This past Saturday, June 3 the Kootenay Girl Guides hosted an award presentation at the Kimberley Riverside Campground, with ten recipients hailing from Kimberley, Creston, Cranbrook and Golden.
The awards being presented were the Canada Cord Award as well as the Chief Commissioner Gold Award, which are the highest awards in the Pathfinder and Rangers programs for guiding.
Guiding Leader, Tamara McLean said, “Canada Cord and Chief Commissioner Gold Award is not something every girl recieves. In my 17 years guiding in Kimberley, I have had four Canada Cord recipients and one Chief Commissioners Gold that I have led.”
The Canada Cord Award can be earned by Pathfinders for interacting with their community, and other members of guiding, while learning a wide variety of skills. The six parts of the award revolve around program module requirements, learning and demonstrating leadership in camping or a leadership event, community service, bridging, first aid and a citizenship certificate.
The Chief Commissioner Gold Award can be earned by Rangers who complete a certain number of challenges from various program areas. The Rangers must first complete 18 challenges, earning them the Bronze and Silver Chief Commissioner’s Awards, followed by the completion of either the cookie campaign challenge, or the ranger service project.
McLean presented the awards, “of the ten girls in attendance, I have been honoured to watch eight of them grow and camp with them at one time or another. Guiding in the Kootenays is a very tight family. These youth have grown into awarding young women.”
The recipients started the day by rafting down the St. Mary’s River, courtesy of Kootenay Rafting Company, putting in at the lake and ending the float at the campgrounds. There was a barbecue lunch, with friends and family members present, along with Mayor, Don McCormick and MLA for Columbia River Revelstoke, Doug Clovechok.
Kimberley Guiding held a very special event on Saturday...hosting Kootenay region Guides receiving the highest... https://t.co/ndGw5ngHPg
— Don McCormick (@MayorDonMac) June 4, 2017
McCormick said during the opening ceremonies, “these days a big part of [guiding] is community service; getting out and volunteering in the community. As just about everybody knows, you all come from small communities, that [community service] is the lifeblood of the communities that we live in.
“I really appreciate the opportunity to say thank you on behalf of not only myself, but also the City of Kimberley for the great work that you do.”
Chlovechok thanked and congratulated the guides on behalf of the Liberal party and B.C. Premier, Christy Clark.
“I would like to congratulate you and applaud you on behalf of Chirsty Clark; she is amazing, just like you are.
“These kinds of awards [are] about skill development, developing young people, especially young women. So thank you all for giving me the opportunity to be here today.”
The recipients of the Canada Cord award were Sheila Martine, Deanna Stiller, Marika Sutter, Meredith Walker, Kalissa Bloodworth and Tallinn Austin.
The recipients of the Chief Commissioner Gold Award were Izabella Plante-Dresser, Crystal Dolan, Mackenzie McLean and Kaleigh Beattie.