Ontario Girl Guides of Canada

1. Visit the awards page and review the different awards.

2. How to select an award:

• Review all requirements of the award to avoid processing delays
• Confirm that the nominee has the award prerequisites. Email ON-recognition@girlguides.ca to confirm what awards the person has already received.

The person responsible for approving an award cannot also be the nominator

A member may only receive one award per year for similar activities. For example, if a member receives the Bronze Unit Guider award, she will not be considered for the Silver Unit Guider award until the following year

3. Tips for Letter of Support:
A letter of support for an award application is your chance to illustrate the impact of the member's contributions to Guiding and to really highlight the nominee. Here are some tips to consider when writing a letter of support:

• Begin with an introduction which identifies the nominee, the award being applied for and a short summary of the nominee's role(s) and accomplishments
• In the body of the letter, explain why the individual is deserving of the award. Use specific examples within the letter. You can break the examples down into paragraphs and refer to her accomplishments in the areas of:
• Guiding
• Work
• Personal (e.g. illness, disability, challenges, positive attitude, etc)
• Community (e.g. other volunteer roles)
• Be sure to include only the most relevant details and clearly tie them to the award criteria. Why should this person receive this particular award?
• Letters can come from Guiders, parents, girls, other volunteer organizations, employers/colleagues, teachers, etc.

4. Download the template with the letterhead.

5. Be aware of the processing Timelines:
These timelines allow for the application to be reviewed and the presentation package to be mailed to you by regular post.

Award	Reviewed by	Timeline
Gold Thanks Pin, Team Award, Letter of Commendation, Unit Guider Awards(Bronze, Silver, Gold	ACL approval	3 – 5 weeks
Merit (Bronze, Silver, Gold) Medal of Merit, ACL Award, Ontario Award, Outstanding Youth Award	Ontario Reviewers, Ontario Council	6 – 8 weeks
Beaver, Gold Maple Leaf, Honorary Life, Fortitude, Valour	Ontario Reviewers, Ontario Council, National Council	8 – 12 weeks

6. Steps for submitting and award nomination

• To submit an award, go to the Ontario Council’s online award nomination site. You will need to create a user name and password (this system is not linked to Member Zone or iMIS).  Online award nomination site User Manual. Once submitted,  you will receive a confirmation email that it has been successfully submitted
• When the award has been approved you will receive another email letting you know it has been approved.  You will then receive the award package shortly after
• In case an award is declined, you will receive an email from the Ontario Council office letting you know your application has been declined and why and if you would like to submit an alternate award in its place

7. Presentation of the award

• Due to lockdown regulations, the mailing of all award packages will be delayed. Instead, a fillable digital certificate will be issued to the nominator upon the award’s approval by the assessors.
• The nominator is responsible for completing the certificate with the recipient’s information and emailing it to the recipient.
• iMIS is updated with the award the following month of the virtual certificate forwarding date.

A Letter of Commendation may be given to a girl or adult member in recognition of service to Girl Guides of Canada (GGC) by any other member and may be given more than once to the same person. Application process

The Gold Thanks pin may be given to a girl or adult member for exceptional service to Guiding and may be given more than once to the same person. Application process

The Team Award may be given to each member who has been part of a team that planned and carried to completion an extraordinary event or project. The award is primarily intended as an adult award, but there are times when girls have been part of a team and can be granted the award. A member may receive the Team Award more than once. Application process

In order to be considered for the Team Award, the members of a team must demonstrate:

• Operating as a well-functioning team
• Planning and carrying to completion an event or project.
  OR
  Working well during a time of adversity

***Please Note: Guider of the Month Award is not being processed or awarded at this time.***

The Guider of the Month Award gives girl and youth members the opportunity to nominate any adult member of Guiding who has had a positive impact on their Guiding experience. Only girl/youth nominations or nominations submitted on behalf of a girl will be reviewed. Adults may assist girl members to complete the nomination form if necessary. Award nominations are approved by the Ontario Girl Forum.

The Bronze Unit Guider Award is presented to Unit Guiders in recognition of good service in the Unit Guider role.

In order to be considered for the Bronze Unit Guider Award, a member must demonstrate good service in their role by:

• Providing girls with diverse and exciting programs and opportunities that will help them be empowered
• Ensure there are regular bridging opportunities in their unit
• Always welcome new members
• Attend trainings
• Participate in community Guiding meetings
• Uphold the values of GGC
• Have one to three years of Unit Guider experience

The Bronze Unit Guider Award can be given to a Unit Guider within her first year. Application process

The Silver Unit Guider Award is presented to Unit Guiders in recognition of good service in the Unit Guider role.

In order to be considered for the Silver Unit Guider Award, a member must demonstrate good service in their role by:

• Providing girls with diverse and exciting programs and opportunities that will help them be empowered
• Ensure there are regular bridging opportunities in their unit
• Always welcome new members
• Attend trainings
• Participate in community Guiding meetings
• Uphold the values of GGC
• Have four to ten years of Unit Guider experience

Please note that the Bronze Unit Guider award is not a prerequisite. Application process

The Gold Unit Guider Award is presented to Unit Guiders in recognition of good service in the Unit Guider role.

In order to be considered for the Gold Unit Guider Award, a member must demonstrate good service in their role by:

• Providing girls with diverse and exciting programs and opportunities that will help them be empowered
• Ensure there are regular bridging opportunities in their unit
• Always welcome new members
• Attend trainings
• Participate in community Guiding meetings
• Uphold the values of GGC
• Have 11 + years of Unit Guider experience

Please note that the Bronze and Silver Unit Guider awards are not prerequisite for this award. Application process

The Bronze Merit Award is presented to adult members for dedicated service to Guiding above the basic requirements of the position held. This award is granted by Ontario Council. Application process

The Merit Award can be awarded three times in the following order:

• Bronze Merit: For a member's first Merit Award
• Silver Merit: For a member's second Merit Award
• Gold Merit: For a member's third Merit Award

An adult member may receive any or all of the Merit Awards during her tenure in Guiding, but the awards must be received in the specified order.

The Silver Merit Award is presented to adult members for excellent service to Guiding above the basic requirements of the position held. This award is granted by Ontario Council. Application process

The Merit Award can be awarded three times in the following order:

• Bronze Merit: For a member's first Merit Award
• Silver Merit: For a member's second Merit Award
• Gold Merit: For a member's third Merit Award

An adult member may receive any or all of the Merit Awards during her tenure in Guiding, but the awards must be received in the specified order.

The Gold Merit Award is presented to adult members for outstanding service to Guiding above the basic requirements of the position held. This award is granted by Ontario Council. Application process

The Merit Award can be awarded three times in the following order:

• Bronze Merit: For a member's first Merit Award
• Silver Merit: For a member's second Merit Award
• Gold Merit: For a member's third Merit Award

An adult member may receive any or all of the Merit Awards during her tenure in Guiding, but the awards must be received in the specified order.

The Medal of Merit Award is presented to adult members for exceptional service to Guiding above the basic requirements of the position held.
Application process

In order to be considered for the Medal of Merit, a member must demonstrate:

• Exceptional service to Guiding, meaning they display exceptional commitment to their Guiding role
• Having gone above and beyond the basic requirements of their Guiding position

Except in special cases, the Medal of Merit is awarded only to those who hold a Gold Merit Award.

The ACL Award is presented to Administrative Community Leaders (ACL) who:

• Lead by example
• Actively welcome new members and retain current members
• Mentor adult members
• Uphold the values of GGC
• Have gained the respect of members, girls and parents
• This award is granted by Ontario Council and can be presented during a member's tenure or at the time of her retirement. Application process

The Ontario Award (created in 1980) is approved by Ontario Council and is presented to adult members for extended dedicated service in any facet of Guiding. It is based on the following criteria:

• The nominee is a registered member of Girl Guides of Canada, Ontario Council with a current Police Records Check (PRC) or PRC exemption.
• Has contributed significantly to her Administrative Community, Provincial Specialty Community or Province and the wider community.
• Displays exceptional leadership qualities within Guiding.
• Enthusiastically brings her personal talents and skills to Guiding.
• Enables and gives the opportunity to our girl and youth members to practice their leadership skills either directly or indirectly.
• Lives by the ideals of the Guiding Promise and Law; is a positive role model within and out of Guiding; actively promotes Guiding and its benefits.
• Is well respected by Guiders and other members of the community.

Application process

In order to be considered for the Beaver Award, a member must demonstrate exceptional service to Guiding at the provincial or national level, and exceptional commitment to their provincial or national Guiding role. Except in rare cases, the Beaver is awarded only to those who hold the Medal of Merit. Application process

In order to be considered for the Gold Maple Leaf, a member must demonstrate:

• Exceptional service to Guiding at the national level
• A meaningful contribution to the enrichment of Guiding in Canada.

The Gold Maple Leaf is only awarded to those who hold the Beaver. Application process

The Honorary Life Award (HLA) is granted by the Board of Directors to adult members. This prestigious award is given in recognition of ongoing, dedicated, and long-term service to Guiding.

In order to be considered for the HLA, a member must demonstrate:

• A leading cumulative contribution as a member of major committees, working groups, teams, or other groups
• The promotion of Guiding to the broader community
• The development of initiatives that support the strategic direction of Guiding
• Having made a profound cumulative impact on Guiding at the local, the provincial or national level

On occasion, the HLA may be awarded to a member who has made a significant contribution to society. In addition, the HLA could be given:

• Upon a member's retirement from active Guiding, or
• Upon a member's completion of a significant role in Guiding that could signify the peak of someone's Guiding career, or
• In recognition of sustained, long-term, exceptional service to Guiding in a Unit Guider role.

The HLA is typically awarded after 30 years of service. Application process

The Fortitude Award is granted by the Board of Directors to girl or adult members who have shown great courage and endurance in adversity. The application comes from the province to the Board. The award may be given posthumously in special circumstances. Fortitude must have been demonstrated within the past 12 months; however, the onset of adversity may have occurred further in the past. Posthumous applications must be made no more than one year after death.; Application process

The Valour Award is granted by the Board of Directors to a girl or adult member who has shown heroism in risking her life or personal safety to save or attempting to save the life of another person.

In order to be considered for the Valour Award, a member must display heroism by risking her life or personal safety by saving or attempting to save the life of another person. The display of courage could be during a Guiding activity or outside of Guiding. Applications must be made as soon as possible and no more than 12 months after the incident. Application process

• Ontario Volunteer Service Award
• Ontario Senior Achievement Award
• June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award
• Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship
• Governor General's Caring Canadian Award
• Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Award
• Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers
• Lieutenant Governor's Community Volunteer Award for Students
• Lincoln M. Alexander Award
• Volunteer Service Awards

When you hear from the Ministry that the nominations have been approved, please send the information to ON-recognition@girlguides.ca for input to iMIS.

Girl Guides of Canada, Ontario Council recognizes the importance of continuing education. That’s why we offer scholarship programs to encourage further education of our active members. Use the links below to learn more about these programs, including eligibility requirements and how to apply.

Learn more and apply for scholarships:

• Isabel Kerr Scholarship - for members ages 17-plus (including adults)

You can also learn about National Girl Guides of Canada Scholarships