Tamarac Area

Tamarac Area was formed in 1971. In order to make the name unique the ‘k’ was dropped from Tamarack.

Tamarac Area Communities

The following cities, towns and communities fall within Tamarac Area (bolded communities currently have Guiding units):

Alberta Beach
Athabasca
Atmore
Barrhead
Bon Accord
Boyle
Calahoo
Carvel
Chisholm
Clyde
Dapp
Devon
Drayton Valley
Elscott
Fawcett
Fort Assinaboine
Gibbons
Graminia
Grassland
Gunn
Jarvie
Lac La Biche
Lake Isle
Legal
Mayerthorpe
Morinville
Onoway
Pickardville
Plamonden
Redwater
Rochester
Sandy Beach
Sandy Lake
Sangudo
Slave Lake
Smoky Lake
Spruce Grove
St. Albert
Stony Plain
Swan Hills
Thorhild
Vimy
Wabamun
Wabasca
Wandering River
Warburg
Westlock
Whitecourt

Tamarac Area Council / Contact Us

Tamarac Area Council

Tamarac Area council meets 4 times each year at Alberta Guide House in Edmonton, Alberta.

Area Council is comprised of the Area Commissioner and her Deputies, Secretary, Treasurer, Area Advisers and District Commissioners:

Area Commissioner/Contracts: Patricia Wilson at any-tamaracac@girlguides.ca
Deputy: Vacant
Deputy: Vacant
Secretary: Dana Wagner at dlwagner@wildroseinternet.ca
Treasurer: Tirzah Wolff at any-tamaractreasurer@girlguides.ca

Members-at-Large

Pauline Vaugeois
Lorraine Constable
Katherine Fancey
Corrine Gates
Catherine Glover
Gail Jarema

Honourary Life Members

Pauline Vaugeois
Lorraine Constable
Gail Jarema
Janet Allcock
Roberta Fehr
Patti Walker
Fennie Fraser
Johanna Lawson
Catherine Glover
Nancy Keith-Amero
Terri Bouvier
Pat Klann

Tamarac Website

Website Coordinator: Gayle Boyd at any-tamaracpublications@girlguides.ca

Tamarac Districts

Aurora

We are a very wide-spread District with units in two major Communities, Athabasca and Lac La Biche.

Programming in our communities runs from September to May each year.

At the end of each year we have a District Camp.

If you would like information on our units, contact our Commissioner Nancy Keith-Amero at nancy_amero@yahoo.com.

Athabasca Guiding News

Sparks: This year we have made our own first aid kits, and learned how to clean and bandage small wounds. We have completed the Fun and Fitness Challenge Crest, learning about yoga, hip hop and healthy snacking along the way. We have participated in a bridging event with Pathfinders, Guides and Embers, and hiked around a corn maze at night. We cookie blitzed in the fall at Buy-Low foods, and sold over 10 cases of cookies! We have made fuzzy camp blankets and sung songs around an indoor campfire while roasting mini marshmallows over tea lights. We are going to make some cookies next week to take to a nursing home this December and serve tea and cookies to the residents. Finally, we are going to complete the Habitat for Humanity challenge at a New Year's Eve sleepover.

Embers: This year we have been encouraging the Embers to work on the interest badges independently while we have been working on the keys. The girls really seem to enjoy "presenting" their work! We recently had their enrollment ceremony which the Embers planned and helped to decorate for. So far this year we have made bannock, painted, made many interesting crafts, and created goo. We also participated in the trip to Prairie Gardens with the Guides and the Sparks. The Embers had an awesome time in the corn maze in the dark, it wasn't spooky at all! This year we have spent a significant amount of time singing new songs around our faux campfire and the Embers are really enjoying that aspect. On the 17th we plan on going caroling to the ExtendaCare and the Lodge to spread some Christmas cheer! The Embers have made candy cane ornaments for the residents and we plan on singing and then handing out the gifts! This will assist with the “Key to My Community” badge. In January we are thinking about having a sleepover and continuing to work on the "keys".

Guides: We began in September with two returning Guides, three graduates from Embers and eight girls new to Guiding. We have enough girls for two patrols , the Orioles and the Violets and they take turns washing the dishes after snack and setting up the electric campfire. Our meeting place has a large kitchen where all the Guides can help prepare the snack. A highlight of our early meetings was a visit from a member of the local RCMP who led a discussion on staying safe while selling cookies. We learned our Promise, Law, knots, Horseshoe formation and Guide Marching Song. We invited the families to our enrolment ceremony on Oct 21/14. We performed a skit about the Crystal Palace Rally for the guests. We travelled to Prairie Gardens for a cookout and night hike through the corn maize with all the other units from Athabasca just before Halloween. As a group, we are building upon this experience to complete the requirements for the Outdoor Adventure badge. We practiced sewing on a button and a patch to make a felt bird brooch to learn some skills necessary to sew on our own badges. A few of us joined girls in other units to attend the town Remembrance Day ceremonies. The Sparks, Embers and Guides, who attended, got their picture taken with the local members of the RCMP.

Pathfinders: This year we have participated in a Bridging Event with Sparks, Embers and Guides, and ran around a corn maze at night with flashlights. We learned about boating and canoeing safety at the Athabasca Landing Pool while performing a canoe-over-canoe rescue. We attended the NAIT event and learned about nanowire, robots, wired our own extension cords and spent some time in the animation lab. We've done some cool crafts, made some cake (and eaten it too!) and have plans in the new year to complete our First Aid badge and host a Murder Mystery party! The Athabasca and Lac La Biche Pathfinders along with the Boyle Rangers had a canoe training day at the Athabasca Landing Pool on October 26th. The girls had their swim test, learned all about canoeing and practiced in the pool with 2 canoes. They event got to practice canoe capsize! Afterwards the group got together for a pizza lunch before a well deserved nap. The 1st Athabasca Pathfinders and 1st Boyle Rangers went to the Girl Guide Pathfinder event at NAIT on October 29th. Under the tutelage of female scientists and engineers they got to play around with Nanowire, build a small heart rate monitor, wire together a short extension cord and then go into the animation lab where they got to use cutting-edge programs to animate a ball jumping on and off a box. Afterwards there were snacks in the lobby where the girls got to mingle with the instructors as well as other Pathfinders and Rangers. It was awesome.

Athabasca Guiding News

We have excellent volunteer Guiders in our community. The Guiding programs that they are offering our Girls are excellent friendship and learning opportunities. The fresh and fun ideas they incorporate into their meetings and activities, keep the Girls engaged in Guiding. The enrolment in our Guiding Units has been excellent since Girl Guides of Canada started back up in Lac La Biche in 2011.

Sparks - Ages 5 and 6
Meeting weekly at Vera M. Welsh Elementary School on Wednesdays from 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Guiders are Nicole Eleniak & Chelsea Lachowich

Embers - Ages 7 and 8
Meeting weekly at Vera M. Welsh Elementary School on Wednesdays from 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Guiders are Bonnie Collins & Susanne Onciul-Puch

Guides - Ages 9, 10 and 11
Meet bi-weekly at Aurora Middle School on Thursdays from 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Guiders are Susanne Onciul-Pich, Pam Holmes and Pam Onciul. (They have a wonderful helper Marleen Schukaliak: aka Grandma Hoot)

Pathfinders - Ages 12 and 13
Meet bi-weekly at the Elk's Lodge on Tuesdays from 6:30-8:00pm
Guiders are Stacey St.Jean and Veronica Berezowski

Lac La Biche Guiding News!

Sparks: The Lac La Biche Sparks have been working very hard so far this year! We have covered 3 units: Being a Spark, Being Me & In My Community; so the girls will be receiving their badges shortly! As well we had our Enrollment night where we invited all of the girls' families to make our ceremony a special one! All the Sparks attended the Charity Princess Tea Party which was a blast! We will be doing some bridging meetings with the Embers in the next little while, that will include crafts and games. For the New Year, we will continue to work on more units so the girls can get as many badges as they can!

Pathfinders: Our Pathfinder Unit is an Extra-Ops (Extraordinary Options). We are interested in the "doing" of Guiding and not the badges and recognition available in Pathfinders. At the beginning of the year we discuss our interests and incorporate them into the year plans. This year itâ€™s been CRAFTS! We still participate in Guiding events, service projects and are encouraging their leadership with volunteering at the younger Unit meetings. There are a lot of opportunities for the Pathfinder age group in Guiding within the AB Girl Guides and Nationally.

Our year highlights so far:

The Athabasca and Lac La Biche Pathfinders along with the Boyle Rangers had a canoe training day at the Athabasca Landing Pool on October 26th. The girls had their swim test, learned all about canoeing and practiced in the pool with 2 canoes. They event got to practice canoe capsize! Afterwards the group got together for a pizza lunch before a well deserved nap.
A Halloween Party with scavenger hunt and treats!
Sewing Meeting - with sewing machines; used pillow cases to make dresses! They are being sent overseas to help the less fortunate. We also made felt Christmas ornaments.
The girls are working towards a big trip in the summer of 2016!

Fireside

Commissioner: Penny Saunders at pennyfgs2@gmail.com

Fireside District is on the North end of St. Albert including the communities of Northridge, Deer Ridge, Lacombe Park, Mission and Jensen Lakes. Our units start up in September and run until May/June.

Our units are:

8th St. Albert Sparks - 6:30 - 7:30 Monday at Lacombe Clubhouse
7th St. Albert Embers 6:30 -8:00 Wednesday at Lacombe Clubhouse
13th St. Albert Embers 6:30 -8:00 Monday at J J Nearing School
2nd St. Albert Guides 6:30 -8:30 Monday St. Matthew's Anglican Church
3rd St. Albert Guides 6:30 -8:30 Wednesday St. Matthew's Anglican Church
5th St. Albert Pathfinders 6:30- 8:30 Monday upstairs at Lacombe Clubhouse
6th St. Albert Pathfinders/ Rangers 6:30- 8:30 Wednesday upstairs at Lacombe Clubhouse

Events

District Events include a Thinking Day District Day Camp to filled with lots of activities and a cause to support. We've had annual swims each winter to support CWFF. This year we had a Girls First Launch Party in September and are going to Lake Nakamun for out first District camp in June.

Forest Waters

Commissioner: Josee Leduc at josse.t.leduc@gmail.com

Muskotehk

Commissioner: Katherine Murphy at slguidesdc@gmail.com

Pembina Trail

Commissioner: (Vacant)

Pinedale

Commissioner: Tricia Fernandez de Lara at tdelara@gmail.com

Pinedale is a close and active District that continues to grow each year. We are one of the largest District's in St. Albert and are proud of the focus that we put on our girls and their involvement and enjoyment of Guiding! Our District covers seven neighbourhoods in St. Albert: Akinsdale, Pineview, Woodlands, Kingswood, Inglewood, Erin Ridge and Oakmont.

Pinedale District Map

We currently have 7 units in our District: one Sparks unit, two Ember units, two Guide units, one Pathfinder unit and a mixed Pathfinder/Ranger unit. We are always looking for great leaders to join our District and help mentor and lead the girls by example.

Each year, our District participates at a City Hall Presentation where our girls thank mayor and council for their commitment to Guiding in St. Albert. Pinedale District also makes tray favours for the Senior's Centre and organizes annual Christmas and Thinking Day celebrations. A District Newsletter is also created twice a year, which highlights upcoming events and activities and also features articles about what each unit is doing.

A Little History

Pinedale is, at present, the youngest (1981) District in St. Albert, yet, by some twist of fate, we have in our District the oldest Guide Company and the second oldest Ember unit in St. Albert.

1st Guide Company - St. Albert's first Guide Company began on March 24, 1956, but not acknowledged as a District. I. McCallum is recorded as the first leader, and many fine leaders took their turn during the years since then. St. Albert gained one of its most well known Guiding personalities, Pauline M. Vaugeois, in 1958. She relates that at this time there were so few street lights that one of the favourite tasks assigned to test observation skills was to count and describe the location of each street lamp.

2nd Ember Pack - St. Albert's second Ember Pack was formed on September 30, 1959. Brown Owl Joan Brunner's most memorable event of 1959 was her wedding where her Embers formed an honor guard and had a wonderful time at the wedding dance. These same girls entered a large float in the St. Albert parade in August 1960. They covered a very large flatbed, loaned to them by the Neil Ross Tracking Company, with their Six emblems. The 2nd Pack continues to enjoy hikes, picnics, camping and has even entered a few parade floats along the way.

Pembina Trail

Commissioner: Shelley at shelley.charlie.5@gmail.com

Rainbow

Commissioner: Cauleen Farrants at cfarrants@gmail.com

Treasurer: Karalee Clyde

Rainbow District is one of three Girl Guide Districts within St. Albert. The District's area covers Heritage Lakes, Grandin, Sturgeon, Forest Lawn and Braeside. It is comprised of the following units:

1st St. Albert Sparks
4th St. Albert Sparks
1st St. Albert Embers
4th St. Albert Embers
17th St. Albert Embers
4th St. Albert Guides
1st St. Albert Pathfinders
2nd St. Albert Rangers

Program is run from the third week in September to the beginning of May, following which units may or may not have additional camps or events over the summer period.

Fundraising

Girls participate in two cookie fundraising campaigns per year: October (Mint-Chocolate) and April (Sandwich Cookies).

Cookies are ordered at a District level with a portion of proceeds from two cases going to support District costs. Units ordering extra cookie keep all of the remaining proceeds. One case of cookies is ordered at each campaign for thank-yous to both the City of St. Albert - Recreation services team who supports the St. Albert facility bookings and for St. Albert Storage for their use of a secure area for a storage shed used by the Districts within St. Albert.

No other district wide fundraising occurs.

Tray Favours: each year, Rainbow District participates in making tray favours for the St. Albert Seniors Centre. Units take turns preparing these small crafts for the two or three events each year that Rainbow District is assigned.

Annual District Events

Thinking Day Celebration: held in February, girls participate in round-robin stations learning about guiding within another country or countries. This event is organized by Rainbow's Guide Unit.
Advancement Ceremony: held in April, this event includes the formal ceremony to recognize girls moving between branches and receiving awards within the District. This event is organized by Rainbow's Pathfinder Unit.
District Camp: held once a year either around the beginning of February (winter camp) or end of May (spring camp). This event is organized by Rainbow's Ranger Unit.

In addition, depending on the year, the District may hold other events for the girls. Events in the past have included bowling, skating, swimming and movie nights.

District Meetings

meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month with minimum attendance of one leader per unit required. Meetings run from September through June, with the December meeting involving treats and crafts and the June wrap-up meeting at a local restaurant.

Spruce Grove

Commissioner: Kathryn Morrow at sgdistrictcommissioner@gmail.com

With our newly elected District Commissioner Kathryn Morrow at the helm we welcome you to the 2019/2020 Guiding Year!

Spruce Grove Guiding Units typically meet once a week from September to June and occasionally on weekends for various community events, cookie selling or camping.

District Events

Remembrance Day ceremonies held at the Tri Leisure Centre.

Tea and Bazaar is back this year!!! This is our major fundraiser for the District so please keep an eye out for tickets and come by for a slice of pie and browse all the beautiful handmade crafts and gifts.

Thinking Day celebration is held indoors at Elk Hall where we share campfire songs, laughs and treats. This year 3rdGuides encouraged the District to bring donations to fill the care closet for Neighbourlink Parkland, it was a great success!

District Camp will be held at Tangle Trees May 2020! It’s an event like no other and a great way to make memories with friends that may be in other units. Shall we cross our fingers now for good weather!

Community Impact

The Yellowfish Project was spearheaded by 2ndPathfinders/Rangers in effort to bring awareness to waterway pollution. Various units from the District painted yellow fish above storm drains reminding the public that only rainwater should enter the drains so look down next time you’re walking around Spruce Grove, you might spot a yellow fish!

1st Guides visited City Hall this year to learn all about how council meetings proceed and how councillors make plans and improvements to the Spruce Grove Community.

Our District helped Save the Bees by making several Bee Hotels to make sure a variety of species have a place to lay their eggs. A big Thank you to Alana Tollenaar and the Edmonton Area Land Trust for teaching us to “BEE” environmental stewards!

Travel, Travel, Travel

We had a group travel to the Maritimes in 2018. They enjoyed many adventures from the Bay of Fundy all the way to the shores of Cavendish.

This summer 2nd Pathfinders/Rangers enjoyed a mega packed, cultural tour of Europe with stops in London, Paris and Rome to name a few.

Crests

For all your CREST needs please contact our crest guru Michelle (we have a surplus of Feet Crests - Feet Crests have a left foot and a right foot in pink, orange, royal blue, green, red and dark blue to signify a girls or adults’ journey through Guiding. The feet measure 3.75” high by 1.75” wide).

Michelle Bjarnasson at sgcrests@gmail.com.

If you’re interested in joining one of our units, please contact the units directly or you may also contact our Commissioner: Kathryn Morrow at sgdistrictcommissioner@gmail.com.

Spruce Grove District Unit emails