Scouting in Ontario

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Scouting in Ontario has a long history. Although there is some dispute about the founding of the first Scouting Group, 1st St. Catherines Scout Group has a documented existence from 1908. Scouting continues in Ontario to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live. 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.

Contents

[edit] Scouting organizations in Ontario

Current Scouts Canada Ontario crest
Current Scouts Canada Ontario crest
L'Association des Scouts du Canada Ontario crest
L'Association des Scouts du Canada Ontario crest

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.[1] 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 and parts of the province which have a higher concentration of francophones residents. Together, Scouts Canada and the Association des Scouts du Canada are members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM).

For many years Scouts Canada scouting in Ontario was led by the 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.

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 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. [2] The 1st Four Arrows Group in Toronto, Ontario is part of the Federation of North American Explorers, which in turn are Members of the faith based Union Internationale des Guides et Scouts d'Europe founded in 1956.

There are at least three ethic or culturally based scouting associations which operate in Ontario:

[edit] Jamborees held in Ontario

8th World Jamboree crest
8th World Jamboree crest

[edit] Scouts Canada Scout Councils

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
    • Burlington Area
    • Greater Halton
    • Mississauga Area
    • North Waterloo Area
    • Oakville
    • Wellington Area
    • Yellow Briar
  • Greater Toronto Council
    • Alders Area
    • Agincourt Area
    • Humber West Area
    • Old Mill Area
    • East Scarborough Area
    • West Scarborough Area
    • Seton Area
    • Skyline Area
    • Sunnybrook Area
    • Willow Valley Area
  • Shining Waters Council
    • Simcoe Phoenix Area
    • South Lake Simcoe 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
    • Stormont-Glengarry
    • Nepean Area
    • Valley Highlands Area
    • Rideau Area
    • Upper St. Lawrence Valley Area
    • Algonquin Hills Area
    • Odawa Area
  • White Pine Council
    • Oshawa Area
    • Algonquinte Area
    • Kawartha Waterways Area
    • Owasco Area
    • Trillium Highlands Area
    • Whitby Area
    • Lakeshore Ridge Area

[edit] 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. [3] 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 [4]:

[edit] Central Ontario

[edit] Eastern Ontario

[edit] Southwestern Ontario

[edit] Northern Ontario

[edit] Other facilities and province-wide events

  • Belleville District Scout-Guide Museum
  • Scout Brigade of Fort George, Niagara-on-the-Lake
  • Gilwell Reunion


[edit] 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 youth 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.

[edit] Scout memorials

Scouting memorials include a Thompson Seton Park in Toronto, Ontario,[5] 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[6]

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.scouts.ca/media//documents/April22nd2008.pdf|title=Scouts Canada Membership Statistics
  2. ^ Canadian Federation of Independent Scouting. CA traditionalexplorers.on.ca. Retrieved on 2007-09-17.
  3. ^ Legal action over Camp Timken. stthomastimesjournal.com. Retrieved on 2007-09-17.
  4. ^ Scouts Canada, Canadian Campsites and Outdooor Programs|accessdate= 04-05-2008
  5. ^ Toronto Parks. toronto.ca. Retrieved on 2007-09-17.
  6. ^ Plan Your Visit. wj55.org. Retrieved on 2007-09-17.
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