British Columbia(BC) memories
One of the girls who crashed the Crystal Palace Boy Scout rally in 1909 was Nesta Ashworth. Nesta moved to Canada and eventually worked as a Guider in Vancouver. She received the Silver Fish award an award for outstanding achievements in 1920. She sadly passed away in 1982.
Timeline of BC’s decades in Guiding
1920-1930-1940-1950-1960-1970-1980-1990-2000-2010
The first registered Guide Unit met in Sardis, BC during 1910. Their Unit badge was the local trillium flower. When they camped, they traveled by buggy (a one-horse rig) or rode horses out to historic Sumas Lake, once located beyond the Vedder River. At camp the girls hiked, cooked and swam.
The first permanent BC Unit met in Vancouver at
St. James Church, and was also registered in 1910.
A highlight of this Unit’s activities was a campout
held on Bowen Island.
The first provincial rally was held in Victoria in 1919.
History of Guiding in Canada
In 1909, uninvited British girls crashed the Scouting rally organized by Lord Baden-Powell at the Crystal Palace in London, Great Britain, to let him know of their interest. By 1910 the girls enthusiasm had spread to Canada.
During the summer of 1910, Lord Baden-Powell’s (BP) plans included attending the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) in Toronto and visiting new Boy Scout troops across Canada. With the encouragement of his sister Agnes Baden-Powell, he also met with Canadian Girl Guide Units.
Anne Gloin describes the early days of Guiding in her book, Like Measles, It’s Catching, she states: “The Girl Guides did not crash the (CNE) party, but according to newspaper accounts, BP did meet with the Girl Guides when he toured the Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa,Winnipeg and Vancouver areas. It seems whenever a girl gets her hands on a copy of Scouting for Boys, she organizes a patrol and the game starts. Immigrating girls, who were Girl Guides in England, are quick to organize Units as soon as they’re settled into their homes. They’re even in Dawson City!”
Guiding grew rapidly across Canada–some highlights
1909 Agnes Baden-Powell writes two pamphlets to show
interested girls how to organize Guide Units
1910 Guiding in Canada officially begins when St. Catharines
Unit is registered in London, England on January 11.
Units open in Toronto, Winnipeg, Moose Jaw and
Sardis the same year
1911 The Dominion Council is formed to oversee
Canadian registrations
1912 Agnes Baden-Powell appoints Lady Pellatt* as
the first Chief Commissioner for Canada
1979 Pathfinders Units open for girls ages 12 to 15
1988 Spark Units open for girls ages 5 to 6
2010 Guiding celebrates in100th birthday in Canada
For more information about the history of Guiding, visit Girl Guides of Canada.
* Lady Pellatt’s home, Casa Loma (a historical site today), was host to many Guiding events.