The Polish Girl Scouts Organization

It was necessary to raise funds and acquire camping and operational equipment. Efforts also had to be made to establish contacts with parishes and clergy, Polish community organizations, and to build and maintain relationships with Canadian scouting and other ethnic scouting groups.

The development of the first packs and troops was rapid, supported by positive responses from parents and the wider community. Between 1952 and 1954, cub packs were established in Toronto, Ottawa, Noranda, Hamilton, London, St. Catharines, and Windsor—a total of eleven packs. Three Girl Scouts troops were formed in Toronto, St. Catharines, and Hamilton, along with a patrol in Windsor. In Montreal, new packs, patrols, and troops were also created. The movement expanded as far as Western Canada. In 1955, a Girl Scouts patrol and a cub pack (zuchy) were formed in Edmonton; in 1960, a troop and two packs were established in Winnipeg, along with a patrol and pack in Calgary, and a Girl Scouts patrol in Vancouver.

As the number of units grew, it became necessary to improve organization, leading to the grouping of units into districts (hufce). In November 1954, the “Watra” district for Girl Scouts was established, covering Ontario. In May 1956, it was divided into two districts: “Watra” and “Nurt.” In 1958, “Nurt” was merged back into “Watra.” To further streamline operations, “Watra” was reorganized, creating troops (szczepy) in major Polish communities, including:

Toronto – “Zarzewie” “Rzeka,” “Szarotki”

Hamilton – “Wisła”

Burlington – “Kartuzy”

St. Catharines – “Kujawy”

Welland – “Beskidy”

London – “Bór”

Sudbury – “Mazury”

Ottawa – “Jutrzenka” (formerly “Tęcza”)

Scarborough – “Zorza”

Mississauga – “Wieliczka”

Brampton – “Kaszuby”

In March 1955, the “Ogniwo” district was established in Quebec, encompassing numerous Girl Scouts units in Montreal. Additional districts were formed in Western Canada: “Prerie” in Manitoba (1960), later renamed “Białowieża”; “Młody Bór” in Edmonton (1966); and “Tatry” in Vancouver, which replaced the earlier “Jelenia Góra” troop in 1982 but has since been suspended due to a lack of youth members. The “Orla Perć” troop was also formed in Calgary.

Within the division, instructor teams were also established, each with their own programs and supporting the Girl Scouts Organization Leadership team, districts, troops, and the Board of Directors. These included:

In Toronto: a troop for senior instructors named after J. Falkowska, the “Bądź Gotów” troop (formed after the 2nd World Jamboree in Kaszuby in 1976), and the “Młode Orlice” troop

In Montreal: the “Szczyty” troop

In Winnipeg: the Ewa Grodecka patrol