In 1909, 11,000 boys participated in a Scouting rally organized by Lord Baden-Powell at the Crystal Palace in London, Great Britain. To Baden-Powell's surprise, a large number of girls also showed up. They had been practicing Scouting and demanded entry into the rally. Baden-Powell was impressed and he asked his sister, Agnes, to create a program just for girls. This was the beginning of Guiding.

The Guiding Movement grew rapidly, thanks in part to Agnes, and later, to Baden-Powell's wife, Olave, Lady Baden-Powell, who toured the country tirelessly promoting Girl Guides wherever she went.

By 1910, the Movement had reached Canada and the first unit was formed in St. Catharines, Ontario. By 1912, there were units in every province and many of Canada's most forward-thinking women had gathered together to create the Canadian Girl Guides Association, with Lady Mary Pellatt as Canada's first Chief Commissioner. By 1917, the Canadian Girl Guides Association was considered to be of such value to the people of Canada that an Act of Parliament was passed approving its constitution.

Throughout our history, Girl Guides of Canada-Guides du Canada (GGC) has always strived to prepare girls to meet the challenges that they face in their lives head on. Whether it was Agnes Baden-Powell teaching girls to bandage wounds during World War I or girls today working on our anti-bullying challenge, Guiding continually changes with the times to reflect the needs and interests of contemporary girls and women.

Researchers interested in the history of Guiding in Canada can contact the archivist at the national office. The archives holds textual records, publications, magazines, photographs, scrapbooks, uniforms, insignia and other artifacts pertaining to the history of Guiding in Canada. Researchers must make an appointment to use the archival records.