Words from our NS
Provincial Commissioner

Girl Greatness Starts Here!!

It was my pleasure to present my first Annual Report
on behalf of Girl Guides of Canada – NS Council for 2009
at our AGM held May 8th 2010 at the Ramada Park Plaza in Dartmouth NS.  
Our 18th Provincial Commissioner, Dianne Frittenburg,
completed her five year term in June at the AGM
and I would like to again thank Dianne
for her wonderful leadership and commitment to NS over the last five years.

Nationally, Guiding realized some great achievements:
Sparks celebrated their 20th Anniversary, the Cookie All Star Program
was launched and the development of Girls for Safer Communities. 
The 2009 – 2012 Strategic Plan and a renewed Promise
will provide the strength as we move into this decade. 

Provincially, this year was a year of change for Guiding as well. 
To address the concern with declining membership Provincial Council
established a NS Restructure Working Group in July 2009
with the purpose of reviewing and recommending an
efficient and self sustaining administrative structure for Nova Scotia.  

Town Hall meetings were held in each Area to present the
Restructure Working Group proposal and to gather feedback from the Guiders. On October 23rd Provincial Council voted unanimously
to accept the following proposal:

As we provide a solid structure at the Provincial, Area and District levels,
girls of all ages challenged themselves in their unit activities through service projects, travel, camping and fun.  Districts and Areas held various events, themed camps, Thinking Day Celebrations and many more fun activities.

International, Camp, Program, Training, Public Relations
and Membership Advisories created new challenges for the girls
and encouraged Girls and Guiders to start planning for GM 2010. 
As regional trainings were facilitated throughout the province,
Membership and Public Relations continued to promote Guiding through registration ads, radio interviews and newspaper ads and articles.

Two Provincial Kwahee camps were held with the
themes “Betty Crocker goes to Camp” and ‘Life’s a Ball’.
The Provincial International Cook Off, held in Truro,
was once again a big hit.  

Trainer Weekend “Through the Looking Glass” was held in March 2009.
The focus of the event was to look at where training is going in the future.
The majority of our Trainers were able to attend.

In April the Program Committee travelled to Cape Breton
for their Cape Breton Healthy Living Event.
The highlight of the fall season was unquestionably the Guide Arts Day event.
At full capacity ALL 100 girls attending were engaged for the whole day
and many of the Guiders expressed appreciation and enthusiasm
for additional similar events.

A very successful Provincial Conference was held in October
at the Annapolis Basin Conference Center with over 200 Guiders in attendance. The theme was “Back to Basics” and we were very excited to know that the majority of Guiders that attended were new to Guiding within the past two years.

The Roots and Shoots Challenges
have been very popular and the patches were flying out the door.
There is no doubt that the Arts are alive and well in Nova Scotia!

The Pathfinder and Ranger Conference,
held last fall, was set up as a combination of the
Girl Extra Op Event and Ranger Conference with a great time had by all.

The NS Girl Guide Partnership with St. John’s Ambulance continues to flourish with Standard, Emergency and Wilderness First Aid
courses being offered throughout the Province.

I would be remiss if I didn’t thank all members of Girl Guides of Canada,
NS Council for believing in Nova Scotia Girl Guides and remaining committed
to the Vision and Mission of Girl Guides of Canada
and helping making us the Organization of choice for girls and women!!

In closing I would like to again say Girl Greatness Starts Here! 

It starts with me and it starts with you,
and together we can make this journey last another 100 years!!

Thank you 
Holly