2024 End of year Message

20-Dec-2024

Members of CTSA

Another year has passed, and what an amazing journey it has been.

In March, I traveled to Alberta to meet with our groups at 25th Edmonton, Camrose, and our new group, ESVS Youth First Responders. I took that opportunity to build our network in Alberta in and around Calgary and then traveled to Saskatchewan to meet with Scouter Mike and discuss how things are going in Saskatoon.

Scouting is very different in our western provinces. While our fundamentals are the same, the specific regional challenges are distinct and require consideration and accommodation in our policies. We are working to address these differences in early 2025.

Ontario held an amazing Provincial Timber Car Rally in April, a well-attended Jamboree in June, and a very successful and well-attended week-long summer camp near Owen Sound. Our first Explorers multi-day canoe trip would not have been a success without the work of Suelaine Poot as DC Explorers along with Bernie Stockermans and Kevin Wood as our canoe guides.

These events do not run without the support of teams of individuals, so great thanks go to the event coordinators, camp chiefs, and the supporting teams they put together. More events will be happening this spring, and I encourage more regional gatherings. Make sure to capture these moments on camera and video as we look to build our media library and promote who we are and what we do.

Our new drive and marketing campaign which was announced at the Annual General Meeting last month is “Discover Adventure”, and we are well on the way to providing new promotional materials, and marketing equipment for groups to use.  We always need more ways to show what we are doing in and for our communities, so make sure to be recognized in uniform in your community.

I also sent out a personal challenge in the Annual General Report regarding an environmental focus for 2025.  This challenge has been included along with this letter for you all to consider for planning in the new year.

I want to close with these thoughts: Scouting is not always an easy or glamorous activity, and our significant others who quite often are not part of Scouting with us put up with a lot between our passion and dedication, as well as the evenings, weekends, and vacations that we give up to this activity we love.  I want to thank these spouses and partners who without their support we would not be able to provide the programs that we do.

To each of your families, may it be the Merriest of Christmases, and Safest of Holidays
Yours in Traditional Scouting,

Scouter Ken and his Furry Friend Scarlett