Happy Birthday, B-P!

Toward the end of his life, B-P wrote two "last messages" -- one, the more famous, is his 'last message to Scouts.' But he also wrote a 'last message to Scouters,' which I'd like to share with you all today:


"To my Brother Scouters and Guiders:

Cecil Rhodes said at the end of his life (and I, in my turn to feel the truth of it), "So much to do and so little time to do it." No one can hope to see the consummation, as well as the start, of a big venture within the short span of one lifetime.

I have had an extraordinary experience in seeing the development of Scouting from its beginning up to its present stage. But there is a vast job before it. The Movement is only now getting into its stride. (When I speak of Scouting I include in it Guiding also.). The one part which I can claim as mine towards promoting the movement is that I have been lucky enough to find you men and women to form a group of the right stamp who can be relied upon to carry it on to its goal. You will do well to keep yours eyes open, in your turn, for worthy successors to whom you can, with confidence, hand the torch. Don't let it became a salaried organization: keep it a voluntary movement of patriotic service.

The Movement has already, in the comparatively short period of its existence, established itself onto a wide and so strong a footing as to show most encouraging promise of what may be possible to it in the coming years. Its aim is to produce healthy, happy, helpful citizens, of both sexes, to eradicate the prevailing narrow self-interest, personal, political, sectarian and national, and to substitute for it a broader spirit of self-sacrifice and service in the cause of humanity; and thus to develop mutual goodwill and co-operation not only within our own country but abroad, between all countries. Experience shows that this consummation is no idle or fantastic dream, but is a practicable possibility if we work for it; and it means, when attained, peace, prosperity and happiness for all. The "encouraging promise" lies in the fact that the hundreds of thousands of boys and girls who are learning our ideals today will be fathers and mothers of millions in the near future, in whom they will in turn inculcate the same ideals, provided that these are really and unmistakably impressed upon them by their fathers of today.

Therefore you, who are Scouters and Guiders, are not only doing a great work for your neighbour's children but are also helping in practical fashion to bring to pass God's Kingdom of peace and goodwill upon Earth. So, from my heart, I wish you God-speed in your effort.

Baden-Powell"


Thank you all for your service to our youth and to this great Movement we all belong to. You should be proud of the work you do.

On this day, our Founder's birthday, I pledge to you that I will continue to agressively pursue our Action Plan for Canadian Scouting. In my heart and soul, I believe we can double our membership and revitalize this movement. Children and youth across this nation deserve no less.

Last night, I attended a huge birthday party for B-P in Paradise, NL. This evening, I will be celebrating with the 3rd Fredericton Cub Pack in New Brunswick. Tomorrow, I'll be partying with the Kirkland Northwest Cubs and Scouts in Quebec. (Check out their awesome website and videos if you haven't done so yet.). I look forward to hearing about the amazing celebrations that will take place across Canada in the days ahead.

We have lots to celebrate about the recent growth and development of Scouting. And we're just getting warmed up.

Happy birthday, Baden-Powell. I continue to be inspired by your legacy, and it's very clear to me that our collective responsibility is to build on that legacy for the benefit of generations of Canadians that are yet to be born.

Good Scouting!


Steve