Ciara H., Pitt Meadows District
“Guiding has served as somewhat of an enigmatic force throughout my life. This is likely due to my role and responsibilities shifting drastically throughout my time within the organisation, which has aided in broadening the skills and experiences gained from this activity. This organisation primarily impacted my life through me witnessing the welcoming, passionate nature of those around me, and this community allowed me and many others I know to focus our passion into the completion of tasks that served as cogs within a greater machine. The specific experiences and skills provided by this organisation, allowed me and others to pinpoint future life goals, both personal and professional, as well as discover lifelong skills and abilities that continue to affect us today. I first joined the Girl Guides of Canada at nine, and despite being years later to register than most, I was quickly integrated into a community within which many others had spent nearly their entire lives. Benefits of existing in a community in which most have so much experience across varying stages of life include having leadership figures that can cater their teachings to the broad majority of age categories and those coming from different backgrounds, due to them previously existing within this community, not in one sole stage of life, and not retaining one sole role and set of responsibilities throughout their experience.”