Trefoil Guild: Keeping the Spirit Alive!
Welcoming Carmel Hambrook, the new Trefoil Guild Liaison for New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island Council and Angie Kruller, the co-Liaison for Quebec, sharing the position with Ellen Gauthier. We also offer a sincere thank you to Heather LeBlanc on the completion of her term for NB/PEI and wish her many more exciting adventures as her Guiding journey continues.
In this edition, we are focused on providing service within our communities or by helping units with their service projects. These services range from helping at awards ceremonies, collecting and distributing goods needed by community agencies who help folks in need to helping at camps and other girl programming opportunities. Now that spring is starting to show more sunshine and the snow is beginning to recede, we are seeing more Trefoil Guild members enjoying the outdoors, celebrating World Thinking Day, planning provincial gatherings and getting together to socialize after a long winter.
This edition contains key information about the 2024 National Trefoil Guild Gathering. Check out the Manitoba section for details.
For more information on Trefoil Guilds, visit the Trefoil Guild page or connect with your Provincial Liaison, who can answer your questions or connect you with a Trefoil Guild.
See below for a snapshot of what is happening with Trefoil Guilds in the different provinces.
~ Sharron Callahan, National Trefoil Guild Liaison
Alberta, Northwest Territories and Yukon
Beverly Simpson Headon/Glenda Metro, ANY Council Co-Trefoil Guild Liaison
As always, ANY Trefoil Guilds are busy helping out in a variety of ways. Calgary Area guild members helped at the World Thinking Day fireworks event as noted in the pictures. Other guilds across the province/territories visited units to share in the sisterhood of Guiding. Excitement is building for the ANY Rally Day in the spring and many guild members will be gearing up to support the events with members from Sparks to Trefoil Guild. It will be a great day for Guiding in ANY Council.
Getting together with units and guilds is always fun because we get to see the joy of our members as we make memories for a lifetime. Planning is underway for the Trefoil Guild roundup to be held in the spring. This is always a great event and an opportunity to get together. While the guilds across the province/territories do activities to support our youth members, they are also getting together with each other, keeping everyone connected. One guild was lucky to have front row seats to see the Jersey Boys. Another guild went to the Elevating Women in the Arts event at the local art gallery for International Women’s Day. The gallery had some wonderful art on display done by talented women.
British Columbia
Darlene Kent, BC Trefoil Guild Liaison
Happy spring everyone.
Thanks to the recent Guidepost article on how guilds can assist units, there seems to be an upswing in just that here in BC. Guilds are invited to attend and lend a hand at events.
A recent photo shows how Lake Country Trefoil Guild members assisted at an Embers science camp held at a local GGC camp.
Too-Many-Hats Trefoil Guild in Prince George held a World Thinking Day event for Guides. They had games, a former member who attended speak on her travels and they made World Centers posters.
Our BC guilds gathered to celebrate World Thinking Day, the sisterhood of Guiding and the start of spring with Trefoil Guild luncheons.
Manitoba
Sharon Romanow, MB Trefoil Guild Liaison
Save the date
2024 National Trefoil Guild Gathering
When: June 19 – 23, 2024
Where: The 2024 gathering will be held in Winnipeg!
Known for its friendly and welcoming spirit, Winnipeg is a diverse, multicultural city with a rich and varied history. An Indigenous trading centre prior to the arrival of the Europeans, Winnipeg was at the heart of the country’s fur trade and instrumental in developing Canada’s gateway to the west. Winnipeg’s architecture and neighbourhoods reflect the profound character of this big-small prairie town.
Come and explore all that our city and province have to offer.
- The Canadian Human Rights Museum (the only National Museum outside of Ottawa)
- Journey to Churchill exhibit at the Assiniboine Park Zoo (polar bears)
- Royal Canadian Mint
- Manitoba Museum and Planetarium
- The Forks
- Lower Fort Garry
- Oak Hammock Marsh
- Historic Walking Tours
- The Hermetic Code tour at our Manitoba Legislature Building
- Winnipeg Art Gallery (the world’s largest collection of Inuit art)
- Assiniboine Park (Leo Mol Sculpture Garden, The Leaf)
- Fort Whyte Alive
These are just a few of the many places to explore in our beautiful city. We are also the birthplace and homeland of the Red River Metis. We are home to many thriving cultures and home to Folklorama (the largest and longest-running multicultural festival in the world.).
Cost: $750 +GST
Registration packages will be available in May. Contact your Provincial Trefoil Guild Liaisons for more information.
We hope to see you there!
New Brunswick/Prince Edward Island
Carmel Hambrook, NB/PEI Trefoil Guild Liaison
Hello, my name is Carmel Hambrook and I am the new Trefoil Guild Liaison for NB/PEI. I am looking forward to Keeping the Spirit Alive within our provincial and national councils. I have been in Guiding for 65 years and have held various area, division, district and provincial positions, but I think this one will be the most rewarding for me.
1st York-Sunbury Trefoil Guild our guild met on Wednesday, February 8. One of our members has 89 years in Guiding and the papers will be submitted to, hopefully, have a 90-year certificate and pin; if such a thing exists. We exchanged books, updates on family and lots of sweet treats. Our plans for this year include celebrating Ireland and the green, touring Scott's Nursery, touring Beaverbrook art gallery, mini golf, visiting Camp Chip and planning a tribute to War Brides.
Miramichi Trefoil Guild met on February 12 and observed a minute of silence to honour the memory of late members Guider Carolyn Whyte, former Guider Gloria Hanna and other former Guiders who passed away since our last meeting. Our guild will be offering two bursaries this year and we will provide funding for girls or Guiders to attend special events. We will purchase a rose bush and plant it in the Mount St. Joseph Memorial Garden in memory of Carolyn Whyte and we are finding out what type of plaque can be installed at Marg’s tree and Carolyn’s rose bush. In June, we hope to attend the Provincial Trefoil Gathering in Moncton and the area awards banquet.
2nd Fredericton Trefoil Guild has an active membership of 10 Guiders. After a very long pause, we held our first meeting in November to plot our path for the current Guiding year. We were delighted to be hosted at the home of one of our members in December. The meeting came complete with a very festive atmosphere, trivia entertainment and a delightful luncheon provided by our host. January found us enjoying lunch at a local eatery, followed by a visit to Old Government House where, in addition to its own charms, we viewed a special art display. We celebrated World Thinking Day a bit early at our February meeting. Our brown bag lunch was enhanced by special treats provided by several of our members. The highlight was our participation in an interactive challenge presented by one of our members.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Pat Burton, NL Trefoil Guild Liaison
NL Trefoil is coming alive! We have a new Facebook page and we are pleased with the response.
There are lots of activities going on; our ladies are getting active everywhere, especially with spring coming.
Registration for the gathering at Max Simms Camp for Trefoil Guild and Link members is going well with quite a few applications coming in. We can accommodate 65 participants without using the top bunks, and we have made this our goal.
The registration deadline has been extended to April 8.
Nova Scotia
Kathy DeGrasse, NS Trefoil Guild Liaison
When I contacted the Trefoil Guild leads, I was clear that I wanted guild-generated or supported service projects. Many members of our guilds are active in units, areas and districts, and are often involved with service projects, but are not wearing their Trefoil Guild hats.
To hear that the majority of our guilds did not have service projects in place when asked may be because:
- I sent the request out in November. Not all guilds had met at that time and those who had met were emerging from the COVID-19 shutdowns.
- As stated above, involvement through units impacts the energy left over to work through the guild.
Our Colchester Trefoil Guild deserves special mention. Not only do they support members in assistance residences with activity packages, they also provided personal visits and on-site visits, usually in the form of sing-songs. This guild worked with the Sparks and Embers to collect warm clothing for community members. They also helped with an area training. They are role models for the girls by collecting all types of recyclables. I attended one of their monthly meetings and was surprised at the level of energy and dedication of these Guiders. Their meeting involved contributions by multiple members.
Colchester Trefoil Guild is a testament to Guiding.
Ontario and Nunavut
Candace Gaudet, ON Trefoil Guild Liaison
A correction on the caption for the photo in the December report it was the Trailblazer Trefoil Guild which visited Niagara Falls.
World Thinking Day is a significant time for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world. A day to reflect on all the women who came before us and forged the way. It is a time to think of all our global sisters and work toward making the world a safer and kinder place for all, especially for oppressed women and girls. It is a day to look forward and make changes, even if they are uncomfortable in the beginning. It is also a day for fun, laughter and singing together. Many Trefoil Guilds planned events for units and many were invited to join units (and happily did). Here are some photos of Trefoil Guilds sharing World Thinking Day.
London Trefoil Guild writing thank you cards to Guiders for World Thinking Day.
Lambton Trefoil Guild and Harris Trefoil Guild presenting the WAGGGS World Thinking Day
activities.
Woodland Trefoil Guild held a friendship tea for local units with 60 youth members and Guiders and 15 Trefoil Guild members.
The Sisterhood of the Travelling Trefoils had to quickly pivot after the outdoor World Thinking Day event was cancelled due to snow and an ice storm. They presented the WAGGGS World Thinking Day activities on three separate occasions to seven units and 170 youth members and Guiders.
Trefoil Guilds have started to plan activities with other guilds, including camps, luncheons, the Circle of Friends Day and coronation afternoon teas. It is so exciting that guilds are getting together again to make new friends, share experiences and fan the flames of friendship. Guilds are keeping up the traditions of service to their communities, collecting supplies for a variety of shelters and outreach programs.
Ontario has also seen an increase in new Trefoil Guild members, which is wonderful. Let’s encourage younger Guiders and Link members to join a guild or start their own.
Quebec
Ellen Gauthier/Angie Kruller, QC Trefoil Guild Liaison
The West Island Cabana Trefoil Guild is in the planning stage of an overnight get-together for our Quebec guilds. This will be the first gathering in many years. We are trying our best to keep the Guiding spirit alive. Last month we mentioned that we did a white sock day for our February meeting. We collected many socks that were given to the Old Brewery Mission in Montreal. For such a small group, we did very well.
Saskatchewan
Lorraine Thibeault, SK Trefoil Guild Liaison
The guilds in Saskatchewan continue to be involved in the usual social activities and supporting girls and Guiders whenever called upon for their time and talents. We continue to work on better communication, especially connecting the guilds to units and districts where help and support are needed the most. More to follow in the next edition.
1st Canadian Internet Trefoil Guild
Dana Weatherell, 1st Canadian Internet Trefoil Guild Liaison
We are continuing our usual connectivity.