The Girl Guides of Canada saw many units in the area close due to the pandemic. However, their return is in the works. The unit in Midale is set to have its first meeting on September 25th. Cheryl Lake, Black Gold District Commissioner says Midale is ready to go but looking for craft supply donations.
“So basically, they're looking for donations of different craft supplies. It's integral when you start out a new unit, because we don't always have the funds available right off the hop. Like with them being a brand-new unit, they haven't sold any cookies yet.”
“If you've got any extra craft supplies, scissors, markers, crayons, construction paper, things like that just to kind of help out as Girl Guides is a non-profit organization. It helps out a lot to have some of those supplies donated, especially for a brand-new unit like Midale.”
The unit in Weyburn is still in the organizing phase as they continue to seek volunteers, but their focus is a donated meeting space.
“We just are in the process now of finding a meeting space. And when it comes to the day of holding the unit meetings with Girl Guides, that is entirely on a consensus within the volunteers themselves to come up with a day that works for everybody at a time.”
Any woman over the age of eighteen can volunteer with Girl Guides by visiting their website and filling out the form HERE.
“There's a police record check that has to be done. They go through a bit of an interview process and some references. And then that volunteer is placed within a unit within their community. Weyburn does have a unit set up. Once the volunteer has gone through all the proper channels and everything, they are then placed within that unit.”
Lake says there’s a lot of value in having local Girl Guides extending from the girls themselves out to the community. Units open up opportunities to be a part of activities locally, provincially and nationally. Various service projects like toy and supply drives allow girls to give back to their local area.
“It teaches girls about being community minded. It empowers them to change something they see in their community. It's a sense of belonging.”
The meetings themselves are organized by volunteers. They typically last an hour and a half with activities chosen based on the interest of the girls.
“They brought in what's called the Girls First program, the girls are asked to have some input into what they'd like to do. And it's all girl led. So if they want to do a baking night, they can do that. We try to empower the girls to make the decisions on their own. So basically, it's anything that they want to do.”
Registration for the Weyburn unit will open once volunteers, and a location has been established.