A Safe Scouting Experience
As Canada’s largest youth organization, Scouts Canada places great importance on creating a fun and safe environment for our members. By embedding safety in everything we do, we create a culture of safety supported by comprehensive policies, resources and guidelines for all Scouting activities.
Our Scouters play a key role in providing a safe and enriching environment for youth, which is why Scouts Canada has a comprehensive screening and training process. We ensure our volunteers are prepared to guide and care for Scouting youth. Scouts Canada’s screening policy includes a Police Records Check, a screening interview and three character references.
Youth Protection
Respect in Sport
In 2017–2018, Scouts Canada adopted Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders Training. This training helps Scouters promote safety in all aspects of life by providing them with the tools needed to recognize and act when Scouting youth are faced with abuse, bullying, discrimination or harassment. With over 20,000 Scouters certified this past year, Scouts Canada is in a position to improve child and youth safety nationwide.
Hear more about Respect In Sport training from founder, Sheldon Kennedy. →
The 2017–2018 Scouting Year also saw Scouts Canada take a leadership role in youth protection, bringing together over 20 youth-serving organizations from across Canada to discuss best practices and exchange ideas to improve youth safety. Scouts Canada was able to share our experience of building a dedicated team and enhancing existing polices and procedures to provide more sophisticated levels of protection for children.
Additionally, we hosted and sponsored specialists from this group for two days of intensive training for staff that manage child safety concerns and allegations of abuse. We are deeply committed to showing leadership in the area of child and youth safety, and are dedicated to doing all we can to help make Canada safer for our children and youth.