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There are so many stories to share from the Guide movement. It started in Canada over 110 years ago after all! The Scout movement was started in England in 1908 by Robert Baden Powell, and when they held their first rally, a group of young girls demanded that they join in the festivities too. They believed girls could do anything boys could. Their advocacy worked, and Robert’s sister, Agnes Baden Powell, took on the Girl Guides cause in 1909. The movement spread to Canada the next year when the first Girl Guide Company was formed in St. Catharines, Ontario under the leadership of Mary Malcolmson.
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A replica Guider uniform c. 1910-1915
Guider uniform c. 1974-1986
Their look may have changed over the years, but their commitment to young girls remains constant.
Guide dress from the 2nd Lorne Park Unit with an All Round Cord c. 1940-1964
Guide blouse with a badge sash and maple leaf neck scarf from the 126th Mississauga Company c. 1974-1988
Hilda McKinley remembers growing up around the scouting movement in England, with her father as a scout master and her mother as a cub master. You could say that Guiding was in her blood! As a young girl of just seven years old in England, Hilda and her friends wanted to be a part of the action, but there was no guide group in her area. Undeterred, they lobbied for a Brownie Pack to be formed in her area, and guess what? They were successful! Their courage to stand up for themselves started Hilda’s long and important role in the Girl Guides.
Hilda McKinley (right) c. 1961
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Hilda took on many roles in the Girl Guides of Canada such as being a Guide and a Cadet as well as leading a Sea Ranger Crew, being a certificated trainer, Division Trainer, a Division Commissioner for Oakville Division, and Deputy Area Commissioner for Hamilton Area. However, her most important role was becoming the first Area Commissioner for the brand new White Oaks Area. As someone who had been influenced by Guiding at a young age, Hilda knew she had it in her to help her community by giving young girls more opportunities to have fun.
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When it was founded in 1962, the White Oaks Area consisted of most of Halton County and Peel County, including Mississauga. Hilda and the other founders of this new guiding branch wanted its name to reflect their local community. “White Oaks ” was the nickname of Oakville’s founder William Chisholm. The name also became synonymous with Mississauga author Mazo de la Roche’s Jalna book series following the adventures of the “Whiteoaks” family, loosely inspired by the Harris family who living in Mississauga’s Benares Historic House. The name was chosen by the Girl Guides to represent who they were.
Pitch Your Tents!
Welcome to Camp Wyoka! The gates of Camp Wyoka c. 2000
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Many guides young and old have fond memories of camping with the Girl Guides. Mississauga guides, as a part of the White Oaks Area, romped around Camp Wyoka in Clifford, Ontario for decades.
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Someone who could tell you a thing or two about Camp Wyoka is Helen Carlyle. Helen got involved in Guiding through her daughter who was a Brownie and then a Guide. When the White Oaks Area was formed, the Area decided to buy their own camp that opened in 1965 and they called it Camp Wyoka, named after “White Oaks Area”. Helen and her husband were involved with building the lodge at Camp Wyoka, later named Carlyle Lodge after Helen and her husband. She remembers all of the hard work that went into building Carlyle Lodge and camping there every weekend while the lodge was being built.
Guider camp hat c. 1964-1984
Guider camp hat decorated with badges and pins
It was hard work, but it was all worth it when looking at all the changes in camping since she joined the Girl Guides. When building Camp Wyoka, Helen constructed permanent toilets, but there was a time not long ago when she recalled having to dig the camp’s toilets every year! Helen remembers before there was a refrigerator at the camp and she would have to bury their produce to keep it cool in the summer.
Camp Wyoka campsite c. 2000-2003
Women from all walks of life came together for the common goal of building Camp Wyoka into a place where young girls could have fun. Helen was not alone in this work. Marjorie Howard had been involved with the Girl Guides back in Quebec. When she moved to Oakville, she thought she had left that life behind. She resisted telling anyone of her Guiding background until one day she looked in the local paper and saw that a Guide Company needed a leader. That’s how Marjorie became the White Oaks Guide Leader extraordinaire! When she joined, Camp Wyoka’s land had just been converted from a sheep farm. It was barren – there were few plants to speak of, but the ladies knew how they could liven it up. Marjorie remembers that trees were planted on site by everyone that was involved in Camp Wyoka’s creation. It was an all hands-on deck effort!
Marjorie Howard c. 1965-1969
Guider/Commissioner two piece suit owned by Marjorie Howard with a green 10 year service ribbon on the breast c. 1960-1984
The experience of being in Wyoka’s beautiful wildness was a valuable experience for many girls. Nancy Williams joined the Girl Guides when her daughter became a Guide at the age of 10. Nancy enjoyed helping her daughter’s unit so much that she decided to become a Guide leader. Nancy took on many roles such as Brownie Leader, Guide Leader, Pathfinder Leader, Ranger Leader, District Commissioner, Division Commissioner, and Area Commissioner from 1984-1989. Nancy remembers that Camp Wyoka ran with 100 girls a week for about 8 weeks for several years. It was a whirlwind, but she adored every second.
Nancy Williams c. 1984-1989
“I believe camping is where the greatest growth takes place. One becomes more independent and gains more self-confidence at camp.”
– Nancy Williams
Girl Guides at Camp Tamarack c. 1976
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The Girl Guides challenges girls to better themselves and empower their fellow Guides. Through the sisterhood of guiding, women, young and old, honed new skills and made long-lasting friendships. From the earliest age group, girls were taught to “share and be a friend”. At the helm, Guiders encouraged young girls to be honest, courageous, respect others and believe in themselves, as was, and still is, the Guiding Law. The hard work of the Guiders helped to create unforgettable memories and valuable life lessons.
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Girl Guides taking part in a parade c. 1965
Girl Guides playing together at Erindale Park c. 2005
Girl Guides taught girls the importance of giving back to their community and welcoming everyone with open arms. Many women went on to use the skills they learned in Guiding and contributed to their communities. Hilda McKinley started square dancing and worked on their National Convention in Hamilton as well as became Captain of the Lady’s golf group at her local golf club. Helen Carlyle volunteered for Meals on Wheels, the Lion’s Club, and the memory lab at Erindale College (now UTM) – she even went to night school. Marjorie Howard went on to work on the National Camping Committee where she took on many roles including Chairman of the Lightweight Camping Events. The women all traced their successes back to their time at Girl Guides.
Marie Brown and Rita Collins having laugh c. 1990.
“[Girl Guides has] given me self-assurance, a better understanding of people, and the opportunity to hone and practice my leadership skills. I’m so fortunate to have been involved in Guiding. I’ve learned so much, travelled far and wide, and made so many new friends.”
– Nancy Williams
These women’s stories tell us so much about the friendship, life skills and confidence that the Girl Guides have given women in Mississauga. Girl Guides is not just about play, it empowers women to learn new skills, meet new friends and make a difference in their community.
What has Girl Guides taught you?
