Scouting and Guiding in Ontario: Difference between revisions

{{Refimprove|date=September 2007}}

 

'''Scouting and Guiding in Ontario''' has a long history. Although there is some dispute about the founding of the first [[Scout Group|Scouting Group]], 1st St. Catherines Scout Group has a documented existence from 1908. In 1955, the [[8th World Scout Jamboree]] was held at [[Niagara-on-the-Lake]], Ontario. [[Scouting]] continues in [[Ontario]] to the present day, serving thousands of youths in programs that suit the environment in which they live.

Ontario has several organizations which are not part of WOSM. In some cases, they were created because members felt that Scouts Canada had drifted too far from the program originally developed by scouting's founder, [[Baden Powell]]. Some trace their roots to the [[Baden-Powell Scouts]] in the [[United Kingdom]] such as the PBSA Ontario Provincial Council, which was formed in 1998 as a member of the PBSA Federation of Canada. Some are members of the [[Canadian Federation of Independent Scouting]], which in turn is a member of the [[World Federation of Independent Scouts]]. Members of this federation include the [[Traditional Explorers Association Council of Ontario]].<ref name="TEACoO">{{cite web|url=http://www.traditionalexplorers.on.ca/| work=CA traditionalexplorers.on.ca |title=''Canadian Federation of Independent Scouting'' |accessdate=2007-09-17}}</ref> The 1st Four Arrows Group in Thornhill, Ontario is part of the Federation of North American Explorers, who in turn are Members of the faith-based [[Union Internationale des Guides et Scouts d'Europe]], founded in 1956.

* [http://www.zhr-kanada.org/English.html ZHR Polish Scouts of Canada] (''Związek Harcerstwa Rzeczypospolitej w Kanadzie'') was founded in 1996 and has units in the [[Greater Toronto Area]] and [[Peterborough, Ontario]] and is not affiliated to [[Związek Harcerstwa Rzeczypospolitej]] in Poland.

Col. Rufus Spooner of [[The Salvation Army]] acted as Provincial Executive Commissioner following Frank Irwin's sudden death until the appointment of Reg Terrett.

* 1949: 1st Canadian Scout Jamboree, [[Connaught Ranges]], [[Ottawa]], [[Ontario]]. 2,579 attend.

* 1955: [[8th World Scout Jamboree]] [[Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario]]

* 1985: 6th Canadian Scout Jamboree, Guelph Lake Conservation Area, [[Guelph]], [[Ontario]]. 12,000 attend.

* 1997: 9th Canadian Scout Jamboree, Boulevard Lake Park, [[Thunder Bay]], [[Ontario]]. 13,879 attend.

Because much of scouting's programs are focused on the outdoors, a large number of properties have been donated or purchased and developed as scouting campgrounds over the years. Driven by declining membership, increasing costs, and liability issues, Scouts Canada conducted a property review in Ontario which concluded that dozens of camps should be sold. This has resulted in legal action between the Scouts Canada Ontario Incorporated Body and local Scouters. Action was underway in [[November 2005]] and is ongoing. <ref name="Property Review">{{cite web|url=http://cgi.bowesonline.com/pedro.php?id=5&x=story&xid=199066|work= stthomastimesjournal.com|title=''Legal action over Camp Timken''|accessdate=2007-09-17}}</ref> Scouts Canada's camps in Ontario are generally administered by one of the four Administrative Centres. The following list is as of May 14, 2007 <ref>[http://www.scouts.ca/media//documents/CANCAMPS07.pdf ''Scouts Canada, Canadian Campsites and Outdooor Programs''|accessdate= 04-05-2008]</ref>:

* Blue Springs Scout Reserve (near [[Acton, Ontario]])

* Camp Char'Bro (near [[Owen Sound]], [[Ontario]])

* Camp Everton (near [[Rockwood, Ontario]])

* Goodyear Memorial Scout Camp (near [[Orangeville, Ontario]])

* Green Bay Scout Camp ([[Lake Cecebe]], Ontario on the [[Magnetawan River]] system)

* [[Haliburton Scout Reserve|Haliburton Scout Reseve]] (near [[Haliburton, Ontario]])

* Camp Manitou (near [[Campbellville, Ontario]])

* Camp Wildman Scout Camp (near [[Midland, Ontario]])  

* Woodland Trails Scout Camp (near [[Stouffville, Ontario]])

* [[Camp Opemikon]] (near [[Perth, Ontario]]

* Otter Lake ([[Otter Lake, Quebec]])

* Camp Samac (in [[Oshawa]], [[Ontario]])

* Camp Attawandaron (near [[Grand Bend, Ontario]] and bordering [[Pinery Provincial Park]])

* Barber Memorial Scout Camp (adjacent to the [[Eramosa River]])

* The Bryson Centre (in the north end of [[London, Ontario]])

* Camp Cataraqui (east of [[Chatham, Ontario]])

* Camp Cedarwin (near [[Kingsville, Ontario]])

* Camp Impeesa (near [[Brantford, Ontario]])

* Camp Mohawk (in [[Kitchener, Ontario]])

* Mount Nemo Camp (near [[Burlington, Ontario]])

* Ragged Falls (near [[Dwight, Ontario]])

* Camp Shegardaynou (near [[Woodstock, Ontario]])

* Camp Sylvan (north of [[London, Ontario]])

* Camp Timkin (near [[St Thomas, Ontario]])

* Camp Wadiscoca (near [[Wallaceburg, Ontario]])

* Camp Wetaskiwin (near [[St. Catharines, Ontario]])

* [http://my.tbaytel.net/scouts Camp Bimoba] (on Scout Island - Middle Lake, [[Kenora]], [[Ontario]])

* [http://my.tbaytel.net/scouts Grey Wolf] ([[Thunder Bay]], [[Ontario]])

The ''129th Toronto Scouting Group'' (also known as the ''Queer Toronto Scouting Group'') was believed to be the first group worldwide exclusively for gay, lesbian, and bisexual youths and adults. The group was founded by gay activist [[Bonte Minnema]] and chartered by [[Scouts Canada]] in [[1999 in Canada|1999]].<ref>{{cite journal |title=First gay/lesbian Scout troop  |journal=Perceptions |volume=P133 (v17n8) |date=December 8, 1999 |page=28}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=James |last=Brooke |authorlink=James Brooke (journalist) |title=Gay and Lesbian Scouts Received With Open Arms in Tolerant Canada |url=http://www.commondreams.org/headlines/070300-02.htm |agency=[[The New York Times]] |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |date=July 3, 2000 |accessdate=2009-06-26}}</ref> Consistent with Scouts Canada policy, the group was [[co-ed]]. It made world [[headlines]], including the [[BBC World News]], when a story by [[Reuters]] first brought attention to the group's existence.

In [[October 1999]], [[United States|American]] [[Pastor]] [[Fred Phelps]] and his congregation at the [[Westboro Baptist Church]] planned to protest outside the [[Ontario]] offices of Scouts Canada. However, [[Canada Border Services Agency|Canada Customs]] denied them entry into the country. This prevented Phelps and his church members from appearing, and left supporters of the group to rally outside the offices without opposition.

The group folded in [[2001 in Canada|2001]] due to a lack of interest.

[[Mary Malcolmson]] organized the first Canadian Girl Guide Company to be officially registered in [[St. Catharines]], [[Ontario]]; their registration is dated January, 1910. A park in St. Catharines was later named for Mary Malcolmson. Other Guide Companies were registered later in 1910, in [[Toronto]]. The First Toronto Company held the first-recorded Girl Guide Camp in Canada on the banks of the [[Credit River]] in June, 1911. By 1912, the movement had spread to all parts of Canada, and had become so popular that on July 24, 1912 [[Agnes Baden-Powell]] created Lady [[Mary Pellatt]] "[[Chief Commissioner]] of the Dominion of Canada Girl Guides". Many Guide events were held at her home, [[Casa Loma]], in Toronto. It is now a tourist attraction with a special Girl Guide display.

In 1955, the 8th World Scout Jamboree was held at [[Niagara-on-the-Lake]], Ontario. This was the first World Jamboree to be held in the [[Western Hemisphere]]. The setting was a rolling parkland, and 11,000 Scouts attended this gathering, which was notable for the number of Scout contingents that crossed the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] by air to attend—1,000 from [[Great Britain]] alone.

[[Scouting memorials]] include a Thompson Seton Park in [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]],<ref name="ETS Park">{{cite web|url=http://www.toronto.ca/parks/parks_gardens/etseton2.htm|work= toronto.ca|title=''Toronto Parks'' |accessdate=2007-09-17}}</ref> a historic plaque in [[Lindsay, Ontario]] and, the commemorative for the [[8th World Scout Jamboree]] in [[Niagara-on-the-Lake]], [[Ontario]] where the 50th Anniversary Plaque is located near [[Butler's Barracks]].<ref name="50th Plaque">{{cite web |url=http://wj55.org/Plan_Your_Visit.php |work=[http://wj55.org/ wj55.org] |title=Plan Your Visit |accessdate=2007-09-17}}</ref>

[[Category:Scouting and Guiding in Canada]]

[[Category:Organizations based in Ontario]]