Canadian Scouting History

Scouting in Canada is believed to have started around 1908 following closely upon Baden Powell's first experimental camp for boys at Brownsea Island. That camp took place in August of 1907.

By 1911, the organization had published rules and policy. Canadian Scouts then attended the coronation of King George V.

Training for adult leaders began shortly thereafter. The first course was held at St. Andrew's College, Toronto in July of 1913.

To respond to the movements growth, the "Boy Scouts of Canada" was incorporated by an act of Parliament in 1914. The Wolf Cub program also began in this year with the first "experimental" pack in Goderich Ontario.

The authoring of the "Wolf Cub Handbook" in 1916 marked the "official launch" of the Wolf Cub program in Canada.

The program was further expanded in 1917 with the introduction of both the Sea and Rover Scout programs.

Shortly thereafter, in 1919, Gilwell Park (outside London, England) was donated to Scouting to serve as an international training (Woodbadge training) centre for adult Scouters. Gilwell Park still does so to this day.

In 1920, at the first World Jamboree, Baden-Powell was proclaimed "Chief Scout of the World" BP held this distinction until his death in 1941 and there is still no successor to him in this office. In fact, he is still considered Chief Scout, albeit posthumously.

1922 saw the first official Woodbadge training in Canada with 20 leaders attending the course in Ottawa.

Fundraising was augmented in 1932 with the first ever "Apple Day". Apple Day is still carried out every fall by Scouts and is one of the organizations major public relations and fund raising events.

Baden-Powell made his last visit to Canada in 1935. He died in 1941 at the age of 83.

In 1936, The Blue Springs Scout Reserve (near Acton Ontario) was purchased. Blue Springs still operates today and also serves as historical record keeper for Canadian Scouting.

The first Canadian Jamboree, or CJ, was held at Connaught Ranges outside Ottawa in 1949. Canada then entertained the world at the 8th World Jamboree, held at Niagara on the Lake in 1955.

The movement continued to grow with several more Canadian and World events. In 1967, the Venturer program was introduced followed in 1974 by the Beaver Program (a Canadian invention). Trees for Canada "Scout Trees" was also introduced in 1974.

1982 marked the 75th anniversary of Scouting in Canada. Canada again played host to the world at the 15th World Jamboree held in Alberta in 1983.

Scouting has continued to grow in Canada. Today, there are approximately 105,000 Canadian Scouts in 1,500 individual groups. Approximately 65,000 are here in Ontario.

Scouts Canada is the 10th largest member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. Indonesia is the largest member with approximately 9.6 million Scouts. The United States has approximately 6.25 million members while the United Kingdom has approximately 540,000. The other six countries with membership greater than Canada are Bangladesh (1.32M), India (1.96M), The Republic of Korea (247,000), Pakistan (508,000), The Phillipines (3.49M), and Thailand (1.24M).

Canada joined the World organization in 1949. In 2001, this organization boasted 28.2 million members worldwide.