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Novel Coronavirus — July 23, 2021 Update: Explore Scouts Canada’s actions as we continue to follow the direction of government and health agencies in maintaining public health. View recommendations and stay informed here.

NOTE: All Scouts Canada Staff will be on summer break from Monday, July 26 to Tuesday August 3. All offices are closed.

Recognition

Scouts Canada recognizes the significant contributions Volunteers and Scouters make in guiding youth as they pursue their personal progression through the Canadian Path program.  Our Scouters form a partnership with youth motivating them to discover their independence and capability through an engaged Scouting experience. 

It is due to the hard work of our Scouters that we see Scouts Canada’s Vision of Canadian youth making a meaningful contribution to creating a better world come to fruition. Every year Scouters across the nation go above and beyond to ensure youth have great, safe adventures, while also developing into confident, capable individuals.

There are many ways to acknowledge the contribution of a Scouts Canada member:

  • Instant reactions
  • Informal Awards
  • Council Specific Awards
  • Outstanding Service Awards
  • Nomination Based Awards
  • Years of Service

Recognition is inherently personal, and Commissioners are in the best position to judge what form of recognition will have the biggest impact for their Volunteers.

The Commissioners Handbook for Recognition contains the most current information on Scouts Canada’s recognition process.  The tabs below provide specific information, including links to nomination pages or contact information.

  • Recent Updates

    • We intend to use this section to celebrate some important recognitions in the future. Stay tuned!

    Award Blitz

    The National Recognition Network has completed an Award Blitz ensuring Medals for Outstanding Service Awards, Awards of Gallantry and Fortitude, and Medals of the Maple (from March 2020 until April 2021)  have been processed.

    The award packages are in transit to Councils, for distribution to Group Commissioners. Group Commissioners can organize meaningful presentations as Canada resumes in-person gatherings.  These presentations should occur by August 31st 2021.

    Please connect with your Council Recognition Administrator for details specific to your Council.

    First Commendations with Flash were not included in the Award Blitz, due to the additional time their processing would add to the delivery of the awards noted above.  Members receiving First Commendation with Flash may receive a PDF of the Commendation Letter along with a PDF of the Certificate of Commendation.

    Annual Updates

    Based on feedback from councils, commissioners and members at large, the NRN has made significant changes in 2019-2020.

    Such as,

    • Scouts Canada generated nation-wide commendation(s) will no longer be issued.
    • The NRN is reaching out regularly to key individuals to ensure that appropriate awards are prepared. The NRN will not be providing mass medals at one time.
    • Providing more information to further involve the Council Key 3 in the recognition process
    • Youth who are both a participant and a Volunteer will be considered for Medal of the Maple before Medal of Good Service
    • Adjudication teams composed of Active members from across the country, now review all nominations for Silver Acorns, Medal of the Maples, Medals for Fortitude, Medals of Gallantry, and Medals for Meritorious Conduct to ensure consistency across the country.

    Completed awards 2019 - 2020

    • 17,023 Commendations
    • 577 Outstanding Service Medals
    • 971 Long Service Pins
    • 50 Medals of Valour, Fortitude and Meritorious Conduct
    • 59 Medals of the Maple
  • FAQs

    • Scouting has a rich history of recongitions and awards spanning both time and distance. Included below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

    Will a Covid Medal or Badge be created for Scouts Canada?

    Since March 2020 commendations received through the Thanks Button for participant programming during the Covid Pandemic have received recognition for their continued service to Scouting.

    This recognition includes moving a Scouting Volunteer a step closer to the next Outstanding Service Award for their act of service.

    When will I receive my Long Service Award for 10 years of service?

    The Long Service Awards are currently out of stock.

    There was a delay in ordering Long Service Awards in 2019 which affected the stock on hand. The pandemic resulted in suppliers closing their processing operations.  The Long Service Awards will be restocked. A notice will be made here when we have ordered and they are in stock again..

  • National Recognition Network

    • Not sure on which council you belong to? Check out the regional map.

    Western Councils / Conseils Ouest

    Council / Conseil

    Name / Nom

    Email

    Fraser Valley

    		 Sean Munro

    smunro@scouts.ca

    Pacific Coast

    Sean Munro

    		 smunro@scouts.ca

    Cascadia

    Sean Munro

    		 smunro@scouts.ca

    Chinook

    Trevor Dring

    Trevor.dring@scouts.ca

    Northern Lights

    Linda Butler Dunn

    Linda.dunn@scouts.ca

    Saskatchewan

    Shirley Larson

    slarson@scouts.ca

     

    Central Councils

    Council

    Name

    Email

    Battlefields

    Robert Prentice

    robert.prentice@scouts.ca

    Central Escarpment

    Albert Fuchigami

    Albert.fuchigami@scouts.ca

    Greater Toronto

    Nathan Yiu

    Nathan.yiu@scouts.ca

    Manitoba

    Peter Champagne

    Peter.champagne@scouts.ca

    Northern Ontario

    Joy Cummings

    Joy.cummings@scouts.ca

    Shining Waters

    Peck Yap

    Peck.yap@scouts.ca

    Tri-Shores

    		 Vaccant  

     

    Eastern Councils / Conseils Est

    Council / Conseil

    Name / Nom

    Email

    Quebec / Québec

    Victor Knowlton

    Victor.knowlton@scouts.ca

    Voyageur

    Owen Wiseman

    Owen.wiseman@scouts.ca

    New Brunswick / Nouveau-Brunswick

    Cheryl Brown

    Cheryl.brown@scouts.ca

    Newfoundland & Labrador / Terre-Neuve-Labrador

    Lawson Dickson

    Lawson.dickson@scouts.ca

    Nova Scotia / Nouvelle-Écosse

    Gwendolyn Mosher

    gwen.mosher@scouts.ca

    Prince Edward Island / Île-du-Prince-Édouard

    Gwendolyn Mosher

    		 gwen.mosher@scouts.ca

    White Pine

    Ute Sack

    usack@scouts.ca

    National Support

    Council / Conseil

    Name / Nom

    Email

    Staff / Personnelle

    Amy Patterson

    Amy.patterson@scouts.ca

    Silver Acorn Team Lead / Medal of the Maple Team

    Le plomb de gland d’argent / L'équipe médaille de l’érable

    John Parks

    john.parks@scouts.ca

    Fortitude & Gallantry Team Lead

    Chef d'équipe de force morale et de bravoure

    Peter Champagne

    Peter.champagne@scouts.ca

    Years of Service / Annees au Scoutisme

    Rita Marie Bechard

    rita-marie.bechard@scouts.ca

    Years of Service / Annees au Scoutisme

    Jennifer Squires

    jennifer.squires@scouts.ca

    Public Relations & Development

    Relations publiques et développement

    Sandi Burns

    sburns@scouts.ca

    Thank a Scouter

    Saying Thanks to a Scouts Canada volunteer for their outstanding contributions to Scouting is this easy:

    • Any stakeholder to Scouting (volunteers, youth, parents, the community at large) can fill out a simple form to commend a Scouter and Staff for their outstanding act or service to Scouting.
    • Scouters will receive a certificate the first time they are commended by a stakeholder and it will be presented within the Scouter’s section or group. Following Commendations will be provided via email. All Commendations are recorded in a Scouters MyScouts Recognition profile.
    • As Scouters accumulate commendations, they will become eligible for Outstanding Service Awards and will be recognized with a medal and uniform insignia for each award.

    Thank a Scouter Today

  • Years of Service Certificates

    • Thanking Scouters along their volunteering journey is one way to show them our appreciation. Each year that a Volunteer spends with Scouts Canada positively impacts the youth in Sections and Groups of the organization. Years of Service Recognition celebrates the achievement of a Scouter’s years of service in Scouting with two initial milestones: 5 years of service and 10 years of service (Long Service Medal). Subsequently, each fifth anniversary is acknowledged with a certificate.

    Certificates for 5 years through 100 years of service, in 5 year intervals, are available for Commissioners to print and present. At 10 years of service Scouts Canada provides a Long Service Award. After 50 years of service Scouts Canada provides a letter from the National Key 3 along with the years of service pin. These service pins are available for sale on ScoutShop.ca. Years of service are added to MyScouts each September. Copies of the certificates in French are available on the translated version of this page. For copies of the French version of the certificate, please visit the 

    After volunteering with Scouts Canada for three consecutive years, a Scouter may receive credit for registered years of service with other World Organization of Scouting Member organizations or the Girl Guides of Canada or World Organization of Girl Guides or Girl Scouts. Please note this service is not served concurrently.

    Please note: the certificates and pins are no longer supplied by the Scouting Support office.

  • Outstanding Service Awards

    • Outstanding Service Awards [OSA] recognize Volunteers and Staff for above-average commitment. OSA range from a Certificate of Commendation to the Bar to the Silver Acorn.

    Most OSA are based upon commendations received through MyScouts.ca or the Thanks Button for an individual’s contribution to Scouting. The citation within the commendations are the building blocks on which the awards are determined.

    Any stakeholder to Scouting (members, parents, sponsors, or the general public) may submit a citation for a remarkable act or service.

    Scouts Canada Certificate of Commendation

    Certificate of Commendation

    For service to Scouting. It is used for highlighting a significant contribution and is stored in the member’s MyScouts profile.

    Scouts Canada The Medal for Good Service

    The Medal for Good Service

    Awarded for significant contributions to the section, possibly the group or wider Scouting community.

    Scouts Canada Bar to The Medal for Good Service

    Bar to The Medal for Good Service

    For continued significant contributions and equivalent to earning a second Medal for Good Service.

    Scouts Canada The Medal of Merit

    The Medal of Merit

    For especially good service within their section, group, and wider Scouting community.

    Scouts Canada Bar to The Medal of Merit

    Bar to The Medal of Merit

    For continued especially good service and equivalent to earning a second Medal of Merit.

    Scouts Canada The Silver Acorn

    The Silver Acorn

    For especially distinguished service that extends beyond the group or section level.

    Scouts Canada Bar to The Silver Acorn

    Bar to The Silver Acorn

    For continued contributions of especially distinguished service and equivalent to earning a second Silver Acorn.

  • Nomination-based Awards

    • Scouts Canada has a series of Nomination Based Awards. These awards are based on unique, and exceptional circumstances and require a narrative description of what has occurred. The nomination provides the National Adjudication Committee [NAC] confidential details of the actions to all the committee to make the correct recommendation. National adjudication ensures nation-wide consistency of these awards.

    Nomination-Based Awards for Youth

    Scouts Canada The Medal of the Maple

    The Medal of the Maple

    To honour YOUTH who contribute to the Scouting Movement and the spirit of Scouting through community service, extraordinary Scouting participation, and a solid system of personal values.

    Nomination Form

    The Jack Cornwell Decoration

    Awarded to a YOUTH member based on exceptionally high character, devotion to duty, and specific acts of physical courage; or must have heroically undergone great suffering.

    Nomination-Based Awards available for any Member

    Any member of Scouts Canada is eligible for the following awards. Members of a Section which acted as part of a team may also be eligible for an award.

    The Award for Fortitude

    For a member who carries on to the best of their ability with their duties and/or activities in Scouting despite being challenged in some respect as a result of a physical and/or mental condition or disease and continue to contribute to the movement.

    Scouts Canada The Certificate for Meritorious Conduct

    The Certificate for Meritorious Conduct

    Is bestowed for conduct worthy of recorded commendation, but which does not justify a medal.

    Nomination Form

    The Medal for Meritorious Conduct

    Is bestowed for especially distinguished conduct not involving heroism or risk of life.

    Nomination Form
    Scouts Canada The Certificate for Gallantry

    The Certificate for Gallantry

    Is bestowed for gallantry with slight risk worthy of commendation.

    The Bronze Cross

    Is bestowed for gallantry with moderate risk.

    The Silver Cross

    Is bestowed for gallantry with considerable risk.

    The Gold Cross

    Is bestowed for gallantry with special heroism and extraordinary risk.

  • Council Specific Awards

    • Several Councils manage unique awards. These awards are encouraged as they provide a way to celebrate council-specific impact that may be otherwise overlooked. Each award has a specific nomination and adjudication process. Please contact your Council Recongition Administrator for further information.

    Voyageur Council

    Voyageur Council Youth Award

    For exceptional service to Scouting in Voyageur Council by a Youth member above the normal program requirements.

    Order of the Caribou

    Open to all members

    For service to Scouting in Voyageur Council from a Youth or Adult member, by accepting additional challenges, in addition to a regular Scouting role, associated with organizing and coordinating major activities for Scouting.

    Bar to the Order of the Caribou

    Open to all members

    For continued service to Scouting in Voyageur Council from a Youth or Adult member, by accepting additional challenges, in addition to a regular Scouting role, associated with organizing and coordinating major activities for Scouting.

    Voyageur Council Legacy Award

    Open to all members

    For significant service to Scouting in Voyageur Council and its predecessors through a lifetime of continuous service, dedication, quality of leadership, and willingness to help young people develop into self-reliant and responsible adults.

    Order of the Silver Key

    Youth Leadership Award

    For distinguished youth service. It honours those youth who have significantly contributed to the Movement and the spirit of Scouting through their dedication to their Area, Group, and community.

    Greater Toronto Council’s Honorary Member

    Chinook Council’s Lifetime Achievement Award

    For Scouters

    For extraordinary Scouters who have deeply influenced and significantly contributed through a lifetime of continuous service to others, while illustrating and reinforcing the values found in the Scout Promise and Scout Law

  • Top Section Awards

    • Youth in each section can pursue the Scout’s Award by completing Personal Progression within their section; leading or contributing to projects of personal significance that have an impact in the community, and by attaining the specified number of Outdoor Adventure Skills stages.

    The Top Section Awards are an opportunity for youth in each Section to attain a meaningful accomplishment that is widely recognized and understood.  There are four components to the Top Section Awards.  They are common to all Sections, but are increasingly challenging according to each age group.

    For more help on how to add the award to a youth’s myScout profile, check out the support article.

    Scouts Canada The North Star Award

    The North Star Award

    Beaver Scouts

    The North Star Award is the highest award for a Canadian Beaver can attain in Scouting.

    Requirements Certificate
    Scouts Canada The Seeonee Award

    The Seeonee Award

    Cub Scouts

    The Seeonee Award is the highest award for a Canadian Cub can attain in Scouting.

    Requirements Certificate
    Scouts Canada Chief Scout’s Award

    Chief Scout’s Award

    Scouts

    The Chief Scout’s Award is the highest award for a Canadian Scout can attain in Scouting.

    More information on the history of this award can be found on our wiki page.

    Requirements Certificate
    Scouts Canada Queen's Venturer Award

    Queen's Venturer Award

    Venturer Scouts

    The award is presented to Venturer Scouts who have acquired competence and skills that will be of considerable use to themselves, their company, and their community. These Venturer Scouts will have been recognized by their company, their Scouter, and Scouts Canada as being worthy of receiving the Award.

    More information on the history of this award can be found on our wiki page.

     

    Requirements Certificate
    Scouts Canada Canadian Rover Scout Award

    Canadian Rover Scout Award

    Rover Scouts

    The Canadian Rover Scout Award is the highest award for a Canadian Rover can attain in Scouting.

    Requirements Certificate
  • Sponsor Recognition

    • Acknowledging the partnership between the Sponsor / Partner and Scout Group can be expressed in many ways. These certificates provided are one way to show appreciation for a working relationship.

    Sponsor Appreciation Certificate 2021

    Sponsor Appreciation - 100 Years Certificate (Version 2)

    Sponsor Appreciation - 100 Years Certificate (Version 1)

  • Tip Sheets

    • These sheets provide further insight into the actions of Recognition. They have been provided as self-service assistance. If you require further information please reach out to your Council Recognition Administrator.

    Writing Commendations Tip Sheet

    Adding Commendations in MyScouts.ca Tip Sheet

    Informal Recognition Tip Sheet

    Presentation Tip Sheet

    Wearing our Medals Tip Sheet

    Learning who has a CoC Tip Sheet

  • Insignia Placement

    • Placement of Scouts Canada’s awards onto your uniform can be found using the links below to pdf guides. Information on the wearing of Scouts Canada’s awards is well documented, check out the tip sheet tab for our guide.

    Beaver Scout Insignia Placement

    Venturer Scout Insignia Placement

    Cub Scout Insignia Placement

    Rover Scout Insignia Placement

    Scout Insignia Placement

    Scouters Insignia Placement

  • General Feedback

    • Feedback Tips

    Crucial Conversations Framework

    Volunteer Exit Interview

    Get in Touch

    1-888-855-3336

    Submit a Request

    Scouts Canada Charity Number: 107761694RR0028

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