, to firefighters battling the Conception Bay North wildfire, which threatened the nearby community of Kingston.
Camp McCarthy became home to volunteer firefighters who had travelled to the area to assist with the Conception Bay North wildfire. More than 45 council members spent several weeks preparing meals and providing accommodations for the visiting firefighters. They also delivered 500 bottles of water to frontline responders fighting the fires around Kingston and distributed necessary supplies while collecting donations from neighbouring Knights of Columbus councils and community organizations to help ensure responders had the equipment they needed.
The camp welcomed firefighters from Labrador City, Gambo, Northern Arm, Lewisporte, Grand Falls-Windsor, Deer Lake, Gander, New-Wes-Valley and other Newfoundland and Labrador communities.
Residents of Kingston and neighbouring communities were ordered to evacuate in early August as water bombers, helicopters and ground crews battled the blaze. By Aug. 21, the fire had grown to an estimated 10,095 hectares, while firefighters and aircraft from other provinces joined the response.
The provincial government lifted the evacuation order for Kingston and neighbouring communities on Aug. 28, more than three weeks after residents had been ordered from their homes.
The Knights’ award recognized the role Camp McCarthy played in supporting firefighters who travelled to the region.
The award was presented during the Supreme Knight’s Award Session at the international convention, attended by more than 2,100 Knights and their families, Catholic clergy and guests from 13 countries.
The Community Program Award is one of four International Program Awards recognizing outstanding council projects in the categories of faith, family, community and life.
The Faith Award went to a Ukrainian council that organized a pilgrimage to Poland for widows and children of soldiers killed in the war. More than 45 participants visited pilgrimage sites including Jasna Góra in Czestochowa, the McGivney House in Radom, the Presidential Palace and Knights of Columbus Mercy Center in Warsaw, and the Divine Mercy Shrine in Kraków.
The Family Award went to a Philippine council that helped 18 couples enter sacramental marriages. Working with its parish, the council prepared couples who had been civilly married or living together, provided wedding rings, flowers, cakes and photography, and helped bring two participants into the Catholic Church. Three men also became members of the Knights of Columbus.
The Life Award went to a Michigan council that renovated a pregnancy resource centre. Council members contributed more than 1,000 hours of labour, saving the centre nearly US$90,000 in labour costs and allowing it to devote more resources to serving women and families. The project continued the council’s longstanding support of the centre, which had previously included helping fund an ultrasound machine.
