Statement made on 23 June 2011 by Senator Terry Mercer
Hon. Terry M. Mercer:
Honourable senators, several events have taken place recently to mark the one hundredth anniversary of the Girl Guide movement in Nova Scotia, including a parade in Sydney and a camp-out in Halifax.
In early June, over 600 Brownies, Pathfinders, Guides and volunteers converted Halifax's Citadel Hill into a campground. Can you imagine, honourable senators, how much fun it would have been for these girls and women to camp in the middle of the city of Halifax, an experience that also included touring local museums and parks?
At the end of May, there was a parade and celebration in Sydney that attracted over 700 Sparks, Brownies, Girl Guides, Pathfinders and Rangers to mark the one hundredth anniversary, which included Lieutenant-Governor Mayann Francis and Mayor John Morgan.
Honourable senators, Holly Thompson, provincial commissioner of Nova Scotia Girl Guides, noted in the Cape Breton Post that there are over 6,000 Girl Guide members in Nova Scotia, making it the fourth largest province in Canada in terms of membership. This is quite an achievement for Nova Scotia.
Honourable senators, the Girl Guide movement "enables girls to be confident, resourceful and courageous, and to make a difference in the world." I think we can all agree that this organization deserves our congratulations on their endeavours to promote girls and women, and to encourage girls and women to have a positive effect on their world.
What a wonderful accomplishment for the Girl Guides of Nova Scotia and across Canada. Congratulations!
Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.