Pinback buttons are such a unique way to carry a message. Over the course of my collecting I’ve just naturally accumulated a small hoard of vintage Girl Guide buttons. Most are related to Canadian Cookie selling or joint activities with Scouting but I am lucky enough to have a set of 1975 ‘Guiding on the Move’ buttons. The buttons are about 6 cm in diameter with orange design on a white background. I’ve come across two different designs, one with a solid trefoil and the other with the outline of a trefoil with the letters GGC in it. Along the button’s curve there is text that reads H&S Novelties Toronto Canada. Currently, I’ve only seen photos of the white and orange buttons, but a Guider who I encountered remembered other colours being available.
The first button I purchased from an Ottawa Guider who was helping a friend of the family sell off their late mother’s vintage guiding collection. I thought the button was cute and I could add it to my jean jacket. Having not come across the button before, I had just assumed it was merchandise produced around a slogan or tagline. It wasn’t until this past spring when I bought my second off ebay that I realized it was connected to a much more significant Guiding event. ‘Guiding on the Move’ celebrated the sixty-fifth anniversary of Guiding in Canada. Small events were held across the country, encouraging Guiding members to visit each other in their own and other provinces with the final event taking place that Thinking Day, when 4000 people visited the National Headquarters for its first National Open House. A Guider who participated was able to remember and send to me part of the song written for it.
"Take a bus, take a train, take an aeroplane ‘cause Guiding’s on the move.
We’re all Girl Guides and we like to have fun.
We have sisters all over the world.
We’ve been doing good turns for 65 years, so if you’d like to know who we are…
Take a bus, take a train, take an aeroplane ‘cause Guiding’s on the move."
Thousands of people attended these different events but it was a struggle finding information. A few photos appeared in the 1985’s book ‘Celebration’ published by Girl Guides of Canada for the 75th anniversary but I got much of my information for the above paragraph through a history of Guiding fact sheets and a summary of the button from the Busy Beaver Button Online History Museum. It wasn’t until I turned to Facebook and I posted asking for help in some different Ontario Guider groups I’m a part of, that I really made progress. It was a really neat moment for me and I’m so thankful for people who took the time to share their stories. I thought I would include some of my favorites below.
Maureen R. - Different provinces were matched together. Girls and Leaders got to apply to participate by area. Our area - White Oaks had a match with Nunavut. I hosted a girl at my house for about 5 days and then we went to Camp Wyoka.
Sybil C. - My daughter got to go to the Northwest Territories with Guiding on the Move.
Linda L.- Ottawa had a few activities for "Guiding on the Move". One rally of sorts was held in the summer at Camp Woolsey.
Laura R. - I remember the day groups were brought to Camp Woolsey for a tour (I believe). The extra people using the facilities drained the wells and made for a difficult couple of days.
Natalie Q. - I remember this event even though I was in Brownies. It was a whole bunch of events on a rolling schedule all across Canada. I believe it accumulated in Ontario at the CNE late August. I believe I even have some photos of Guiding members marching in a parade at the CNE.
Jill D. - I do and was part of it. There were a series of events across the country. In ON all units were challenged to get to the CNE in the most unique transportation method. Our unit pushed a bed on wheels from Streetsville. Our wheels melted and another unit arriving on a fire truck picked us up. Then there was a big rally in the grandstand. Lots of pictures in the 75th anniversary book ‘Celebrate’. Don’t know much about the individual events though!
Cheryl W - that was my memory too. Painting it in Beth's driveway and the paint was still soft when we were pushing it. So thankful when the fire truck helped us after the wheels broke. I remember being in Maple Leaf Gardens for another event.
Janet Langley - Some of my senior Guides and I did a bike trip for our Guiding on the Move. We made T-shirts for the trip. We slept in a farmer's barn and Marguerite's allergies were so bad that her eyes were pretty well swollen shut in the morning. She was a trouper and she said, "I'll be fine once I am outside."
Kris M. - I didn’t participate but I know the Brownies and Guides from our district roller skated and cycled to Victoria Park (in Kitchener) instead of going to the CNE. There were buttons of different colours - all the same design. I think mine is blue.
Lorraine B. - I was in the rally in Toronto. I think we marched from City Hall to the Ex. There were probably rallies held in lots of other places too.
Specials Thanks to everyone who shared their stories about 'Guiding On the Move' and to Busy Beaver Button Museum.
Thanks for reading!
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