Scouting in Quebec
Encyclopedia
Scouting in Quebec has a long history, from the 1900s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live.
is administered by the Quebec Council of Scouts Canada
, which includes the Quebec Rover Round Table.
Eastern (Montreal) Area,
Ohiyo Area,
Stoney Point Area,
West Island area,
Laval Larentians Area,
Chavalla Area,
St. Lawrence Cartierville Area,
Kebec Area,
St. Lawrence Appalachians Area,
Saguenay Lac St-Jean Area,
North Shore Area,
Gaspé Area.
camp located near Mille Isles, Quebec
. The camp, which claims to be the oldest continuously-operating Scout camp in the world, is situated on 1000 acres (4 km²) of forest
in the Laurentian Mountains
. It is owned and operated by Scouts Canada
, Quebec Council. The camp is open year-round and offers a staff summer camp program.
The camp opened in 1912 with funds provided by a group of generous citizens led by Colonel E.A. Whitehead. Originally a farm
, the property formerly belonged to the Dawson family of Mille Isles. The name Tamaracouta comes from two sources. There are a large number of Tamarack
trees located on the property. The word couta meaning body of water in a First Nations
language.
After World War I
, the camp decided to adopt a Hudson's Bay Company
theme. Since that time, campsites have been named after the HBC Trading Posts. Staff positions also take HBC names, such as Camp factor
instead of Camp Director.
The Tamaracouta Scout Reserve hosted the 11th Canadian Scout Jamboree, in July 2007, with 10,000 campers.
At the end of the week, squires are presented for the last time in a special public ceremony followed by the "Second Ceremony", which is for Knights only. Knights wear a bracelet with a large black bead tied with a piece of leather string around the right wrist. After twelve years, the knight is entitled to wear a silver bead. Only a silver bead knight can become a Grand Knight (master of ceremonies). At founding in 1933, and for several decades thereafter, knights were given a colored bead reflecting the season in which they had become knighted.
, Quebec
founded in August, 2004 an organization called SCOUT eh!
which is a group of "registered Scouts Canada members from across Canada dedicated to transforming Scouts Canada into a democratic association".
Girl Guide Camp WaThikAne is situated on Lac Bouchette, 96 kilometres north of
Montreal, near the town of Morin Heights, Quebec. In operation since 1926, WaThikAne has 6 fully equipped campsites, 2 equipped pioneer campsites and a fully equipped (partially heated) lodge. The
main camp area is suitable for day or overnight for any age group. All camp users have access to the
large activity room in the lodge.
Anglophone Scouting in Quebec
QuebecQuebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
is administered by the Quebec Council of Scouts Canada
Scouts Canada
Scouts Canada is a Canadian Scouting association that, in affiliation with the French-language Association des Scouts du Canada, is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement...
, which includes the Quebec Rover Round Table.
Areas
Abenaki Area,Eastern (Montreal) Area,
Ohiyo Area,
Stoney Point Area,
West Island area,
Laval Larentians Area,
Chavalla Area,
St. Lawrence Cartierville Area,
Kebec Area,
St. Lawrence Appalachians Area,
Saguenay Lac St-Jean Area,
North Shore Area,
Gaspé Area.
Local Groups and sections
Among Quebec's varied Scouting groups are Scouts, Sea Scouts, Beavers, Cubs, Rovers and Venturers.Tamaracouta Scout Reserve
Tamaracouta Scout Reserve is a ScoutScouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
camp located near Mille Isles, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. The camp, which claims to be the oldest continuously-operating Scout camp in the world, is situated on 1000 acres (4 km²) of forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
in the Laurentian Mountains
Laurentian mountains
The Laurentian Mountains are a mountain range in southern Quebec, Canada, north of the St. Lawrence River and Ottawa River, rising to a highest point of 1166 metres at Mont Raoul Blanchard, north east of Quebec City in the Reserve Faunique des Laurentides. The Gatineau, L'Assomption, Lièvre,...
. It is owned and operated by Scouts Canada
Scouts Canada
Scouts Canada is a Canadian Scouting association that, in affiliation with the French-language Association des Scouts du Canada, is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement...
, Quebec Council. The camp is open year-round and offers a staff summer camp program.
The camp opened in 1912 with funds provided by a group of generous citizens led by Colonel E.A. Whitehead. Originally a farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
, the property formerly belonged to the Dawson family of Mille Isles. The name Tamaracouta comes from two sources. There are a large number of Tamarack
Tamarack Larch
Tamarack Larch, or Tamarack, or Hackmatack, or American Larch is a species of larch native to Canada, from eastern Yukon and Inuvik, Northwest Territories east to Newfoundland, and also south into the northeastern United States from Minnesota to Cranesville Swamp, West Virginia; there is also a...
trees located on the property. The word couta meaning body of water in a First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
language.
After World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the camp decided to adopt a Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
theme. Since that time, campsites have been named after the HBC Trading Posts. Staff positions also take HBC names, such as Camp factor
Factor (agent)
A factor, from the Latin "he who does" , is a person who professionally acts as the representative of another individual or other legal entity, historically with his seat at a factory , notably in the following contexts:-Mercantile factor:In a relatively large company, there could be a hierarchy,...
instead of Camp Director.
The Tamaracouta Scout Reserve hosted the 11th Canadian Scout Jamboree, in July 2007, with 10,000 campers.
Knights of Tamara
The Knights of Tamara is an honour camping society formed in 1933. The Knights recognize outstanding campers at summer camp. As of 2005, over 3500 campers have become Knights. To become a Knight, a camper must meet certain requirements, such as having camped at TSR for a certain amount of time, being at least 14 years old by the end of the calendar year in which they are being knighted and be nominated by their peers. If their nomination is approved, they become a squire at a ceremony near the beginning of their week of camp. During the week, they must complete a work vigil, and an overnight vigil which consists of sleeping out alone one night in the woods, and also learning the words to a traditional song among other tasks. Squires are easily recognized by the purple ring of indelible mystery ink (referred to as squire juice) painted on the face in a circle passing between the eyes and the hairline, between ears and eyes, and circling through the uppermost part of the chin. Squires must present themselves for "ringing" each morning at a very specific time; being late one day earns the squire a purple dot on the nose and two days earns them a purple chinstrap followed by one of many other decorations such as a second inner ring, a fully purple nose or any design of the ringer's discretion. If a squire misses a "ringing" for a poor reason, break camp rules, or act in a fashion unbecoming of a squire, they may be stripped of their squire status.At the end of the week, squires are presented for the last time in a special public ceremony followed by the "Second Ceremony", which is for Knights only. Knights wear a bracelet with a large black bead tied with a piece of leather string around the right wrist. After twelve years, the knight is entitled to wear a silver bead. Only a silver bead knight can become a Grand Knight (master of ceremonies). At founding in 1933, and for several decades thereafter, knights were given a colored bead reflecting the season in which they had become knighted.
National issues
Members of Scouts Canada are upset with the national organization's governance structure which no longer includes locally-elected councils. In response, Scouter Mike Reid from MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
founded in August, 2004 an organization called SCOUT eh!
SCOUT eh!
SCOUT eh! is an organization of "registered Scouts Canada members dedicated to transforming Scouts Canada into a democratic association". The name is an acronym for "Scouts Canada Ordinary-member Unity Taskforce Association"....
which is a group of "registered Scouts Canada members from across Canada dedicated to transforming Scouts Canada into a democratic association".
WOSM member association
- Association des Scouts du CanadaAssociation des Scouts du CanadaL'Association des Scouts du Canada is a World Organization of the Scout Movement "affiliated organization" through affiliation with Scouts Canada in Canada. The biggest difference between the two associations is the language spoken and the religion behind it...
, the largest francophone association in Canada. Their head office is located in Montréal. Its 13 000+ members are divided into several districts depending on the regions where they are located. The district of "Scout du Montéal Métropolitain" is currently the largest one with over 3000 members .
UIGSE member associations
- Association Evangélique du Scoutisme au Québec
- Federation of North-American Explorers (FNE)
Independent associations
There are also a number of independent Scouting associations active in Quebec. Among them are:- Association des Aventuriers de Baden Powell, a bilingual association also active in several other provinces, ±1500 members Official website
- Association de Scoutisme d'Actions
Girl Guiding in Quebec
Guides are served by the Girl Guides of Canada-Guides du Canada.Girl Guide Camp WaThikAne is situated on Lac Bouchette, 96 kilometres north of
Montreal, near the town of Morin Heights, Quebec. In operation since 1926, WaThikAne has 6 fully equipped campsites, 2 equipped pioneer campsites and a fully equipped (partially heated) lodge. The
main camp area is suitable for day or overnight for any age group. All camp users have access to the
large activity room in the lodge.
See also
- Association des Scouts du CanadaAssociation des Scouts du CanadaL'Association des Scouts du Canada is a World Organization of the Scout Movement "affiliated organization" through affiliation with Scouts Canada in Canada. The biggest difference between the two associations is the language spoken and the religion behind it...
- Union Internationale des Guides et Scouts d'EuropeUnion Internationale des Guides et Scouts d'EuropeThe International Union of the Guides and Scouts of Europe is a traditional faith-based Scouting organization with 20 member associations in 17 European...