Your Voice, Your Choice: A Mother’s Day Reflection on Empowering Young Girls Through Girl Guides

Across Canada, Girl Guides is more than just a weekly activity. It's a place where girls learn to speak up, take part, and shape their communities today and for the future. Here in Newmarket, Aurora, East Gwillimbury, and Bradford, we're helping spark those moments of empowerment at an early age.

As a former Girl Guide myself, I remember the excitement of earning badges, learning new skills, and building lifelong friendships. It’s where I first learned about first aid, supporting seniors, community safety, and even met my first firefighter.

Annually, I have the joy of spending time with a group of 7 and 8 year-old Girl Guides (known as Embers) exploring what it means to use your voice and make choices that matter. Through a mix of storytelling, hands-on activities, and guided discussion, we explore how girls can take part in local democracy, build confidence, and lead with purpose.

One of the most powerful tools in this journey is the Girl Guides of Canada badge Your Voice, Your Choice. This badge helps young girls discover how their actions can create change, whether it’s voting in the future, participating in community projects, or learning how to listen to others while expressing their own ideas.

We talk about our town Newmarket and the role local government plays in making our communities better. We create coloring pages highlighting the women who lead, and we imagine a world where everyone’s voice is heard.

At this age, children are not just learning to participate, they’re learning that their voice matters.

Volunteer leaders like Melanie Osmond, affectionately known as Radar, know this too well. A lifelong member of Girl Guides of Canada, Melanie has dedicated decades to building character, fostering learning, and encouraging leadership among generations of girls. I want to sincerely thank and acknowledge Melanie for her extraordinary commitment. It is very important that we all do our part to ensure women and girls can see themselves in different roles, like government, first responders, teachers, and many more.

As a Ward 6 Councillor and long-time advocate for youth leadership and gender equality, I believe it's never too early to introduce civic engagement. Programs like Girl Guides plant the seeds that grow into strong leaders, thoughtful citizens, and compassionate changemakers.

To all the volunteers, parents, and community partners who support these opportunities, thank you. You're helping shape tomorrow's leaders today.

If you're interested in bringing a similar workshop to your classroom or youth group, feel free to connect with me at kbroome@newmarket.ca and sign up for my e-news to receive updates each month.

Want to get involved with Girl Guides in Newmarket, Aurora, East Gwillimbury, or Bradford? Whether you're a girl interested in joining or an adult looking to volunteer, visit www.girlguides.ca and enter your postal code to find a local unit near you. Weekly meetings are typically held for an hour to 90 minutes and offer a supportive, empowering space for learning and friendship.

Let’s keep empowering girls to dream big, speak boldly, and lead bravely.

By being engaged and sharing information, we can create real, lasting change. Together, we build momentum, break down barriers, and create results for Ward 6.

with gratitude,

Kelly Broome
Councillor, Ward 6
Town of Newmarket