Scouts Canada is returning to Lachute.
Volunteers in the community are working to bring back Beaver Scouts and Cub Scouts by October.
The last time Lachute had a Scouts Canada organization was about 20 years ago.
Scouts Canada is a bilingual organization which operates nationally, while Scouts du Canada is a French-only organization operating primarily in Québec and the Atlantic provinces.
Annik Morriseau, one of the organizers of the new Scouts Canada organization in Lachute, said many young people in the community are interested, but would have had to travel a considerable distance to other communities to participate in scouting activities.
“There is no group close to home,” she said.
Scouting has nearly a century of history in Lachute, going back to 1926.
“There’s a heritage in Lachute with Scouts Canada,” Morriseau said.
Organizers are hoping to have at least 10 Beaver Scouts (ages five to seven) and 10 Cub Scouts (ages eight to 10) in Lachute this year, and would like to be able to establish a regular Scout (ages 11 to 14) troop next year.
Morriseau said no one is left behind if they want to register in a Scouts Canada program. The national organization ensures there are subsidies in place to cover costs for parents and guardians who are unable to pay for registration and other expenses. Scouting activities in Lachute will be bilingual. All genders are included in Scouts Canada membership and the organization is non-sectarian.
Organizers are planning for the new scouting groups in Lachute to meet at the Royal Canadian Legion.
For further information about getting involved in Scouts Canada in Lachute, email [email protected].
