The opening of Camp Kvutza at Markham, Ontario, was blessed with the unfaltering benevolence of King Saul. As a result, over 125 haverim and friends packed three trucks and several cars and filled the grounds.
At first everything was disorganized as everybody went out exploring. Some inspected the eighty percentfinished dining room and kitchen; others looked around the sleeping quarters, with the iron cots and brand new mattresses; still others were disappointed to find the dam unfinished. But the wisest of all went exploring in the forests, and one found a most beautiful nook for discussions. In fact, he offered to rent the spot for every Sunday in the summer. Moreover, just at that point, one of the rivers (we are at the junction of two streams) brought fond memories of the beautiful showers of that historic site, Accord.
The opening was held around the flag poles. After Tehezakna, haverim spoke for the Poale Zion, the Farband, the Pioneer Women, and Habonim. And Harry Spoon gave a talk on the meaning of Camp Kvutza to the movement all over the world as he took over the key to Toronto's Camp Kvutza. In his talk, he stressed the place of America in Labor Zionism in light of the plight of Jewry in Europe. He hoped the Toronto haverim would choose a name for Kvutza in keeping with our ideals, the name of an Eretz; Yisrael Kvutza. Our Kvutza is named "Afikim."
Moshe Rubinoff, 1940