Scouts Canada

Scouts Canada is a Canadian Scouting association that provides programs for young people ages 5 to 26. It aims "to help develop well-rounded youth, better prepared for success in the world." Scouts Canada, in affiliation with the French-language Association des Scouts du Canada, is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.

In 2022-2023, there were 41,733 youth members and 12,960 volunteers in Scouts Canada. The association has declined significantly in size since its peak in 1965: youth membership is down 85% from 288,084, and volunteers are down 61% from 33,524.

Scouts Canada follows the Scouting Method, which includes elements such as the Scout Law and Promise, learning by doing, the team system, a symbolic framework, nature, personal progression, adult support, and community involvement. As part of the Canadian Path program, Scouts can earn a "Religion in Life" emblem by completing a denomination-specific program. In 2009, a "Spirituality Award" was introduced for Scouts and Guides who do not belong to a specific religious denomination. In 2020, alternative promises were introduced for Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts, and higher levels, allowing individuals to pledge to their country or personal beliefs rather than a God or the King.

According to Scouts Canada, Scouting groups had been established as early as 1907 in Canada, and in 1908 Baden-Powell wrote Scouting for Boys.

In his 1981 book 75 Years of Scouting in Canada, Robert Milks, the late Scouts Canada archivist, indicated that the first Scout groups in Canada were founded in 1908. St. Catharines and Merrickville are mentioned as among the locations of the first troops. Boy Scouts and the Scout Movement had a presence in Canada before the formation of Scouts Canada or its parent organization, The Boy Scouts Association of the United Kingdom were formed.

The Boy Scouts Association was formed in the United Kingdom in 1910 and incorporated in 1912. Some sources suggest that its founder, Baden-Powell, wrote to Earl Grey, the Governor General of Canada in 1910, and asked him to organize Scouting in Canada; Grey lent his office to be known as the Chief Scout for Canada. A branch of The Boy Scouts Association was established in Canada under The Boy Scouts Association's Overseas Department. The Canadian General Council of The Boy Scouts Association was incorporated by an Act of the Canadian Parliament on 12 June 1914. The Canadian General Council continued to be represented internationally by The Boy Scouts Association of the United Kingdom until 30 October 1946, when the Canadian General Council became a direct member of the Boy Scout World Conference, now the World Organization of the Scout Movement. In 1961, the Canadian General Council of The Boy Scouts Association later changed its name to Boy Scouts of Canada by an amendment to its incorporating Act of Parliament. In 1976, the Scouts Canada logo was introduced and the organization, by its By-laws, adopted the name Scouts Canada. In 2007 by Bill S-1001, the organization's name was amended to Scouts Canada in the establishing legislation.

In July 1930 Ontario's Hospital for Sick Children organized the Robert Louis Stevenson Boy Scout Troop to hold field days and weekly scouts and girl guides programming for internees.

In 1972, Scouts Canada began accepting female participants as part of its Rover Section. This was expanded in the late 1970s (but some sources cite 1984) to include the Venturer Section.