How involved is Kingston?
Kingston’s history with the Scouting movement goes back over 100 years to the very beginning of Scouting in Canada.
Over the years local scouts have been involved in the Kingston community, but they didn’t stop there! Various events across Canada, or even the world would see members of the Kingston community crossing cultural boundaries.
Today, Kingston and the wider area have active scouts who continue to carry out the traditions of the organization, and make ties with the community. With several groups currently active (with multiple age groups in each one). There are many options for anyone interested in becoming involved or joining the organization.
In the Community
You might be familiar with the common activities and events like Apple Day or Scout Trees, but being involved in the community means more than just making your own events. When something important happens it’s a safe bet that scouts will be there! Be it a visit from significant individuals, or ceremonies for various celebrations, we are always present.
Some activities are less common than they are today, but this picture of a Scout band shows what groups got up to in the past.
Scouts contributed many of the rocks used to form the Centennial symbol in Macdonald Park in 1967
In some cases, Scouts might get a chance to meet special people as recognition for continuous involvement and excellence, as seen above.
Meanwhile, to the right you can see how visiting dignitaries might have a chance to meet local scout groups, as was the case with the 1959 Royal visit to Canada.
Below is an event where members of the Kingston Scouting community had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King.
Integration of boys and girls in Scouts may be a relatively recent occurence, but with Girl Guides at least we can say they always had a place in the community
Over the year, Scouts have been to many events, and been involved in the community in meaningful ways. Their participation will continue to add value to local and global communities.
In their meetings and travels, Scouts have the chance to represent their local communities, and Canada. This does not just have to mean meeting people who visit, but even becoming representatives on an international scale.
At the Jamboree of Peace 1947, Canadian scouts represented Canadian soldiers when they were given a plaque from Norwegian scouts in thanks for Canadian involvement in the liberation of Norway during World War II.
