Celebrating a scouting milestone

To be precise, the actual 100-year anniversary will take place in August of 2007, but an early celebration took place at the Elgar Centre, on L'Ile-des-Soeurs on April 29, to mark the Scout movement's centenarian, under the honourary presidency of Verdun mayor Claude Trudel.

In 1907, Baden-Powel had the ingenious idea to give youngsters real responsibility and promote a healthy, outdoor lifestyle, full of discipline and teamwork. The idea spread like wildfire and soon, scout groups were sprouting all over the place.

"There was a time when half of Premier René Levesque's Quebec cabinet were former scouts," states Michel Des Rochers, president of the Club Social des Amis des Scouts, a non-profit organization composed mainly of former scouts and scout leaders who fundraise for the Verdun, LaSalle and Brossard groups.

Today, the scout movement is alive and well and represented by a bevy of dedicated volunteers and young children and teenagers who benefit from the character building involved in the Scouts. The Island's 270th group has been in existence for nine years.

The early morning brunch was a meeting point for a number of people from a variety of boroughs, involved in the Scout movement. In a fun and relaxed atmosphere, past and present Scout members, ranging in age from 7 to 80+, shared their memories of the movement, sang traditional Scout songs and enjoyed a presentation by the chorale de l'Amicale des Scouts du Montréal Métropolitain.

During the event, a cheque for $1,500 was presented to Santiago Rey, an 8-year-old Beaver, who accepted it on behalf of the entire 270th group. It was obvious to everyone present at the event that "Scout un jour, scout toujours" is more than just an expression; it's a way of life.