FAQs Awards

Who can nominate a Guider for an award?
Any Member may nominate a Member (or Youth Member if applicable) for an Award at any time, if they feel their efforts should be recognized.

How do I know if the Guider I am nominating has received an award in the past?
Contact the Membership Administrative Assistant  or 1-877-323-4545 ext. 2474 who will be able to assist with the information. Should the Awards Specialty Community feel that a different award would be more suitable, they will contact you to discuss this.

Where do I send completed R.3P or R.3N forms?
Completed R.3P and R.3N forms need to be sent to the Membership Administrative Assistant. Forms can be sent by e-mail, fax or mail to the following:

Girl Guides of Canada, Ontario Council
14 Birch Ave.
Toronto, ON  M4V 1C8
Fax: 416-920-1440
Attn: Adult Awards
E-mail: membersupport.admin3@guidesontario.org

How long does an award take to process?
Please allow 6 to 8 weeks for the Unit Guider, Gold Thanks, and Team Award and 8 to 12 weeks for all other awards.

Who purchases the various Awards?
Once approved the following awards are purchased and mailed to the nominator by the Provincial Office:

  • Honorary Life Award
  • Merit Award (Bronze/Silver/Gold)
  • Fortitude
  • Valour (Bronze/Silver/Gold)
  • Beaver Award
  • Gold Maple Leaf Award
  • Medal of Merit 
  • Ontario Award
  • Outstanding Youth Award
  • Administrative Community Leader Award
  • Unit Guider Award (Bronze/Silver/Gold)

The following awards are purchased by the nominator:

  • Gold Thanks Pin
  • Team Award
Who approves the various awards?
The following awards are approved by the ACL:
  • Unit Guider Award (Bronze/Silver/Gold)
  • Gold Thanks Pin
  • Team Award 

Note: If there is no ACL the above awards are to be submitted and approved at the Provincial level. If the award is for a Trefoil Member, the award can be approved by the Trefoil Guild President. 

The following awards are approved at the Provincial level:

  • Medal of Merit
  • Ontario Award
  • Outstanding Youth Award
  • ACL Award
  • Merit Award (Bronze/Silver/Gold) 

The following awards are approved at both the Provincial and National level:

  • Honorary Life Award
  • Fortitude Award
  • Beaver Award
  • Gold Maple Leaf Award
  • Valour (Bronze/Silver/Gold) 

How do I know which award to apply for?
Select the award that seems to describe the Guider best. Think about others who have the award, and ask yourself if the Guider fits into the same group. If the Awards Specialty Community feels a different award would be more suitable, they will suggest the change.

What is meant on the award application form by the term ‘extra effort’?
Extra effort is that which goes beyond what the average Guider would normally do. The Awards Specialty Community is looking for accomplishments over and above the job description for the candidate’s position.

Should I mention the award candidate’s family, work and other volunteer commitments?
Yes, they are part of who she is and may be a factor in her finding the time to be an exceptional Guider.

What happens after I submit the award nomination?
The nominator will be notified of the outcome by the Membership Administrative Assistant. The award (i.e. pin, certificate, ribbon, letter, etc.) will be sent to the nominator by mail for presentation at a local ceremony. (Please be sure to include the presentation date/location on the application R.3P or R.3N form). Once the local ceremony has taken place, the recipients of the Bronze/Silver/Gold Merit Award, Medal of Merit, Ontario Award, Outstanding Youth Award, Honorary Life Award and National Award will receive an invitation to attend a Provincial Recognition Ceremony.

When/where can an award be presented?
An award can be presented at any time that is deemed appropriate. Recognition of exceptional effort should be done at a time that reflects and celebrates this effort.

Is there an award appropriate to give a Ranger?
The Gold Thanks Pin, Team Award and Outstanding Youth Award can be awarded to Rangers.

How do girl program awards get entered into iMIS (Member database)?
Pathfinder and Ranger Guiders must send the following information to their Unit Administrator as soon as a girl in their Unit completes her Canada Cord or Chief Commissioner’s Gold Award.

  • girl’s name,
  • iMIS number,
  • name of award and date of completion of the award

This information is used to send an invitation to the provincial recognition ceremonies, generate the certificates signed by the Provincial Commissioner and to request the letters of congratulation from officials.