Ainsley M. – community 13
“Guiding means to me, friend, trust and a place to belong. Throughout Girl Guides I have made so many friends and gone on so many cool adventures. Being a Girl Guide has taught me many skills and one of the most important skills I've learned is leadership, leadership can come in many different ways: leading a sports team or helping lead a camp. In my instance, I do both of these. When I camp with my Trex unit I take on a role of leadership being one of the older youth. As well as in my Junior Leader unit, I help the leaders with planning and leading activities. My leadership skills through Girl Guides are translated onto the field when I play rugby. My leadership and camaraderie in rugby I have made many friends and great memories. So Girl Guides means to become a leader in society and my community.”
Emelia A. – community 5
“I joined Girl Guides when I was seven years old, and over ten years later, it has changed the shape of who I thought I might grow up to be. Embers was where I funnelled my perfectionism into earning badges and where I shared my writing for the first time— a story about astronauts, complete with pink-and-blue illustrations. In Guides, I started learning leadership through running meeting activities and teaching campfire songs. In Pathfinders and Rangers, I became more confident in myself than I'd ever been. I've always been self-conscious, but Guiding is where I'm free to do silly skits, sing strong, and admit what I don't know. That safety has let me become more comfortable in all aspects of my life.
When I think about my best memories, I always come back to a campfire— tissue-paper in the room where Embers met, a sputtering flame on wet logs in Guides, a healthy blaze in Pathfinders; singing "All is well / safely rest / friends, goodnight." I've been singing "Taps" for ten years, and it defines Guiding for me: all is well.”
Evie O. – community 18
“My name is Evie and I am going into Arts and Science at Guelph. I love to be outside, work with kids and spend time with friends and family. I am so grateful to be receiving this scholarship and I want to congratulate the other amazing recipients! Girl Guides has always been a welcoming and safe space where I have been able to grow into the person I am today. For the 13 years and counting that I have made so many amazing memories and friendships that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Guiding introduced me to my passion for nature and advocacy, and being a junior leader made me realize how much I love working with kids. I have developed skills like making a fire and tying knots, but also becoming more confident in my leadership. These skills transfer to other parts of my life like being a camp counselor, which is amazing to see! One of my favourite parts of Guiding was being a member of the youth forum which was an amazing experience to represent youth from across Ontario and Nunavut, and it was so inspiring to make a change. Guiding is a community that I care deeply about and I am so excited to see where this sisterhood continues to take me!”
Asma R. – community 1
“As a member of the Ontario and Nunavut Youth Forum, I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside an amazing group of youth and the inspiring people at GGC who are deeply committed to empowering girls. Through this role, I’ve contributed to initiatives like Girl Jam 2024, the Young Adult Summit, and various Youth Forum Challenges. These experiences allowed me to collaborate on event planning, program feedback, and advocacy, all while helping to shape meaningful experiences for girls across our regions.
Beyond the Youth Forum, I’ve served as a junior leader, participated in international trips, and supported provincial and local events that focus on building confidence, connection, and leadership in girls. Each Guiding opportunity reminded me of the importance of community, service, and believing in the potential of every girl.
I also feel so fortunate to be a part of Community 1—a truly fantastic and supportive community that has been with me every step of the way. From unit meetings to provincial events, I’ve always felt a strong sense of belonging and encouragement from the girls and Guiders around me. Guiding has been a constant in my life during some of my most formative years. It has been instrumental in helping me grow, pursue opportunities, and build the confidence to reach for my goals—including becoming a Loran Scholar.
Most importantly, Guiding taught me the value of showing up—for others and for myself. I’m so thankful for the lifelong friendships, skills, and memories I’ve made through this organization, and I look forward to continuing to live out the Guiding values in everything I do. ”
Ella S.. – community 18
“Being part of Girl Guides has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. It’s where I learned what it truly means to lead, serve others, and grow with purpose. From earning badges to taking on leadership roles, Guiding has given me the confidence to face challenges and the encouragement to keep learning and growing.
I’ve grown up in Guiding, from my first meeting as a five-year-old Spark to now as a Ranger. It’s been a constant pillar of support and strength throughout my life. I can still remember how excited I was before that very first Sparks meeting, and I know that little girl would be so proud of how far I have come.
As I embark on this new adventure, I know that Girl Guides has helped shape the person I want to be, someone who is there for others when they need it most. It’s one of the reasons I’m pursuing a future in medicine, and just as my Guiders supported and cared for me, I hope to do the same for others as a doctor.
Guiding has taught me to follow my dreams, even when I’m the only one who believes in them, and to keep working toward a better future for our world. As I move on to university, I’m excited to carry these lessons with me and continue growing through Guiding, surrounded by people who will continue to inspire me.
Thank you so much for this incredible honour. I’m truly grateful to receive the Isabel Kerr Ontario Council Scholarship, and I look forward to continuing my Guiding journey in this next chapter of my life.”
Serina D.S. – community 16
“Guiding has always been more than a weekly activity for me. It’s been an opportunity for me to grow into the person I am today, a confident, selfless girl who always perseveres during hard times. Girl Guides has given me the opportunity to lead, express my opinions, and step outside my comfort zone, providing me with experiences I might never have had otherwise.
When I joined Guiding as an Ember, I immediately felt welcomed by my leaders and other girls. This inclusivity helped me open up and find a safe space where I could be myself. It gave me the confidence to participate, take on new challenges, and express myself without the fear of judgment. I am forever grateful to be part of Girl Guides and would not be the person I am without it.
Every moment I spent in Girl Guides helped me build real-life skills and lasting memories. From cooking meals at camp to singing songs around the campfire late at night, the opportunities and knowledge I gained throughout the program will carry on throughout my life.
Girl Guides has made me the confident, compassionate person I am today. The most rewarding aspect of Girl Guides was being part of this sisterhood where each person is unique but shares the same core values of a Girl Guide. They have inspired me to get out of my comfort zone, knowing that I can always rely on them if I need help. I am sincerely thankful for everything Guiding has given me in the past eleven years, and I look forward to continuing my involvement to provide young girls the same opportunities to excel in their own environments.”
Moumita D. – community 27
“As a member of the Guiding community for fourteen years, I have grown up surrounded by friends and role models. To express everything that Girl Guides has done for me would take many pages of writing; in brief, Girl Guides has helped me find my voice, my values, and introduced me to new perspectives and ideas from around the world.
Guiding has inspired in me a love of nature through countless camping trips, a spirit of giving back through community service, and a lasting curiousity with the plethora of badgework that was open to us. I never had to wonder what to “wonder” about; Guiding gave me the push to do it all. As a shy Spark, meetings and outings provided a welcoming environment where I was encouraged to open up and have fun with friends through skits, games, and badgework. In the later years, us girls were given the opportunity to plan what we wanted to explore as a unit. Now, as a Unit Guider, I hope to contribute to the same circles that have given me so much. In all of the above, Guiding offers a space to help myself and others grow into compassionate and confident leaders. It served as an invaluable foundation to grow into the person I am today.
So in short, to me Guiding means a place of joy; one that forges friendships, inspires a lifelong love of learning and service, and motivates me to become the best version of myself. As the saying goes, I have been supported in everything I want to be.
I feel truly honoured to receive this scholarship from an organization that has given me so much, and I would like to thank everybody that has been with me throughout my Guiding journey. Here’s to many more adventures to come!”
Abbi N. – community 24
“Guiding has been a huge part of my life ever since I can remember. I have cycled though many different extracurriculars and activities throughout my life, but throughout all of them, Guiding has always been a constant. I have built a strong sense of community with fellow guides and have found some of my closest friends. I have found a sense of belonging I knew I could rely on, even when I felt alone everywhere else. Guiding has led me to find likeminded friends who share my beliefs and values. People that accept me for who I am and who I will be. Not much can beat the feeling of sitting around a campfire late at night catching up with your friends and their lives, laughing and singing the whole time.
Guides has introduced me to incredible leaders who I admire. Guiding experiences have created opportunities and connections with many wonderful and knowledgeable community members. My leaders have organized amazing opportunities for me and my units. Anything from learning wilderness first aid, caving, learning about credit and debit, or providing us the privilege to tour Europe as a Guiding group; an opportunity I likely would never have gotten otherwise. I have learned and developed important skills to become independent - from cooking to leadership. Integral skills I am incredibly grateful for because they are so brushed over with youth, yet so integral to basic living.
Learning these skills to a degree that I am confident in them has also improved my personal confidence. Knowing that I can be secure in my ability has helped grow myself worth over the years, which has been vital as someone who has always struggled with self-esteem. I have also taken the Guiding motto, “Be prepared” to heart. This has resulted in my ‘Guide Bag,’ filled with the materials to fix practically every problem I come across with the right amount of creativity. My bag is well known within my unit and has helped just about every member in one way or another over the years. I am grateful for the development of my “bag of stuff”, because I’ve learned what is important to have with you and what people need. I am prepared for so many scenarios in day-to-day life with just what I have in my pockets, something I largely accredit to being a guide member for so long.
Overall, Guides has been a consistent community I can rely on, has produced some of my closest friends, provided me amazing once-in-a-life-time opportunities, helped me develop vital life skills, grow my self-worth, and be prepared for whatever life throws at me. These are things I’m not sure I would have otherwise, and I am truly thankful that I was given the opportunity to be a Girl Guide. ”
Natalie F.. – community 18
“Girl Guides has always felt like home. Being a member of Girl Guides of Canada feels like living in a house that grows along with me—no matter how old I am or where I am in life, I will always find a supportive environment in Girl Guides. When I went to my very first ‘try now, join later’ meeting at the age of nine, I was terrified. Over the next few meetings, I began to make friends and I realized that this was a space where I could be myself. Girl Guides was the first place that taught me what a safe space truly looks like, and quickly enough, I grew to love it. During camping trips, door-to-door selling, and playing our favourite games (eg. the blanket game where you say each other’s names when the blanket drops, squirt, King’s keys) countless times, I found a community of love and happiness that I knew I would stick with for a long time.
No matter how hard the week was, how many tests I had coming up, or how uncertain I was about my future—I could look forward to our weekly Monday meetings. Over the past four years, being a member of Girl Guides is not just about having a safe space, but more importantly, it meant I always had a soft place to fall. On our Monday meetings, we laughed with each other, and learned about the world together. Being a member of Girl Guides means knowing that I am never alone. My leader and the girls in my unit are the most supportive people, and I am always reassured by the sisterhood I feel within Guiding. I am also constantly inspired and motivated by the program work we participate in during unit meetings—programming that allows me to broaden my understanding of the world and my role in it. It is through Guiding that I am reminded that my future is bright, and that there is a whole world waiting for me. Being a member of Girl Guides means knowing that I can do anything—but if I ever do fall, Girl Guides is waiting to help me back up.”
Rachel G. – community 24
“Being a member of Girl Guides of Canada is an important part of my life and continues to shape who I am. Since Sparks, I have made lifelong friends and developed skills that have helped me grow in so many ways.
Guiding has taught me the value of teamwork, leadership, and community service. As a Junior Leader for the Ember age group, I helped plan camps and activities, creating meaningful experiences for younger Guides. I’ve also worked on my town’s community gardens, contributing to a shared space for everyone to enjoy.
Beyond Guiding, I’ve carried these values into my volunteer work; mentoring young rugby and soccer players, teaching piano at my community church, and assisting at a thrift store. These experiences have reinforced my passion for giving back and have helped me develop confidence, responsibility, and strong organizational skills.
From adventures with Trex to moments of resilience, overcoming obstacles, and pushing through challenges, Guiding has truly shaped my character. The experiences and lessons I’ve gained will stay with me as I continue to grow and make a positive impact on those around me.”
Mika T. – community 5
“I’ve been a Girl Guide since I was five years old. I have grown up in meetings, and at camps and events. When I was little, I learned how to chop vegetables and clean toilets at an Ember camp. As a Guide, I learned to manage my time and achieve my goals by earning badges. I have learned how to be a leader from Pathfinder meetings, and service projects have made me an active participant in my community. By doing cookie campaigns as a Ranger, I have learned how to fill out a deposit slip, raise money, and budget. As a Spark, I learned how to make friends out of strangers that you see once a week, and after the pandemic, when our Pathfinder meetings resumed in person, I learned that skill all over again.
Girl Guides has been a constant in my life for almost as long as I can remember. It has always been a place where I go to learn, to experiment, to play, and to grow. It has taught me so many things, most importantly, how to be a good person.”
Jordyn P. – community 17
“Being a member of Girl Guides of Canada has been one of the most meaningful and transformative experiences of my life. Over the past decade, Guiding has shaped my character in countless ways and helped me grow into a confident, compassionate, and capable young woman.
From weekly meetings to weekend camps, every experience has taught me something valuable. I’ve learned the importance of punctuality, organization, and time management; skills that I have carried over into all areas of my life. Guiding has helped me develop resilience and adaptability by challenging me to step outside of my comfort zone and find solutions in unfamiliar situations.
Through volunteering and mentoring younger members, I’ve come to understand the importance of service and the impact of giving back. These experiences have taught me that leadership isn’t just about taking charge; it’s about listening, encouraging others, and creating a space where everyone feels valued and heard.
Guiding has also helped me grow emotionally and socially. It’s provided a safe, inclusive environment where I can express myself, explore new ideas, and build meaningful friendships. Being part of this global sisterhood has shown me the strength that comes from unity, support, and shared purpose. It’s incredibly empowering to know that I’m connected to girls and women worldwide who are working together to lead with courage, kindness, and determination.
Girl Guides has truly shaped who I am today. It’s helped me build a strong foundation of values, skills, and confidence that I will carry with me; and I will always be proud to be part of this amazing organization.”