When her daughter signed up for Girl Guides, Cathy Daneliuk was happy to join her as a volunteer leader with the venerable program.
More than 30 years later, her daughter has long grown up, but Daneliuk remains a beloved fixture of the local Guide movement.
Daneliuk was all smiles last week as she accepted a honourary life membership from Girl Guides of Canada.
“You know how much Guiding means to me and it’s because of you,” she told a crowd of more than 30 former Guides, fellow volunteers, family members and friends.
Daneliuk was the focus of a touching ceremony at the hall of Northminster Memorial United Church, where the Guides
now meet.
Prior to accepting her life membership, she spoke of the many laughs and memories she and her Guides and fellow volunteers have shared.
“I am so proud of what we exemplify and the standards that we hold ourselves to,” she said of the Guide program.
“There’s just a level of integrity that Guiding still upholds in Canada.”
Well deserved
For Jackie Hritzuk, area commissioner for Girl Guides of Canada, Daneliuk’s honour was well deserved.
“The knowledge that she has and has passed onto other Guides is just remarkable,” said Hritzuk, who presented Daneliuk with paperwork and a service pin.
When her involvement as a child and youth are factored in, Daneliuk has been part of Guides for more than 40 years.
Currently serving as a district guider, Daneliuk stressed that just as the children learn from their leaders, the leaders learn from them.
At the end of the night, Daneliuk also took home a Girl Guides wooden paddle, autographed by those in attendance, to be displayed at her cabin.
