1

Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, founder of the Scouting Movement
Feb. 22, 1857 - Jan. 8, 1941
Brant Museum and Archives (exhibit), Brantford, Ontario, Canada


Credits:
Scouts Canada - Brant Area Museum Collection

2

Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, born in London England, February 22, 1857, was a lieutenant -general in the British Army, writer, musician, artist, and founder of the Scouting Movement. Baden-Powel served in the British Army from 1876 until 1910 in India and Africa. He successfully defended the city in the Siege of Mafeking during the Second Boer War in South Africa.
Several military and scout training books were written during his time in Africa. Among these, Baden-Powel's military training manual, 'Aids to Scouting' had become a best seller in 1903, and was being used by teachers and youth organizations in England. After discussions with several leading citizens and particularly after a conversation with Sir William Smith, founder of the Boy's Brigade, 'Scouting for Boys' was published in six installments in 1908 and was geared towards young readers.
While writing, Baden-Powell tested his ideas during a camping trip on Brownsea Island off the Southern coast of England that began on August 1,1907. This is now considered the beginning of Scouting.
Baden-Powell married Olave St Clair Soames on October 30, 1912. He was 55 and she a young woman of 23. Together they lived in Pax Hill near Bentley, Hampshire and Chapel Farm, Ripley, Surrey from about 1919 until 1939. Soon after marriage Baden-Powell begun to experience health problems. In 1939 he and his wife moved to a cottage in Nyeri, Kenya where he had hoped to recuperate. Baden-Powel died on January 8, 1941 and is buried in Nyeri, Kenya in St. Peter's Cemetery.

3

Scouts Canada Badge
unknown
unknown


Credits:
Scouts Canada - Brant Area Museum Collection

4

"Scouting began in England in 1907 when Lt. Gen. Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell took a group of youth to a camp on Brownsea Island. The Movement was incorporated as "The Boy Scout Association" throughout the Commonwealth by Royal Charter granted by King George V in 1912.
There is evidence that a few Scouting groups started up in Canada in 1907. The Canadian General Council of the Boy Scout Association was incorporated by an act of the Canadian Parliament on June 12, 1914. The Canadian General Council was a branch of the Boy Scout Association until October 30, 1946, when it became an independent member of the Boy Scout World Conference. A subsequent amendment changed the name to Boy Scouts of Canada. In 2007, our Centennial Year, our name was officially changed by an act of Parliament to Scouts Canada.
B.P. wrote to The Earl Grey in 1910 to ask him to organize Scouting in Canada. Since that time, every Governor General has been either the Chief Scout for Canada (prior to 1946) or Chief Scout of Canada (after 1946). The current Governor General and Chief Scout is Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean."

5

The Boy Scouts Calendar; illustrated by G Fyffe Christie
unknown
Brant Museum and Archives (exhibit), Brantford, Ontario, Canada


Credits:
Scouts Canada - Brant Area Museum Collection

6

"The beginnings of Scouting in Ontario are lost in history. But it is believed the movement started spontaneously and actually in existence before its founder became aware of the fact.
There are many claims of 'firsts' in Ontario Scouting. Since the earliest contacts were made by correspondence with Lord Baden-Powell, in England, there are no records here to substantiate any of the claims."
- 75 Years of Scouting in Canada, by Robert E. Milks, October 1981

7

Troop Charter - 9th Brantford, King Edward School
12 December 1921
Brant Museum and Archives (exhibit), Brantford, Ontario, Canada


Credits:
Scouts Canada - Brant Area Museum Collection

8

The Boy Scouts Association
Incorporated by Royal Charter 1912
Provincial Council for Ontario
Troop Charter

This is to Certify that King Edward School, Brantford, Ont. having made proper application through its duly authorized representatives for the organization of a Troop of Boy Scouts to carry out the Programme of The Boy Scouts Association for
Character Building :: Citizenship Training :: Canadianization
Is herby granted a Charter for the year ending December 12th 1922 subject to the provisions of the policies and Regulations of The Boy Scouts Association in Canada and of its Provincial Council for Ontario.

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The above mentioned officials, having been duly certified, are officially registered by the Provincial Council for Ontario to meet the responsibilities of their respective offices in accordance with the regulations of The Boy Scouts Association.

In Testimony Whereof the Provincial Council for Ontario has caused this Charter to be signed by its Executive Officers and its Seal to be affixed this 12th day of December in the year 1921.

9

"On a Saturday morning in the spring of 1910, a number of West Brantford boys were playing on the river bank, when a young Scotsman met them. He asked whether they had ever thought of joining the Boy Scouts, or if hey had ever heard of them. The lads, knew nothing of the Boy Scouts, but they soon heard much of them from the young Scot, Allan MacFarlane. From this meeting came the West Brantford Troop, the first to be organized in Brantford. This troop with Mr. MacFarlane as Scoutmaster and W.E.L. Hart as Assistant Scoutmaster carried on until about the beginning of the Great War, Brantford's first Scoutmaster later became District Commissioner."
"The Boy Scouts of Brantford", by Scouter W. F. Billo, Brantford Expositor, Saturday, April 11, 1936