Scouting and Guiding in Ontario

Scouting organizations in Ontario

There are several Scouting organizations operating in Ontario. The largest of these is Scouts Canada, which had a combined youth and adult membership as of August 2007 of 99,573, down from 265,313 in 1990. While most Scouts Canada groups operate in English, some operate in French, and French language handbooks and resource material are available. Scouting in the French language is also provided under the auspices of L'Association des Scouts du Canada (sometimes referred to as Les Scouts). These groups are situated mostly in the eastern and north eastern parts of the province which have a higher concentration of francophone residents. Together, Scouts Canada and the Association des Scouts du Canada are members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM).

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. The Federation of North-American Explorers (who are members of the faith-based Union Internationale des Guides et Scouts d'Europe, founded in 1956), or FNE, have groups in Thornhill, Toronto, and Ottawa.

There are at least three ethnic or culturally based Scouting associations which operate in Ontario:

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.

Polish Scouting Association in Canada Incorporated (Związek Harcerstwa Polskiego Poza Granicami Kraju), a Polish émigré organization, also not connected to Związek Harcerstwa Polskiego in Poland.

Plast, a Ukrainian émigré organization. Plast is also the name of the National Scout Organization of the Ukraine.

History of Provincial Council for Ontario

On December 21, 1910 his Excellency Earl Grey, Governor General of Canada and Chief Scout for Canada, together with His Honour J.M. Gibson, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Dr. K.A. Pyne, Ontario Minister of Education, and a number of prominent citizens from all parts of the province, met in Toronto to select gentlemen who are interested and who would assist in the Boy Scout Movement and form a Council for Ontario.

For many years Scouts Canada scouting in Ontario was led by this Provincial Council for Ontario, under which operated numerous regional councils the exact number and geography of which changed over the years. However, in 2002 when Scouts Canada reorganized, the provincial council ceased to exist and the eight councils remaining in Ontario reported directly to the national council. An incorporated body still exists for the purpose of holding ownership of property as required by provincial laws.

Presidents of the Provincial Council for Ontario

1910–1913 W.K. George

1913–1920 Lt. Col. A.E. Gooderham

1920–1922 G.E. Fauquier

1922–1936 J.W. Mitchell

1936–1938 P.G. Cherry

1938–1939 Col. Sir G.McL. Brown

1939–1645 W.J. Cairns

1945–1951 A.H. Richardson

1951–1957 J.B. Ridley

1957–1959 W.H.J. Tisdale

1959–1961 I.D. MacArthur

1961–1962 A.R. Aylsworth

1963–1964 J.B. Ridley

1964–1965 W.R. Kay, F.C.A.

1966–1967 E.A Jarrett

1968–1969 K.R. Van Wyck

1970–1971 J.K McKay

1972–1974 S.E. Lovell

1974–1975 Judge C.O. Bick

1975–1977 Dr. B.M. Jackson

1977-1978 W.B. Tilden

1978-1979 F.L Greaves

1979-1981 R.A. Norman

1981-1983 W.A. Baker

1983-1985 T.D. Philp

1985-1987 M.W. Townsend

1987-1990 H.R. Finley

1990-1993 L.R.L. Symmes

1993-1995 J.S. Cowan

1995-1998 D.W. Hamilten

1998-2000 R. Dychuck

2000-2002 Kathryn Brown (1st female Ontario Council President)

Provincial Commissioners

1910-1913 Capt R.S. Wilson

1913-1922 W.K. George

1922-1924 J.F.M. Stewart

1924-1934 H.A. Laurence

1934-1938 W.J. Cairns

1938-1941 Lt. Col. R.P. Locke

1941-1948 Lt. Col. L.H. Millen

1948-1957 W.H.J. Tisdale

1957-1964 F.A. Worth

1965-1966 R.A. Phillips

1966-1969 A.W. Denny

1969-1972 Rev. Prof. Dr. R.J. Williams

1972-1976 C.J. Clark

1976-1978 F.L. Greaves

1978-1980 D.M. Deacon

1980-1983 F.A. Whiskin

1983-1986 E.R. McCrimmon

1986-1989 H. Coulson, C.D.

1989-1992 K.H Robertson

1992-1994 Rev. P. Jackson

1994-1997 J.A. Evans (1st female Ontario Provincial Commissioner)

1997-1999 T. Godfrey

1999-2002 C. Lawrence

Provincial Executive Directors

(Previously known as Provincial Scout Executive or Provincial Executive Commissioner or Executive Secretary. In early years it also carried the title of Assistant Provincial Commissioner.)

1910–1920 Capt. H.G. Hammond

1920–1954 Frank C. Irwin

1955–1969 Reginald St.J. Terrett

1969–1989 Joseph E. Turner

1989–1995 Frank C. Spence

1996–2002 Barry M. Hardaker

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

Scouts Canada and WOSM Jamborees held in Ontario

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

1953: 2nd Canadian Scout Jamboree, Connaught Ranges, Ottawa, Ontario. 1,196 attend.

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

1961: 3rd Canadian Scout Jamboree, Connaught Ranges, Ottawa, Ontario. 2,095 attend.

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.

Scouts Canada councils in Ontario

Ontario is administered in Scouts Canada by 8 Councils divided into Service Areas.

Battlefields Council

Brant Area

Fruitbelt

Haldimand

Hamilton-Wentworth Area

Lynn Valley

Merritt Trail

Niagara Area

South Waterloo Area

St. Catharines Area

Central Escarpment Council

Brampton Area (merged with Greater Halton Area to form Credit Hills Area in 2010)

Burlington Area

Credit Hills Area

Greater Halton Area (merged with Brampton Area to form Credit Hills Area in 2010)

Mississauga Area

North Waterloo Area

Oakville Area

Wellington Area

Yellow Briar Area

Greater Toronto Council

Alders Area

Agincourt Area

Humber West Area

Old Mill Area

68th Toronto Scout Group

Scarborough Area

Seton Area

Skyline Area

Sunnybrook Area

Willow Valley Area

Northern Ontario Council

Nipissing Area

Sault Ste. Marie Area

Sudbury Area

Thunder Bay Area

Black River Area

Points North Area

Ken Kee Area

Sunset Area

Shining Waters Council

Northern Lights Area

Simcoe Phoenix Area

14th Barrie

South Lake Simcoe Area

Sunset Area

Wendake Shores Area (Merged with Whispering Pines in 2013.)

Whispering Pines Area

York Headwaters Area

Tri-Shores Council

Elgin Area

London Area

Sydenham Area

Windsor Area

Essex Area

Chatham/Kent Area

Bluewater Area

Frontier Area

Mindaamin Area

Voyageur Council

Heritage Area

Loyalist Area (Kingston/Frontenac)

Nunavut

Nepean Area

Valley Highlands Area

Rideau Area

Upper St. Lawrence Valley Area

Algonquin Hills Area

Odawa Area

Carleton Area

White Pine Council

Oshawa Area

Algonquinte Area

Kawartha Waterways Area

Owasco Area

Trillium Highlands Area

Whitby Area

Lakeshore Ridge Area

Scouts Canada Council camp sites

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. 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 :

Central Ontario

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 (near Haliburton, Ontario)

Camp Manitou (near Campbellville, Ontario)

Camp Wildman Scout Camp (near Midland, Ontario)

Woodland Trails Scout Camp (near Stouffville, Ontario)

Eastern Ontario

Camp Apple Hill (in Odawa Area)

Camp Opemikon (near Perth, Ontario)

Otter Lake (Otter Lake, Quebec)

Otter Lake, Ontario (beside Frontenac Provincial Park)

Camp Legewade (near Renfrew, Ontario)

Camp Folly (southeast shore of Newboro Lake)

Camp Oskenonton (on Buck Lake)

Camp Samac (in Oshawa, Ontario)

Camp Sheldrick (near Winchester, Ontario)

Southwestern 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)

Camp Manitou (in Milton, 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)

Northern Ontario

Camp Bimoba (on Scout Island - Middle Lake, Kenora, Ontario)

Grey Wolf (Thunder Bay, Ontario)

Wilabosca (Sudbury, Ontario)

Other facilities and province-wide events

Belleville District Scout-Guide Museum

Scout Brigade of Fort George [1], Niagara-on-the-Lake

Gilwell Reunion

129th Toronto Scouting Group

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. 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, American Pastor Fred Phelps and his congregation at the Westboro Baptist Church planned to protest outside the Ontario offices of Scouts Canada. However, 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 due to a lack of interest.

Girl Guiding in Ontario

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.

Guiding is now served by the Guiding in Canada - Ontario Council, with 44,000 girl members, 11,000 adults, 13 Areas and 37 camps throughout Ontario.

8th World Scout Jamboree

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 by air to attend—1,000 from Great Britain alone.

Scout memorials

Scouting memorials include a Thompson Seton Park in Toronto, Ontario, 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.