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Members of Bayfield and Clinton Guiding were anxiously waiting for the unveiling of the 2010 calendar in which they appear as models.
Approximately 60 people attended the launch party for the Centenary Celebration Calendar 1910-2010. Community supporters joined the girls and their families to celebrate the unveiling of the calendar which will now be sold throughout Mid-Western Ontario.
Morgan Kennedy, of 1st Bayfield Sparks (left) and Madison Burns of 1st Clinton Sparks shared the honors of opening the first box of calendars to show all in attendance. The girls were chosen to complete the task as they had modeled one of the earliest uniforms featured in the calendar. The uniform was for the Rosebuds, the name used to describe Girl Guides littlest sisters prior to its change to Brownies. This was long before Sparks even existed!
Madison Burns and Morgan Kennedy proudly reveal to the crowd the cover of the calendar.
1st Bayfield Pathfinders Guider, Toni Gale, removes the cloth hiding the calendars displayed on the sale table.
Everyone was excited to take away bundles of the calendar to sell to family, friends and neighbors.
A celebration isn’t complete without punch and sweet treats. Kerry Parker and Mackenzie Verhoef, of 2nd Clinton Guides, helped themselves to some goodies.
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PHOTOS AND STORY BY MELODY FALCONER-POUNDER
Like many Guiding projects, the Centenary Celebration Calendar 1910-2010 began with a spark of an idea.
When local Guiders learned that kits of historic uniforms could be rented from Girl Guides of Canada’s Ottawa archives, they wanted to share this special part of the organization’s heritage with their membership. The girls, particularly the Pathfinders, have a tradition of taking part in themed photo shoots.
Kathy Kelly-Ingram of 1st Clinton Pathfinders welcomed those who attended the festivities.
The thought of including all the girls and Guiders in both the Bayfield and Clinton units arose, making the project a much larger undertaking and even more fun. It was decided that the resulting images should be celebrated and a calendar created to recognize Girl Guides of Canada’s upcoming 100th anniversary. From the very start members, parents and the community embraced the idea wholeheartedly and the end result was unveiled at a launch party on Sept. 21 at Trinity Anglican Church with 60 people in attendance.
Before the calendar could go to print for a fundraiser, approval from Girl Guides of Ontario had to be obtained and the local Guiders have worked closely with the province to see their goal realized. Provincial Commissioner, Marnie Cumming, was unable to attend the launch party but she sent her best wishes.
Cumming’s wrote in her greeting, “Congratulations on a wonderful idea! You have created not only a useful item but also a very special keepsake. I can imagine the girls here today showing this to their daughters when Guiding is celebrating our 125th or 150th anniversary!
“This is also an example of terrific teamwork: girls having lots of fun dressing up and being ‘calendar girls’; Guiders organizing the uniforms, photography and layout; community members opening their heritage sites and parents making sure the girls were at the right place, at the right time! Well done!”
Following a special slide presentation, highlighting the images included in the calendar as well as a delightful behind the scenes look at the location shoots, the calendar was unveiled.
Madison Burns, of 1st Clinton Sparks and Morgan Kennedy, of 1st Bayfield Sparks, shared the honor in opening the first box. The pair had modeled the Rose Bud uniform during the photo sessions. Rose Buds was the name first given to Brownies in the early 1900s.
After that the sale table was open and people were clamoring for the opportunity to purchase a copy as well as take orders for family and friends.
“One couple who attended the launch, heard about the party on The Beach radio station. They have a granddaughter in Ottawa who is in Guiding and they wanted to purchase a copy to send to her as a gift,” said Kathy Kelly-Ingram, a Guider with 1st Clinton Pathfinders.
The calendars will sell for $10 each. The membership of Clinton and Bayfield units are not the only girls selling the calendar but they will receive a portion of the funds from every calendar sold, in recognition of their efforts behind this project. Calendars will be sold by units as far north as Meaford, as far south as St. Mary’s and as far east as Listowel.
The photos for the calendar were shot on location at historical and heritage sites in both Clinton and Bayfield including: Mara St. Walkway, Pioneer Park and Beach, Bayfield Town Hall, Clan Gregor Square, Kildonan House Bed and Breakfast, Clinton Town Hall and the School Car on Wheels. Historical facts about Guiding’s 100 years are placed amongst the images.
The launch organizers were very pleased to have representatives from Kildonan House, School Car on Wheels and the Bayfield Historical Society in attendance at the party.
Calendars are now available for sale from members of Bayfield and Clinton Guiding as well as the Bayfield Village Inn, Interior Trends and Drs. Haney and Van Maanen’s Dental Office in Clinton.
The sale of this calendar is just one of the many exciting events planned in honor of the 100th anniversary of Girl Guides of Canada. It will be a year not to be missed.
Bayfield Guiding has openings for Sparks, aged 5-6 years; Brownies, aged 7-8 years; Guides age 9-12 years; and Pathfinders, aged 12-15 years.
The groups meet, with the exception of the Pathfinders, on Tuesday afternoons from 4:45 -6:30 p.m. at Trinity Anglican Church, 10 Keith Cres., Bayfield. They meet from mid-September to early June.
The Pathfinders will meet twice monthly at the Bayfield Village Inn on alternate Wednesdays from 6:30-9 p.m.
It is never too late to join the fun. For more information please phone Melody Falconer-Pounder at 519-565-2443 or email her at bvi@tcc.on.ca
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